Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: Ultima claims <i>Top Gear</i> track record without show's authorization]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/video-ultima-claims-top-gear-track-record-without-shows/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/video-ultima-claims-top-gear-track-record-without-shows/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/video-ultima-claims-top-gear-track-record-without-shows/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima GTR720 around the Top Gear test track - Click above to watch the video after the break

Automotive records can be funny things. While everyone seems to be interested in knowing what vehicle is the quickest, fastest, most expensive or rarest, there always seems to be plenty of dissent when one automaker claims its product takes the coveted prize away from another. Such is the case with the Ultima GTR720.

There's no doubting that both the Ferrari FXX and the Ultima GTR are fast cars. Which car is actually faster around a race track, though, is currently up for debate. The track in question is the Dunsfold aerodrome circuit, better known to many as the Top Gear test track. Not long ago, the crew from TG invited one Stig impersonator by the name of Michael Schumacher in the super high-test Ferrari racer to take a lap around its circuit, and the tame racing driver managed to set a new record at one minute 10.7 seconds.

Here's where the mine-is-bigger-than-yours part comes in. Ultima reportedly contacted Top Gear to let them know its car could go 'round the track faster than the aforementioned Prancing Horse, but the show apparently never responded. Taking matters into its own hands, then, Ultima borrowed the track for itself and is claiming to have completed a lap in one minute 9.9 seconds - less than one full tick quicker than the Ferrari, but quicker nonetheless. Plus, Ultima says, the GTR720 was both cheaper and fully road legal while the £1 million FXX is a track-only proposition.

Wanna see it all go down on video? Click past the break to watch for yourself.

[Source: EVO]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ultima claims Top Gear track record without show's authorization

VIDEO: Ultima claims Top Gear track record without show's authorization originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dunsfold aerodromeDunsfoldAerodromeferrariferrari fxxFerrariFxxmichael schumacherMichaelSchumacherstigthe stigTheStigtop geartop gear lap recordtop gear test trackTopGearTopGearLapRecordTopGearTestTrackultima gtrultima gtr 720ultima gtr720Ultima-OnlineUltimaGtrUltimaGtr720Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Rain dampens Ultima GTR 'Ring record attempt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/07/rain-dampens-ultima-gtr-ring-record-attempt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/07/rain-dampens-ultima-gtr-ring-record-attempt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/07/rain-dampens-ultima-gtr-ring-record-attempt/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ultima GTR720 at the Nurburgring

There is no shortage of automakers out there claiming to make the ultimate "race car for the road", but few of them can touch the Ultima GTR. While others try to make their road cars as close to racing cars as possible, the British sportscar-maker set about making their Noble-based racing car as close to a road car as possible. The result is blistering performance, with the latest GTR720 setting several Guinness-verified world records, including a 0-60 time of 2.6 seconds, a quarter mile below ten seconds and a 0-100-0 time in 9.4. With those numbers in the books, Sport Auto Magazine set its sights on setting a new Nurburgring road car lap record.

Unfortunately, after booking two, half-hour sessions at the 'Ring, the heavens opened up and soaked the track, so the attempt was aborted. The current record, held by the Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, stands at 7:27, but Ultima ambitiously projects that its car could undercut that with what would be a staggeringly fast lap time under 6 minutes, 55 seconds. Sounds impossible? Consider the performance stats quoted above, and that the lightweight track demon has hit a top speed of 231 mph. That was with the previous gearing setup, but with a taller fifth gear ratio, Ultima thinks it can reach even higher speeds. After the disappointment of a failed attempt due to the bad weather, the company's founder Ted Marlow turned around and headed back to England, claiming to have hit 220mph on a derestricted Autobahn along the way. We'll just have to wait until a more successful attempt to see if the record is shattered, but in the meantime we can enjoy the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Ultima GTR720 Nurburgring record attempt

[Source: Ultima]

Continue reading Rain dampens Ultima GTR 'Ring record attempt

Rain dampens Ultima GTR 'Ring record attempt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not long ago the Ultima GTR broke its own record (again) as the fastest car to achieve 0-100mph-0 for the third year in a row. On that same day it also set new records for 0-60 (2.6 seconds), 0-100 (5.3 seconds) and braking from 100 (3.6 seconds).

Mere weeks later it has smashed yet another record. This time it captured the world record for a standing quarter-mile by sprinting 402 meters, 440 yards, and 1,320 feet (all at the same time!) in a mere 9.9 seconds at 143 mph. The record run was achieved in the U.K. at Santa Pod Raceway in the same car that was used a few weeks back to break the 0-100mph-0 record. It was fitted with a 720-bhp Chevrolet V8 engine from the company's OE engine supplier American Speed, a five-speed G50 transmission and regular old road tires.

Here are some comparison figures to put the Ultima GTR's accomplishment in perspective.
Ultima GTR: 9.9secs @143mph
Ferrari Enzo: 11.1secs@133mph
Porsche Carrera GT: 11.3secs@131mph
McLaren F1: 11.6secs@125mph
Saleen S7: 11.8secs@119mph

Follow the link to Ultima's website to witness the three record runs via streaming video.

[Source: Ultima via PistonHeads]

Ultima GTR goes for quarter-mile record and gets it originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drag racingDragRacingdragstripquarter mileQuarterMileUltimaUltima GTRUltimaGtrThu, 22 Jun 2006 09:56:00 EST