The track-focused Bohema has been homologated for UK roads, with right-hand drive examples hitting the road in 2024
With a CV that includes the 390bhp R1R, Praga is turning up the heat with an altogether more extreme street-legal track car: the Bohema. Costing £1.32 million apiece, the Bohema is a high-downforce two-seater with a carbonfibre chassis and 700bhp, thanks to a Nissan GT-R-derived twin-turbocharged V6.
Praga has announced that the new hypercar is in its final stage of development, having been homologated for use on UK roads. Production is limited to just 89 units, and each customer will be able to finalise spec and personalisation options at the firm’s new Dunsfold headquarters in the coming months. First builds will be completed before the year is out, with right-hand drive Bohemas becoming available in 2024.
Like the R1R that came before it, the Bohema draws heavily from Praga’s motorsport efforts, distilling elements of its competition cars into a road-going model. As such, keeping weight to a minimum is key in its design, with every element scrutinised to reduce mass.
The cabin, for instance, might be more commodious and comfortable than any Praga before it, but it’s built up from just 56 individual pieces of carbonfibre that together weigh just 34kg. All-in, Praga has targeted a weight figure of just 986kg wet, with an empty fuel tank.
The suspension is a pushrod setup with passive coilovers that are mounted horizontally to help keep the bodywork as low to the ground as possible. These are hooked up to bespoke carbonfibre wishbones and control arms. The standard wheels and tyres are a staggered 18- and 19-inch setup running a set of Pirelli Trofeo R tyres, but a full set of 18-inch wheels are available to suit full racing slicks for track use. The braking package consists of 380mm carbon ceramic discs on the front axle, gripped by six-piston calipers.
Its engine is sourced from Nissan, who ships factory fresh twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 units directly to British tuner Litchfield. Here, the engines are converted from wet to dry-sump, helping reduce the height of the engines by 140mm and ensuring consistent oil supply during hard cornering on track. Litchfield also replaces the turbos, to which a bespoke titanium extractor and exhaust system are then bolted. At its basic specification, the Bohema is rated to 700bhp at 6800rpm, with torque peaking at 535lb ft between 3000 and 5000rpm.
The engine is then connected to a six-speed semi-automatic transmission from Hewland, who has specifically designed helical cut gears and internal reinforcements to keep things resilient while being more refined for road use. This, together with the engine, is mounted in its own dedicated subframe, rather than the carbon structure itself, again for the benefit of on-road refinement.
Praga hasn’t detailed specific performance figures, aside from the fact it’s capable of over 186mph despite its aggressive aero package. This aero has been honed with the use of an F1 wind-tunnel, and is capable of creating up to 900kg of downforce at 155mph.
To reinforce the Bohema’s on-road practicality, Praga has created two dedicated luggage spaces just ahead of the rear wheels. Like that seen in a Pagani or the McLaren F1, there are dedicated cases specifically shaped to fit these voids. Interior ambiance has also been paid attention to, with new milled controls, soft Alcantara and coordinating stitching.
Praga has a planned production run of 10 units in 2023, with a maximum of 20 units being produced annually. A total of 89 units will be built, inspired by the company’s victory in the 1933 road race 89 years ago. Praga currently has a limited network in the UK, but has plans to open up a new brand centre in 2023, giving the brand more visibility as its new flagship comes on stream.
Keyword: Praga Bohema hypercar enters final development phase