evo UK – September 2019

ULTIMARS

http://www.evo.co.uk 021

‘ULTIMA SAYS THE TOP-SPEC

ENGINE IS EASILY TUNEABLETO

MORE THAN 1200BHP’

byJORDANKATSIANIS

Above:LT5 engine boasts 755bhp asstandard,good

for 0-60mphin a claimed 2.3sec and a top speed

beyond250mph.Bottom:carbonfibre rear wing can

be adjusted to nine different angles

be quickwith the six-speed H-pattern manual

transmission, whichis standard regardless of the

enginespecified. The gearbox is from Porsche, but

there is no optionof a PDK dual-clutch unit, nor is a

race-style semi-automated sequentialmanualon

the optionslist.

To feed those V8s with cool air, the RS sports

a top-mounted snorkel intake, whichworks in

conjuction with furtherintakes on the car’s sides

and underbody. New LED lightingunits front and

rear complete the exterior changes.

The RS will operate in a sea of lightweight

Britishsports cars, includingthe Ariel Atom 4,

the Caterham620 and, at RS’s highest levels, the

BAC Mono. Prices for the Ultimaare difficultto

THE RIVALS

CATERHAM 620R

The620 may produce ‘only’310bhpfromits supercharged

Cosworth Duratec four, butfor £53,885 (fullybuilt) its

551bhp-per-tonfigure mustbetaken seriously.

BAC MONO

At £165,125 the Monoisn’t cheap, butits carbonfibre chassis

makes it the mostadvanced of the Ultima’s peers. Its four-

cylinder engineproduces305bhp, for 534bhpper ton.

pin down thanks to the personalised nature

of each car, but the company says that a self-

assemblymodel,not includingthe cost of the

engine,will start at around£60,000, with prices

growing dependingon the optionsspecificed,

the chosen power unit, and who assembles the

car. If you’re after a ‘turn-key’ modelfrom the

factory, meanwhile,you’ll have to be prepared

to wait, as there is a lead time of aroundtwo

years for new orders.

ARIEL ATOM 4

With 320bhpfromits 2-litre turbo Honda engine, resulting

in a power-to-weight ratio of 546bhpper ton,the £39,975

Atomis still oneof the mostextreme trackday cars onsale.