Evolve or die. That’s the perfect expression for the Ultima Evolution, a car that can and will decimate just about everything on the road with its 1,020bhp V8 and minuscule kerb weight.
A choice of 15 different power outputs from a Chevrolet LS V8 engine are available for the new Ultima. At the bottom is a 350hp Evolution, which is yours for £38,000 if you want to build it or £65,995 if not, ranging to £95,995 for the 1,020bhp monster.
It is easy to explain why the British-built Ultima Evolution is so fast. You see, the top-spec V8 generates nearly as much as a Bugatti Veyron (the old one anyway) while weighing a mere 950kg, which is about half as much. Not bad for a car that costs a tenth of the price, eh?
That means performance figures we can only dream of comprehending. 0 to 62mph in 2.3 seconds is absurd, as is the 0 to 100mph time of 4.9 seconds. 0 to 150mph? How about just 8.9 seconds. Even a quarter-mile is dispatched in 9.2 seconds at 156mph, bettering some dedicated drag cars.
Moreover, the Evolution can go from 0 to 100 and then back down to 0 in 8.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 240mph if you feel like keeping your foot glued to the floor in what is essentially a V8 strapped to a shopping trolley.
Given the acceleration figures, we can forgive the Evolution missing out on the 250mph club. Admittedly, the use of a long gear ratio could, however, do the trick as there’s no shortage of grunt.
Because the Evolution and its predecessors are based Group C Le Mans race thoroughbreds, the list of options are limited. You can have iPod and Bluetooth connectivity if you so desire and even a reversing camera and sat-nav for a touch of ‘luxury’. But that’s about it.
The Evolution will replace the GTR when it goes on sale. We would definitely consider the British Racing Green paintjob as it looks the business. Not that you or anyone will have time to notice it…
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