Ultima Claims Top Gear Lap Record Without Their Permission

Furthermore, it's rude, it's crude, and it carries a kit-car stigma. It's disliked by those who are more concerned about brand heritage and maintaining a Concours d'Elegance level of engine compartment cleanliness than feeling the thrust of acceleration and trying to find a better line through turn 15 of their favorite twisty road. If I ever acquire Ferrari money I'll likely get something like an Ultima and spend some of the savings on tuition for high performance driving schools.

Also; The engine supplier, American Speed (from the U.S.) offers 35(!) Chevy V8s to choose from ranging from 300 to 800hp.

If you ask me, all is fair, the cars street legal, so if the data has been verified by Independant party, its the official un-official record holder.

The FXX is a great car but sometimes rather than taking cheap shots at a better(faster) car, just take the defeat and let it be that.

The Ultima is fantastic. Sensational even. But erzhik is on the money. It is in desperate need of a restyling. It has gone from being a fringe supercar to being completely marginalised by it's 30 year old Group C styling.

Not to mention its lack of amenities, practicality, or safety features. Sure it's great in terms of FIA safety requirements but they take into account different usage to a lot of road driving.

The ownership experience of a hypercar has moved on from where it was when the current generation Ultima came to market. Not to mention for many builds, an archaic powerplant. Safety, comfort, and performance are all great friends in today's super/hyper car.

People that say "but but but the ultima owner doesn't care about things like luggage space or stereo or leather or styling (etc) because they are busy enjoying the purest performance they can get from a car" or something of the like need to remember that you can buy many track day specials (kit or delivered) that will give you similar thrills for the price. Or you can buy yourself a stripped out roadcar (like one of the gazillion 911 gt3 variants). Or you will be the sort of person in the market for a real racing car without the compromises for legality.

The Ultima GTR is great. One of the most rewarding driving experiences I've had is at the wheel of one, but it is compromised AND to get one to perform at this level would not be a simple/cheap tweak of the basic GTR.