| Manufacturer | Ultima Sports Ltd |
|---|---|
| Aka | Ultima Spyder |
| Production | 1992–1999 |
| Assembly | United Kingdom: Hinckley, Leicestershire |
| Predecessor | Ultima Mk3 |
| Successor | Ultima GTR |
| Doors | Butterfly |
| Class | Sports car (S) |
| Body style | 2-door coupé 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | See Table |
| Wheelbase | 2,540 mm (100.0 in) [1][2] |
| Length | 3,880 mm (152.8 in)[1][2] |
| Width | 1,850 mm (72.8 in)[1][2] |
| Height | 1000-1100 mm in 1[1][2] |
| Weight | 850–990 kg (1,874–2,183 lb) |
| Designer | Lee Noble and Ted Marlow[3] |
| Sp | uk |
| Transmission | 5 or 6-speed manual |
Ultima Sport and Ultima Spyder are sports cars built by (then) British kit-car manufacturer Ultima Sports Ltd. They are of a can-am design, with GRP bodywork set atop a bespoke chassis meant to accommodate a variety of engines from four to eight cylinders, or rotaries.[4] The design is of a mid-engined, rear wheel drive layout, with a tubular steel space frame chassis.[5] Originally meant as a kit car, Ultima began producing its first turn-key examples during the production run of the Sports/Spyder (the first such car being completed in 1993).
History
The Ultima Sport and its roadster derivative, the Ultima Spyder, were built from 1992 to 1998. The body styles were significantly altered for the succeeding Ultima GTR and Ultima Can-Am (roadster) models. The Sport, sometimes referred to as the Mk4 in company literature, followed on the Mk1 (1983), the Mk2 (1984), and the Mk3 (1989). The Mk2 was based on the Mk1 but with new suspension and better brakes, while the Mk3 received a new body.[6] Ted Marlow and Richard Marlow bought the rights to the car in 1992 and started building a revised model called the Ultima Sport.[6] Two examples of the earlier Mk3 had been used by McLaren in testing their upcoming F1; one to test the gearbox and central seating position ("Albert", chassis number 12) and the other car to test the BMW V12 engine and ancillaries ("Edward", number 13).[7] This was frequently mentioned in Ultima's company literature and period reviews.[4]
The Ultima Sport used a developed version of the Mk3 bodywork, with larger headlamp openings which held three lights rather than the single units of the Mk3. A large rear spoiler, incorporated into the rear bodywork, became an available option in 1993, while power assisted brakes only became available in 1997.[5] The Spyder was new; this roadster variant offered a cut-down windshield and minimal protection from the elements. Originally introduced in 1993, it was first intended as a lower-cost example and Ultima expected buyers to opt for the Rover V8 and a Renault transaxle; customer demand, however, meant that Chevrolet small-block V8s were typically fitted instead. While a variety of engines could be fitted, in latter years Chevrolet's 5.7-litre small-block V8 became dominant. For buyers of the fully built-up models, the choice of engine was restricted to this engine, in three grades of performance with either 345, 430 , or depending on the state of tune.[5] The chassis was designed to hold as much as 1,000 hp (750 kW; 1,000 PS), however no version actually came with that much power.[1][2]
Engines
The Ultima Spyder was launched in 1993 initially as a softer version of the Sport, coming with a smaller 3.5-litre Rover V8, instead of the 5.7-litre Chevrolet small-block V8, but due to customer demand, the Spyder would be fitted with the Chevrolet small-block V8 in 1994. In 1995, Ultima would produce a prototype Ultima Sport made entirely of carbon-fiber, bringing the weight to 600 kg (1,300 lb) with the Rover V8 engine, which would weigh 850 kg (1,870 lb) with the standard aluminium body. This would be far too expensive to produce, and carbon-fiber would be shelved until the Ultima RS. For 1995, Ultima would produce a new engine mount system designed specifically for rotary engines, but this would be an unpopular option, with less than 30 being made with this option from factory. There would not be an official inline 4 option from factory, even though the prototype of the Ultima Sport would feature a turbocharged Ford-Cosworth YB I4, from a Darrian T90. The 5.7 would be tuned for 345 hp (350 PS; 257 kW), as they were unmodified crate engines. The Rover V8s would be standard surplus purchases, with only a new exhaust system, would produce 230 hp (230 PS; 170 kW). The Renault PRV V6 turbocharged engine would produce 311 hp (315 PS; 232 kW), but can produce as much as 400 hp (410 PS; 300 kW) by increasing boost pressure. Below is all engines sold from the factory, however, the customer could order the car as a shell (without engine nor transmission).[8][9][10]
| Displacement | Engine | Horsepower | Horsepower RPM | Torque | Torque RPM | Weight (Sport) | Weight (Spyder) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,993 cm3 (121.6 cu in; 2.0 L) | Ford-Cosworth YB I4 turbocharged (Prototype only) | 470 hp (477 PS; 350 kW) | 6,650 | 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) | 4,000 | 850 kg (1,870 lb) | N/A | [11] |
| 5,733 cm3 (349.8 cu in; 5.7 L) | Chevrolet Small-block V8 | 295 hp (299 PS; 220 kW) | 5,600 | 480 N⋅m (354 lb⋅ft) | 3,400 | 990 kg (2,180 lb) | 940 kg (2,070 lb) | [12][13] |
| 6,200 cm3 (378.3 cu in; 6.2 L) | 345 hp (350 PS; 257 kW) | 515 N⋅m (380 lb⋅ft) | [14][15] | |||||
| 3,528 cm3 (215.3 cu in; 3.5 L) | Rover V8 | 230 hp (233 PS; 172 kW) | 271 N⋅m (200 lb⋅ft) | 3,000 | 850-910 kg lb (600 kg (1,300 lb) for the Carbon Fiber Body) | 850 kg (1,870 lb) | [16][17][18] | |
| 1,308 cm3 (79.8 cu in; 1.3 L) | Mazda 13B-DEI Rotary | 197 hp (200 PS; 147 kW) | 6,500 | 187 N⋅m (138 lb⋅ft) | 3,500 | 850 kg (1,870 lb) | [19][20] | |
| 2,975 cm3 (181.5 cu in; 3.0 L) | Renault PRV V6 Turbo | 311 hp (315 PS; 232 kW) | 5,800 | 360 N⋅m (266 lb⋅ft) | 2,900 | 900 kg (2,000 lb) | 850 kg (1,870 lb) | [21][22] |
References
- ^ "Ultima Sports". Ultima Sports Ltd. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
- ^ "Ultima Spyder". Ultima Sports Ltd. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
- ^ Webster, Larry (April 2000). "Ultima GTR". Car and Driver. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Ultima Sport & Spyder - Mean & Roofless" (sales sheet), Cloverfield, Hinckley, Leicester, UK: Ultima Sports Ltd., c. 1996
- ^ Münzenmayer, Ralph (September 1997). "Ultimaaaaa!" (in Dutch). Playboy Netherlands. p. 43.
- ^ "1983-1991". Ultima Sports Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ Prior, Matt (2015-02-20). "Matt Prior's tester's notes - how to hide your test car, the McLaren way". Autocar. Haymarket Media Group. Archived 2021-12-05 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Dangermuffin (2022-03-09). Ultima Spyder - Top Gear 1996. Retrieved 2025-01-30. – via YouTube.
- ^ "1992-1998". Ultima Sports Ltd. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
- ^ "1998 - 2000". Ultima Sports Ltd. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
- ^ "Ultima Sport 2.0 Turbo specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Sports 5.7 specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Spyder 5.7 specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Sports specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Spyder 6.2 specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Sports 3.5 specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Sports 3.5 Carbon Fiber Edition specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Spyder specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Sports Rotary specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Spyder Rotary specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Sports V6 Turbo specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "Ultima Spyder V6 Turbo specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-04-13.