Ultima Sports
Encyclopedia
Ultima Sports Ltd. is a sports car
manufacturer
currently based in Hinckley
, Leicestershire
, England
. Founded in 1992 by Ted Marlow, Ultima manufactures the components to construct cars derived, as road going versions, from the Noble Motorsport Ltd originated Ultima racing cars designed by Lee Noble
who is more famous now for the models produced by Noble Automotive Ltd
.
There are now 2 models in the current Ultima range; the GTR
; and the convertible
Can-Am. Previous models have been the Sport and Spyder.
All models in the Ultima range have always been primarily supplied in component form. That is, Ultima produces the parts required for an owner/builder to construct the car off-site, and this is the only way to receive such a vehicle in the USA (including a 'rolling body' fully constructed minus engine and transmission). However a few cars are manufactured onsite as "turnkey
" models for the European market.
The preferred engine supplier for Ultima is currently American Speed, a company who specializes in re-engineering Chevrolet V8s for increased performance. It was with a 640 hp version of the Chevrolet small block V8
built by American Speed, that Richard Marlow was able to set a number of performance records in an Ultima GTR
during 2005, this combination now being dubbed the Ultima GTR640.
In 2006 Ultima beat their own 0-100 mph-0 record set in the GTR640 with the GTR720, again using an American Speed SBC engine but now with 720 hp. The new record shaved 0.4 seconds off the time completing the 0-100-0 dash in 9.4 seconds, a new world record for a production road car with street legal tyres and exhaust.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
manufacturer
Automaker
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
currently based in Hinckley
Hinckley
Hinckley is a town in southwest Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43,246 . It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Founded in 1992 by Ted Marlow, Ultima manufactures the components to construct cars derived, as road going versions, from the Noble Motorsport Ltd originated Ultima racing cars designed by Lee Noble
Lee Noble
Lee Noble is a British entrepreneur, car designer and engineer. He is the founder of the sports car companies Noble Automotive Ltd in 1999 and Fenix Automotive in 2009. He is also the designer of some low-volume sports cars, including the Ultima Mk1, Ultima Mk2, Ultima Mk3, Midtec Spyder, and...
who is more famous now for the models produced by Noble Automotive Ltd
Noble (car)
Noble Automotive Ltd., more commonly known simply as Noble, is a British sports car manufacturer.It was established in 1999 by Lee Noble in Leeds, West Yorkshire, for producing high-speed sports cars with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lee Noble was the chief designer and owner of...
.
There are now 2 models in the current Ultima range; the GTR
Ultima GTR
The Ultima GTR is a sports car manufactured by Ultima Sports Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, and described by commentators as a supercar. The car is available both in kit form and as a "turnkey" vehicle. The design is mid engined, rear wheel drive layout, with a tubular steel space...
; and the convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
Can-Am. Previous models have been the Sport and Spyder.
All models in the Ultima range have always been primarily supplied in component form. That is, Ultima produces the parts required for an owner/builder to construct the car off-site, and this is the only way to receive such a vehicle in the USA (including a 'rolling body' fully constructed minus engine and transmission). However a few cars are manufactured onsite as "turnkey
Turnkey
A turn-key or a turn-key project is a type of project that is constructed by a developer and sold or turned over to a buyer in a ready-to-use condition.-Common usage:...
" models for the European market.
The preferred engine supplier for Ultima is currently American Speed, a company who specializes in re-engineering Chevrolet V8s for increased performance. It was with a 640 hp version of the Chevrolet small block V8
Chevrolet Small-Block engine
The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small engine block...
built by American Speed, that Richard Marlow was able to set a number of performance records in an Ultima GTR
Ultima GTR
The Ultima GTR is a sports car manufactured by Ultima Sports Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, and described by commentators as a supercar. The car is available both in kit form and as a "turnkey" vehicle. The design is mid engined, rear wheel drive layout, with a tubular steel space...
during 2005, this combination now being dubbed the Ultima GTR640.
In 2006 Ultima beat their own 0-100 mph-0 record set in the GTR640 with the GTR720, again using an American Speed SBC engine but now with 720 hp. The new record shaved 0.4 seconds off the time completing the 0-100-0 dash in 9.4 seconds, a new world record for a production road car with street legal tyres and exhaust.