This Underdog with a GT-R Engine Outperformed a Hypercar with More Than Twice the Power | Carscoops
With a few more laps at Top Gear’s test track, the Bohema might have even surpassed the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
The Praga Bohema features a modified Nissan GT-R engine that generates 700 hp. Its lightweight carbon fiber construction keeps the weight at just 2,300 lbs. It has outperformed the 1,600 hp Koenigsegg Jesko on Top Gear's original Dunsfold test track.
Not every record-setting supercar stems from a well-known brand or an extravagant marketing campaign. Sometimes, it's the less familiar underdogs that quietly arrive, speed ahead, and leave established competitors questioning their performance.
The relatively obscure Praga Bohema has established a new lap record for a purely combustion-powered vehicle at the historic Top Gear test track, surpassing the more powerful Koenigsegg Jesko and coming close to the Aston Martin Valkyrie. This is quite an achievement for a company that we suspect many car enthusiasts may not recognize.
Additionally, Praga has confirmed that the Bohema is indeed real by delivering the first production car.
The lightweight Bohema is constructed almost entirely from carbon fiber, much like the Aston Martin Valkyrie, and features specialized bodywork designed to maximize downforce. Its power comes from a modified 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine sourced from the Nissan GT-R, tuned by Litchfield to produce 700 horsepower, with all power directed to the rear wheels.
Eager to test the car's speed, Praga enlisted Ben Collins, the former Stig, to take the Bohema around Dunsfold Aerodrome. Having driven the car before, he quickly harnessed its power effectively.
On his initial flying lap, he recorded a time of 1:12.3, surpassing the Ferrari 488 Pista’s 1:12.7, but still shy of the hybrid Ferrari SF90’s 1:11.3. This initial performance showed promise, yet the Bohema had more potential. Collins continued to improve, reducing his lap time with each run until he managed a time of 1:10.9. Ultimately, on his fastest attempt, he achieved a stunning 1:09.8, placing the Bohema just two-tenths of a second behind the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
However, it’s important to note a slight caveat. During the Top Gear TV era, The Stig generally had only one flying lap to set a time, whereas Collins completed several laps in the Bohema, allowing him to become more familiar with the vehicle. Thus, the comparison isn't entirely direct. Nevertheless, for a small brand like Praga, this accomplishment remains impressive.
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This Underdog with a GT-R Engine Outperformed a Hypercar with More Than Twice the Power | Carscoops
With a few additional laps at Top Gear's test track, the Bohema could have potentially surpassed the Aston Martin Valkyrie.