Say hello to the Ginetta Akula – the firm’s first dedicated road car in many years, built to celebrate 20 years under the stewardship of CEO Dr Lawrence Tomlinson. The first Akula concept car was revealed in 2019, and after five years of testing and development, it is ready to order. But exactly what do you get?
Under the bonnet is a naturally aspirated 6.4-litre V8. Based on a Ginetta billet-aluminium block with a titanium valvetrain, the engine produces 600bhp at 7200rpm and 670Nm of torque at 5100rpm. Given that the car is formed from a lightweight carbon monocoque with carbon front and rear subframes, resulting in a kerbweight of 1190kg, it is promising explosive performance: 2.9 seconds to 60mph and a top speed in excess of 180mph. The flat floor is also carbonfibre, with the wind tunnel-shaped front splitter, tuning vanes plus rear wing and diffuser optimised for high downforce. There’s also an integrated steel roll cage.
You’ll have a choice between a six-speed manual transmission with a triple-plate clutch, or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, while the power is marshalled to the road via a Ginetta limited-slip differential. In standard form, the braking system is made up of four-pot calipers and 360mm discs front and rear, complete with ABS. An optional Race Pack provides carbon-ceramic discs; the same pack also features six-point Ginetta racing safety harnesses and apparel, including a racing suit, boots, gloves and underwear.
Ginetta has carefully positioned most of the heavy mechanicals between the axles to aid agility; the engine is in the middle of the car, pushed right back behind the front axle. As a result, the Akula has 50:50 weight distribution.
This has enabled the fitment of longer wishbones, to allow for greater freedom in suspension set-up. Drawing on experience from the Ginetta racing programmes, the Akula features double wishbones front and rear with billet-aluminium uprights, two-way-adjustable racing suspension and in-car adaptable electronic damping. The front and rear anti-roll bars are mechanically adjustable, and the car rides on Pirelli P Zero tyres.
Despite the clear motor sport inspiration, the Akula has a 100-litre fuel tank for a continent-crossing 450-mile range, a 473-litre boot for luggage and an electronically adjustable steering column and pedal box. The seats, meanwhile, are designed into the carbon monocoque, with bespoke moulded padding for each driver’s shape. There’s also a Ginetta-developed touchscreen, heated windscreen and even cup-holders. In the UK it’s retailing for £275,000 plus taxes and shipping.
More details are available here.
