Unveiled Praga Bohema, a hypercar specialized for circuit driving.
Czech racing car specialist Praga has joined the ranks of hypercar manufacturers with the unveiling of its new Bohema, an extreme track machine that can also be driven on public roads.
Named after Praga's 115-year-old Czech roots, the Bohema was developed from scratch, but its engine is derived from the Nissan GT-R's twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-6. Bohema's engine is the breath of Britain's Lichfield Engineering, and Praga's target output is 700 hp, 100 hp more than the GT-R Nismo's output.
Bohema's engine is mounted behind the cabin and is mated to a Hewland sequential transmission. The engine also features a titanium exhaust running from the turbo to the rear. Litchfield also installed a dry sump lubrication system, which lowered the height of the engine by 5.5 inches.
Output may not be high by hypercar standards, but the target vehicle weight is only 2,164 pounds, and that is with all fluids on board except fuel. This is due to the use of carbon fiber in both the central monocoque structure and the body. A total of 56 carbon parts are also used in the cabin, along with Alcantara and leather trim. Magnesium and titanium were also used to reduce weight.
The exterior design is more akin to a sports prototype racer than a road car. The exterior was also shaped by wind tunnel testing, resulting in complex aerodynamics capable of producing 1,984 pounds of downforce at 155 mph.
Because development is not complete, Praga is withholding most specifications, but says the car will have a top speed of just over 186 mph. The company also stated that Bohema owners can expect lap times similar to GT3 racing cars.
The car has been honed by former Formula 1 driver and current IndyCar star Romain Grosjean. He said he was most impressed by the car's ability to handle both road and track conditions without the need for modifications,
and that the car's "very good" performance was "very good.
"I was amazed by Bohema's great performance on the track, its ease of use on public roads, and the ease of transition between the two," he said in a statement.
Detailed specifications will be confirmed closer to the start of production in 2023. Eighty-nine cars will be produced to commemorate this year's 89th anniversary of Praga's historic victory in the 1933 Czechoslovakia 1000-mile race. Prices start at $1.31 million.
Praga has yet to confirm that the Bohema will be sold in the U.S., although the company said it is in discussions with local partner Praga Racing West, based at Sonoma Raceway in California.
