The Early Days...
Richard grew up watching his father, Ted Marlow, race cars in the 1980s. In fact, his father raced an early first version of the Ultima with Lee Noble.
“I can distinctly remember the first time I saw the Ultima as a child. My father was racing a different car at the time, and Lee Noble drove his freshly completed Ultima Mk1 on the public roads to display it at a Cadwell Park race event. My father and I were left in awe and placed an order for the Ultima instantly. Life has never been quite the same since then.” – Richard Marlow
Marlow further developed his motivation and passion for car manufacturing from frequent visits to Lee’s workshop and witnessing his work. Richard’s father and Lee dominated their chosen race series in the Ultima, winning virtually every race they entered between them and multiple championships. The Marlow family’s obsession with Ultima increased to such an extent that they eventually ended up purchasing the brand from Lee Noble in 1992.
1992 - 1993
Ultima Sports Ltd is formed and everything that was acquired from Lee Noble was comprehensively re-engineered and improved to the point whereby the Marlows could confidently open their order books to the public.
Launched in 1992, the Ultima Sports model can trace its roots back to the original Ultima Mk3 of 1989 but was the first in-house creation for the current Ultima Sports Ltd operation which has transformed the marque into the global sensation it has become. The Sports took what was previously a track-focused race car and completely redeveloped it. The result was a car that was far easier to assemble, benefitted from vastly improved fit and finish, and was redesigned under the skin to create a machine that, while still hugely effective on the track, could now be used with ease on the road. It was the start of the Ultima story as we know it.
1993 - 1994
Launched in 1993, the Ultima Spyder model was the Marlows' interpretation of the modern-day classic Cobra. Vertically hinged doors grant practical ease of access to the purposeful interior where the driver can experience the same driving thrill as offered by the Sports but with an additional dimension; the open air. The Spyder effectively opened many enthusiasts’ eyes to the idea that Ultima could offer a road car, whereas the existing Sports was often mistaken for being purely a track car. With its sleek styling, wrap-around flyscreen and obvious performance potential, the Spyder was instrumental in propelling the company into the consciousness of supercar fans around the world.
1995 - 1996
The Ultima Sports and Ultima Spyder are tested in the full-size wind tunnel at MIRA to aid future development of the marque.
The Ultima brand is gathering momentum nicely with healthy demand.
Total Ultima sales under the ownership of Lee Noble between 1983 and 1991 was just 26 units, while in contrast, Ted and Richard Marlow have already sold over 150 units.
The future is looking very bright and these are truly exhilarating times for everybody involved.
1997 - 1998
Richard Marlow focuses along with his team on designing and building a new model to replace the Ultima Sports, designated the Ultima GTR. The design changes focused on increasing the aerodynamic downforce, enhancing the engineering integrity, complying with the latest regulations and improving the ease of build process over that of the Ultima Sports.
The Ultima GTR was to be a much more refined car, with a greater performance potential than the Ultima Sports it was to replace.
1999 - 2001
Richard Marlow undertakes further technical development and testing/evaluation of the Ultima GTR model as well as visiting multiple different countries with the Ultima, exhibiting at numerous shows and exhibitions, resulting in more sales and establishing a growing export market for the brand.
The Ultima GTR is universally acknowledged to have reached a new market leading level of engineering excellence.
2002
Richard Marlow is instrumental in the design, invention and launch of the new Ultima Can-Am model.
A key novel feature of this new model, instigated by Richard, was the development and engineering of a system for quickly changing from the Perspex flyscreen to a fully e-marked glass laminated windscreen. The full laminated screen option would not only increase the practicality and road legality of the car in multiple countries but also made it possible to design and fit a soft-top roof option, something which the previous Spyder model was never engineered for or able to accommodate.
2003
Richard Marlow has a ‘eureka’ moment during a driving holiday with his Ultima GTR at the Le Mans 24 Hours race: to embark on a mission and demonstrate to the world beyond any doubt how fast the Ultima GTR really was.
This would involve putting it up against the stopwatch via independent, official Guinness World Record timekeepers in controlled conditions using GPS equipment. Marlow held every belief that it could beat all other road-going supercars on the market at that time.
An important point that Richard wanted to make with all world record attempts was to ensure the Ultima GTR was driven to and from each test venue on the public roads, which he felt was in the right spirit of such an endeavour.
2004
Ultima Sports demolishes the 0-100mph-0 world record in a mind-bending 10.3 seconds, with a standard production-specification 640bhp Ultima GTR. Driven by Richard Marlow, it creates a huge media frenzy and a worldwide stir in the automotive world.
The new 0-100mph-0 world record also included the setting of new road car world speed records for accelerating from 0-60mph and 0-100mph.
This eclipses the world record run of the mighty McLaren F1 LM in 11.5 seconds.
2005
The Ultima GTR640 launches and several world records are established. It’s officially verified as the world’s quickest supercar with the greatest performance envelope as a whole.
The Ultima GTR685 is developed and Richard Marlow sets another new world record for the 0-100mph-0 sprint of 9.8 seconds, eclipsing the GTR640’s time of 10.3 seconds. This was the first ever sub-ten second 0-100mph-0 recorded in the world.
As with all factory spec Ultimas, the devastatingly fast world record-breaking GTR is equally at home on the public roads and is an absolute pleasure to drive at normal road speeds thanks to the car's user-friendly nature and smooth power band engine.
2006
The Ultima GTR720 is launched.
Richard Marlow sets a 0-100mph-0 world record for the third year in succession, in just 9.4 seconds, setting a catalogue of new road car acceleration and deceleration world speed records in the process.
The Ultima GTR720 sets another world-beating statistic: logging a road car skidpan world record of 1.176g of lateral grip around a 200ft diameter circle, at the Chertsey test facility, driven by Richard Marlow.
Marlow also sets a new standing quarter mile production car record in the Ultima GTR720 demonstrator, at 9.941 seconds @ 143mph.
The Ultima GTR720 records a GPS independently verified 206mph at Bruntingthorpe airfield.
| Test | Timings |
|---|---|
| 0-60mph | 2.6 secs |
| 0-100mph | 5.3 secs |
| 0-150mph | 10.4 secs |
| 30-70mph | 1.8 secs |
| 0-100mph-0 | 9.4 secs |
| Standing Quarter Mile | 9.9 secs @ 143mph |
| 100mph-0 | 3.4 secs |
| Skidpad 200ft diameter | 1.176g |
All tests were recorded on road-legal tyres in controlled conditions and verified by an official from Datron Technology (Guinness World Records’ timekeepers) using Microsat GPS equipment.
2007
The Ultima GTR720 records the quickest ever road-legal lap time around the Top Gear Test Track, at 1:12.8, with an independent timekeeper and GPS timing gear present. The vehicle was also driven to and from the test track on the public roads as proof of its road-going ability. This completely obliterates the previous quickest lap time of that era of the Koenigsegg CCX in 1:17.6.
The fully verified lap time data shows that in a head-to-head race with the Ferrari Enzo, the Ultima GTR720 would lap it every 12 laps.
Richard and his team have achieved a clean sweep of the majority of recognized production road car performance parameters in existence, all held at the same time.
2009
The same Ultima GTR720 records an even quicker Top Gear Test Track lap time of 1:09.9, but this time is fitted with slick racing tyres to eclipse the lap time of Michael Schumacher in his $1.8 million Ferrari FXX track car (1:10.7).
To better the lap time of the greatest driver of this generation in arguably the world's most developed and expensive modern day track car is another extremely proud moment for Richard Marlow and his talented team. Of course, unlike the Ferrari FXX, which is not road legal, the Ultima GTR720 road car was driven back home afterwards.
2012
The Ultima GTR and Ultima Can-Am are attracting interest in new worldwide markets including Australia, Russia, China, Brazil and the Middle East, resulting in increased demand.
2014
Masterminded by Richard Marlow, work commences full-time behind the scenes in January 2014 to produce a new, updated model to replace the Ultima GTR and Ultima Can-Am.
The project brief is to produce a vastly improved and modernised supercar, with even greater levels of fit, finish, quality, safety, driver comfort, usability, practicality, handling finesse and performance.
2015
Ultima Sports Ltd launches its new updated model. The Ultima Evolution will be available in both coupé and convertible forms. These models replace the Ultima GTR and Ultima Can-Am, which are both now discontinued (although parts and spares remain available).
What sets the Evolution apart from its forebears is a new level of sophistication: from the revised chassis and geometry to the mechanical components and modernisations such as LED headlights and forged wheels, back to the engine compartment, into the highly specified interior and out to the latest generation bodywork.
2016
Sales are extremely buoyant for the new Ultima Evo Coupe and Convertible model around the globe. Ultima sales have now reached over 65 different countries.
Development of the Evolution continues including a new hard-top retractable roof option being invented for the Convertible model.
2017
With three decades of highly successful sales and performance accomplishments with previous models, Richard Marlow concluded that the time was right for his team to develop a new Ultima RS flagship model.
Prototype work commences full time behind the scenes in 2017.
The new RS is destined to have market-leading levels of downforce via revised aero systems, perfected in the MIRA full size wind tunnel. Every design facet of the restyled Ultima RS panels will result in an increase in performance envelope capability compared to previous generation Ultima models.
2019
After a multi-million-pound development process, the new Ultima RS is officially unveiled to the public at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed event in the Supercar Paddock on Centre Stage, to worldwide applause.
The Ultima RS is the most thorough and comprehensive revision of Ultima ever to be released, with thousands of enhancement changes to specification. While maintaining the timeless Le Mans styling that has defined all Ultimas to date, the latest RS takes the concept to a wonderfully contemporary new high.
The RS takes everything that Richard Marlow and his long serving team have learnt over three decades of building supercars and condenses it into this, the ultimate Ultima.
2021
The new Ultima RS model has been exceptionally well received and acclaimed, already sold into 39 different countries and rising.
Ultima RS turnkey cars are commanding a premium price in the marketplace beyond MSRP.
The Ultima RS is inarguably the most driver-focused new supercar money can buy, with an unparalleled pure level of driver involvement.
There is an emerging analogue supercar cult, with the RS engaging the driver to a uniquely satisfying analogue driving experience.
Aside from all the technical and aesthetic innovations, the RS is above all a versatile sports car. As well as being pure and blisteringly fast, it’s also ideal for touring in comfort.
The RS has proven to be a huge milestone for the Ultima brand. The result is truly remarkable – a car that is devoid of restraint and an improvement in almost every area.
2023
The Ultima RS has been the most successful Ultima model of all time, propelling the brand to new heights.
Ultima Sports Ltd, under the leadership of Richard Marlow, continues to go from strength to strength and has set a benchmark amongst British independent hand-built sports car manufacturers that few can match.
Ultima Sports Ltd has cemented its legacy as a pioneering force in the realm of high-performance sports cars.
2024
Ultima has superb worldwide demand with full order books, with a core company focus currently being concentrated around providing existing loyal customers and new customers with first-class service.
"For a few decades, Ultima Sports vehicles have been viewed as some of the most respected and formidable sports cars in the world, all whilst remaining fully British and fully hand built. You can rest assured that there are no plans to change these fundamental mantras of the company as we continue to push the envelope of what's physically possible from a road-legal machine in the coming years"
Richard Marlow
