ofthe car, with custom-made,fully adjustable
coilover springs and dampers.The overall geometry
has been recalibrated to suit the larger, 19-inch
wheels,and is adjustable for bump, reboundand
ride height.Those new forged wheels coverAP
Racing brakes that are availablein two flavours: the
standard set offour-piston calipers gripping322mm
discs front and rear, oran upgraded six-piston
arrangementwith larger 362mm discs.
The stark interioris as you would expect from
this type oftrack-focused machine,with little in the
way ofcreature comforts save for the ventilation
system and a rudimentary sound system.Instead,
the snug cabin is focused around excellent visibility,
IGNITION
British firm’s road and track range-topper joins charge of the light brigade
Ultimajoinstheultimates
B
Above:track-focusedcabinshortonluxuries,although
airconandanAlpinestereoarestandard;theseatsand
dashboardaretrimmedinleatherandAlcantara
with a low scuttle and deep windows.
Like the UltimaEvo that this modelessentially
replaces at the top ofthe company’s range,the RS
is availableexclusivelywith General Motors-sourced
crate engines.The car has been designed to accept
both Chevrolet’s more traditionalsmall-block
pushrod LS engines,such as the LS3 and LSA,as
well as GM’s latest-generation direct-injection
LT motors.Aside from theirimprovements in
power and efficiency, these latest LT units are also
dry-sumped.
The entry-level 6-litre LS3 produces 430bhp
at 5900rpm,with a peak of425lbft oftorque at
4600rpm.Ultimaquotes an acceleration time for
this‘basic’modelof3.3sec to 60mph(note,not
62mph),with a top speed approaching 180mph.
From here,the engines rapidly grow in outright
power outputs,with the LSA (as seen in the
VauxhallVXR8 GTS) producing556bhpwith help
from a 1.9-litre Eaton supercharger.
The more serious LT motors peak in LT5 form
(GM’s most powerful crate motorever) with
755bhp at 6400rpmand 715lb ft oftorque at
5000rpm.And ifa power-to-weight figure of
over 800bhpperton is still not enough,Ultima
says the LT5 engineis easily tuneable to more
than 1200bhp...
Zero to 60mphfor the 755bhp modelis
estimated at just 2.3sec, althoughyou’ll need to
RITISHSPORTS AND RACE CAR
manufacturerUltimahas revealed its
next-generation road-going supercar.
Called the RS, according to its makerit represents
the singlebiggest step change in the company’s
road car history. However, it still follows the firm’s
familiarcross-colonial recipe oflightweight, track-
honed Britishengineering combined with hearty
American engines.
The RS’s underlyingchassis is not dissimilarto
those seen on previous Ultimas,being constructed
oftubularsteel with an inbuiltwelded roll-cage and
rearchassis braces.The Group C-inspired bodywork
is ofglassfibre and the car’s total weight comes in
at around 930kg,dependingon specification.
Ifthe lack ofstructural carbonfibre is
conspicuous,the RS’s exteriordetailing and
aerodynamicdevices make up for it.The aero has
been completely redesigned compared to what
can be found on its predecessors, starting with
a 1780mm-wide carbonfibre rearwing that is
adjustable between -2 and +14 degrees.
Balancingout that wing is an aggressive front
splitter, optionallyavailablewith inbuiltvortex
generators and bodywork-mounted canards.
The front wheelarches are now vented to reduce
pressure withinat high speeds,while a flat floorand
reardiffusercomplete the aero package.
Suspensionis by doublewishbones at both ends