Ultima Sports Ltd. is a British hand-built sports car manufacturer renowned for producing lightweight, high-performance, road-legal supercars. Founded in 1992, the company became well known for its component car business model, supplying customers with comprehensive vehicle kits for self-assembly while also offering factory-built turnkey vehicles. Its current lineup includes the Ultima Evolution (Coupe and Convertible) and the flagship Ultima RS. The company's registered address is 25 Station Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, England.
The origins of the Ultima marque date back to 1983. Automotive designer Lee Noble—who would later found Noble Automotive—established Noble Motorsport and designed and built the first Ultima, the Ultima Mk 1 race car. The vehicle featured a square-tube spaceframe chassis, a Renault 30 V6 engine and transmission, and components sourced from Ford, Lancia, and Austin.
Before the Mk 1 ever reached customers, Noble introduced the improved Mk 2. The Mk 2 achieved considerable success on the racetrack, particularly after the company's first customer, Ted Marlow, fitted a Chevrolet small-block V8 engine. Noble subsequently developed the Mk 3, which featured an entirely new fiberglass body.
Two Mk 3 chassis were sold to McLaren and used as development mules for the legendary McLaren F1 supercar. McLaren named the two vehicles "Albert" and "Edward." Chassis No. 12, "Albert," was used to test the transmission, central driving position, and carbon brakes, while chassis No. 13, "Edward," was equipped with a BMW V12 engine. McLaren was attracted by the Ultima's lightweight construction, mid-engine layout, and ability to accommodate large-displacement powerplants. According to Ultima, both prototype vehicles were destroyed after the testing program concluded.
In 1992, Ted Marlow and Richard Marlow acquired the Ultima brand from Lee Noble, including all rights, molds, and manufacturing licenses for the Mk 2 and Mk 3. On December 8, 1992, Ultima Sports Limited was officially incorporated. The Marlows comprehensively redesigned the concept, aiming to transform the track-focused machine into a road-legal supercar capable of excelling both on the circuit and on public roads. The company also embraced the kit-car model, allowing enthusiasts to build their own supercars.
By the mid-1990s, this new direction resulted in the Ultima Sport coupe and the Ultima Spyder convertible, the latter introduced in 1993. In the early 2000s, these models were replaced by the Ultima GTR coupe and Ultima Can-Am convertible. In 2015, the GTR and Can-Am were discontinued and succeeded by the Ultima Evolution, available in both coupe and convertible forms. Shortly after the Evolution's launch, Ultima began developing an all-new flagship model, the Ultima RS, which made its public debut at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Mk 1 (1983)
Only one example was built. It was the original Ultima and was powered by a Renault PRV V6 engine.
Mk 2 (1989)
An improved version of the Mk 1 featuring revised suspension and braking systems. A total of 13 units were produced, earning an impressive reputation in motorsport.
Mk 3 (1989)
Introduced an all-new fiberglass body and became the final Ultima developed under Lee Noble's ownership. Two examples were later acquired by McLaren for F1 development testing.
Launched in 1993, the Spyder was the convertible derivative of the Ultima Sport. Early versions were powered by a 3.5-liter Rover V8 producing approximately 171 kW. From 1994 onward, customers could opt for a 5.7-liter Chevrolet small-block V8 delivering around 257 kW. Distinctive features included vertically hinged doors, a wraparound windshield, and a minimalist interior. Production continued until 1998 or 1999, after which it was replaced by the Ultima Can-Am.
The Ultima GTR became the brand's signature model and remained in production from the early 2000s until 2015. It featured a mid-engine layout, double-wishbone suspension, a curb weight of approximately 990 kg, a Chevrolet small-block V8 engine, and a Porsche G50 five-speed manual transmission. Notably, it lacked both traction control and ABS.
The GTR was available in various performance specifications, ranging from entry-level versions producing around 500 hp to range-topping variants delivering up to 720 hp.
In 2005, company director Richard Marlow set multiple performance records in the 640-hp GTR640. In 2006, the GTR720 reduced the world-record 0–100–0 mph time (accelerating from a standstill to 100 mph and back to a complete stop) to just 9.4 seconds. The model was discontinued in 2015 and replaced by the Ultima Evolution.
The Can-Am served as the convertible counterpart to the GTR, replacing the earlier Spyder. It shared the same chassis architecture and powertrain configuration as the coupe.
Introduced in 2015 as the successor to the GTR and Can-Am, the Evolution continued to be offered in both coupe and convertible body styles. Power came from an American Speed-tuned 6.8-liter Chevrolet V8 producing up to 1,020 hp. Its exceptional power-to-weight ratio made it one of the most powerful production cars in Ultima's history.
The current flagship of the brand, the Ultima RS, debuted at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Its design draws inspiration from Group C endurance race cars of the 1980s and 1990s.
The RS can be equipped with several engine options, the most potent being a heavily tuned version of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1's LT5 6.2-liter supercharged V8, capable of producing up to 1,200 hp. Despite its performance, the car weighs just 930 kg.
Several power levels are available:
LT1 version (480 hp): 0–96 km/h in 3.3 seconds, top speed approximately 289 km/h
LT4 version (650 hp): top speed approximately 338 km/h
1,200-hp version: 0–96 km/h in just 2.3 seconds, top speed approximately 402 km/h
The RS is available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. Ultima has explicitly stated that it does not offer an automatic gearbox, underscoring the brand's commitment to a pure driving experience.
Ultima has consistently adhered to several key design principles and engineering philosophies.
Lightweight engineering forms the foundation of Ultima's performance. From the GTR's approximately 990 kg curb weight to the RS's 930 kg, minimizing mass allows every horsepower to be translated into performance with maximum efficiency.
The component-car concept has remained central to Ultima's business model since its inception. Around 75% of customers have no prior experience assembling a car, yet Ultima provides comprehensive step-by-step online assembly manuals and technical support, enabling enthusiasts to build their own supercars.
Customers in the UK and parts of Europe can choose factory-built turnkey vehicles, while regulations in the United States restrict sales to component kits only.
A defining characteristic of Ultima vehicles is the fusion of American V8 performance with European chassis dynamics. The company has maintained a long-standing partnership with American Speed, which specializes in tuning and strengthening Chevrolet V8 engines for Ultima applications. The powerplants used in the GTR640, GTR720, and Evolution models were all developed through this collaboration.
For transmissions, Ultima traditionally employs Porsche G50 gearboxes or six-speed manual transmissions. Combined with double-wishbone suspension and a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, the result is a classic supercar configuration focused on driver engagement.
Every Ultima carries the hallmark of hand-built craftsmanship. Vehicles delivered from the Hinckley factory undergo meticulous assembly, and the company maintains comprehensive service and maintenance records for each chassis and major component.
Ultima occupies a unique position within supercar culture. In gaming and popular media, the Ultima GTR appeared as a drivable vehicle in Forza Horizon 3, while the GTR720 became famous among enthusiasts for its extreme performance and uncompromising manual-transmission driving experience.
Within the DIY automotive community, Ultima has earned a loyal global following as one of the world's most iconic self-assembly supercar brands, attracting enthusiasts who dream of building their own high-performance machine from the ground up.
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