Autoblog

The GTM 40TR (Track and Race) was initially going to be made available with a naturally aspirated 2.0L Type R powerplant from Honda rated at 220bhp. In response to feedback, however, the niche automaker has added a turbocharger to the engine, raising output to an even 300bhp. The 40TR is now expected to reach 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and reach speeds in excess of 150 mph.

The GTM 40TR will be available in mid May of this year at a cost of between £14,000 to £16,000. The company will have both track and street legal versions available, and is hoping each will be able to run on some form of biofuel, as well.

The most obvious competitor for the car is the Ariel Atom, another exposed frame racer from the U.K. that uses the same Honda motor without a turbo to make 220bhp. Two supercharged versions of the Atom are also available making 275 and 300bhp, respectively, though at a price significantly higher than the GTM 40TR.

[Source: GTM Cars, ltd.]

Earlier this month we showed you a rendering of the GTM 40TR, a bare-framed racer with two seats strapped to a Honda Type R engine (reports have power ranging from 197 bhp to 220). It looked just as minimalist if not more than the Ariel Atom, a car to which the GTM has been constantly compared. Courtesy of Coolbrit.net, we now have a couple pics of the 40TR, which show that indeed, the drawing didn't lie. It's hard to judge a car like this or the Atom on aesthetics, when it's quite obvious the engineers who built it weren't arguing over wheel designs and in which shade of gray should the bare metal be cast. Of course, folks looking for a single-minded track car that car reach 60 mph in under four seconds probably aren't that considered about looks, especially when they'll be a blur most of the time.

Check out a rear shot after the jump and live pics of the 40TR at Totalkitcar.com.

[Source: Coolbrit.net]

The same ethos employed by the Ariel Atom is being channeled by GTM, a small car producer based in the UK, whose previous hits include the Spyder and Libra.

The GTM 40TR is a track day weapon in the same vein as the Atom, utilizing the potent combination of a bare frame, a couple of seats and the 220 HP engine pulled from the Civic Type-R.

The lucky pilots of the 40TR will be able to experience a 0-60 sprint in less than four seconds, along with a top speed in excess of 150 MPH. All that at the bargain basement price of about £15,000 or just a few bucks shy of $30k.

The company also has plans to develop a biofuel-powered version of the 40TR that may compete in a one-make race series, sponsored by the Energy Efficient Motor-Sports initiative.

[Source: Car, Autosport International]