Âge Ultranova

Âge Ultranova
Manufacturer	Âge
Appearance	Ridge Racer 6 Ridge Racer 7 Drift Spirits
Class	Special (6) 1 (7)
Engine	3.0 L turbocharged V10
Drivetrain	MR
Handling type	Special (Standard)
Nitrous type	Standard triple boost (Normal Charge U)
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• Ridge Racer 6
• Ridge Racer 7

"Âge, successful in its race for the crown at last year's Grand Prix, decided to make a replica of its race machine, and this is the prototype. Still a prototype, the internals are identical to the winning machine, making it a formidable competitor."

―In-game description

"A concept machine created specifically for racing. With a bare minimum of safety systems, a mostly carbon composite body and a highly-tuned engine, this is a pure racing machine."

―In-game description

The Âge Ultranova is Âge's Special Machine featured in Ridge Racer 6 and 7.

Overview

Real World Inspirations

The Âge Ultranova appears to be based on Formula Racing Cars of the time. Despite that, most of the design is original to the series.

In Universe

Âge won 2004's Ridge World Grand Prix, and they decided to make a replica of the winning car. As of 2005, it was still a prototype, but according to Âge engineer Francois Juvet, "it's pretty darn close."

Games

Ridge Racer 6

In its debut title, the Ultranova excells well with its high Ultimate Charge rates, being able to finish the entire race just by constantly firing Triple Nitrous. The normal charge rates are low, however, and the Ultranova may need an entire lap to fill up that tank. When that single tank is filled, a single high-speed drift after a complete nitrous burst, even on a straight road, is enough to refill all of the available tanks, guaranteeing victory on the track.

Ridge Racer 7

The Ultranova is mostly unchanged from its previous appearance, aside from being equipped with Nitrous Point 100 by default. However, it received an indirect nerf due to a change in game-mechanics. Due to the difference of the Ultimate Charging system where it is weaker on straight sections, the Ultranova now requires more strategic use of nitrous to be able to experience its maximum potential.

If the player hadn't unlocked competitive plug-ins and performance parts for their regular machines yet, the Âge Ultranova is one of the few special machines that can be a suitable substitute machine for Online Play due to its ultimate charge rate and a single nitrous tank already being filled. However, one must note that if they choke during their ultimate charge and they have no nitrous charge left, they may get left in the dust by their competition.

Drift Spirits

Main page: Âge Ultranova on Drift Spirits Wiki

On April 2024, the Âge Ultranova was added to Drift Spirits as part of a survival challenge, alongside the Lucky & Wild Wisdom and Assoluto Promessa.

Performance

Rarity	Plus	Power	Speed	Acceleration	Handling	Nitrous	Gas
7		695	3661	2363	3956	3931	810
	+	701	3691	2393	3986	3961
	++	703	3721	2423	4016	3991

Gallery

Ridge Racer 7

Cybersled livery

Astaroth livery

Andorgenesis Wheels livery

Drift Spirits

Trivia

• This is more of an accessibility issue, but the prolonged on-screen effects and engine over-revving for Triple Nitrous can potentially cause headaches to the player in Ridge Racer 6.
• If looked closely when braking, the centre braking light on the Ultranova will show the Âge logo.
• The mention of Age winning the 2004 World Grand Prix may imply that they are the canonical winners of Ridge Racer (PSP).
• The car makes two references to the Âge Supernova, having been based on a successful race car, and also its "nova" suffix on its name.
• The Ultranova's Andorgenesis livery in Ridge Racer 7 features a different driver model in the cockpit: a smiling Japanese man is used in place of the Âge factory driver. The reason for this is unknown, or intended to be an easter egg.

The man in the Andorgenesis skin.