the shark-inspired 'akula' supercar cuts through the air like a predator

british racing car manufacturer ginetta takes inspiration from the ocean’s most popular predator for its latest supercar. with some aggressive track-inspired aero and styling results, the akula is designed to cut through the air like a shark hunting its prey.

images courtesy of ginetta

the car weighs an impressive 2,535 pounds and features a carbon fiber construction for the body and chassis, as well as a 430kW V8 power plant spitting out over 600 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. the engine features front-midship positioning, is mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox and drives the rear wheels. ginetta boasts 829 pounds of downforce at 100mph.

the akula (that’s russian for  has an adjustable pushrod activated double wishbone suspension system which is used at each corner. a pair of 19-inch wheels are found at the front and 20-inch wheels sit at the rear, all wrapped with michelin pilot sport 4 tires and house carbon-ceramic brakes.

previewed at the geneva motor show 2019, ginetta notes the absence of active aerodynamics. instead, the extremely low location of the engine allows for through-the-body aero tunnels and long wishbones up front. this means the akula can claim ‘class-leading’ downforce levels.

ginetta says it took three years to develop, with the aluminum block, crank, pistons, rods and throttle bodies all machined in house. other in house feats include the gearbox and dry sump lubrication system, which is an evolution of a ginetta design seven years ago.

‘the concept behind the akula was to build something truly individual, something that other brands cannot do due to corporate constraints,’ says ginetta chairman lawrence tomlinson. ‘designed to cut through the air like a shark through water, the car unquestionably means business, and I’m proud to be manufacturing a car of such significance in the uk.’

the akula will be limited to just 20 units when it starts production in 2020. prices start from £283,333 excl. VAT (approx €250,000). there’s no word yet if any will be available in the united states.