British cottage industry car maker Ginetta is marking its 66th year with a road-going carbon-fibre supercar based on a LMP1 racer.
The Akula, which was first shown as a prototype in 2019, is also timed to celebrate 20 years since entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson took over the company. That number is significant as just 20 examples will be built.
“Anyone can build a fast car,” says Tomlinson, “But at Ginetta, we create vehicles that leave their drivers breathless and wanting to drive them again and again. Unlike anything else on the road, the Akula is designed and engineered to be driven to, around, and back from a track like the Nürburgring, having the luggage space to do so, while delivering an unmatched intense and engaging driving experience every step of the journey.”
To achieve that the Akula is built around a carbon fibre monocoque with carbon front and rear subframes. Additional rigidity and safety protection comes from a motorsport specification steel roll cage. There’s all-round double wishbone suspension with billet aluminium uprights and electronically adjustable pushrods, and 20-inch alloy wheels wearing Pirelli P Zero tyres. Braking is by steel vented discs as standard, with carbon ceramic rotors also available, and the Akula’s steering is electrically-assisted.
The Akula’s engine is mount in a mid-front manner, sat far behind the front axle for ideal weight distribution and leaving plenty of space up front and at the rear for the car’s aero components which are derived from Ginetta’s G61-LT LMP1 race car. There’s a fully-flat floor, a front splitter featuring tuning vanes, together with a hefty rear wing and diffuser to suck the car to the ground at speed.
With 600bhp available from Ginetta’s own naturally-aspirated 6.4-litre V8 that speed comes fast. It will accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and reach 180mph, as the driver rows their own gears with a six-speed manual transmission or pulls paddles on a seven-speed dual clutch unit. A limited slip differential is always on hand to deliver maximum available traction.
Beyond its track hero potential the Akula has also been designed to serve as a proper grand tourer. The carbon fibre seats are actually part of the monocoque, so owners will get special padding, moulded to their body shape, while the steering and pedal box move to set the ideal driving position. There’s a central touchscreen, wireless phone charging and even cupholders, while a 100-litre fuel tank means that 450 miles can fly by before you’ll need to top up. There’s a even a decent 473-litre trunk.
The Akula starts at £275,000 plus VAT and delivery and there are still a limited number of build slots available. The first car off the line is already taken, however. “My name is definitely down for Akula number one,” notes Tomlinson, “but I am looking forward to seeing who will join me in taking ownership of a British-built Ginetta supercar utterly without compromise.”
