Friday 22nd May 2015

Elemental RP1 preview

A new contender in the minimalist British track day toy market, PH gets up close to the new Elemental RP1

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You wouldn't think there was Rizla paper's worth of space left in the UK track toy market but start-up sports car maker Elemental reckons it has found a gap and gave us a look around the two-seat car it hopes will fill it from early next year.

Another new player enters the field - is there room?

If you were at Goodwood last year you might remember the RP1's first static public outing - if you did you likely thought 'that looks fun'. Its designer describes it as a "classic racing barchetta with a modern high-performance ethos" and the car more than matches up with the competition in terms of spec and looks.

As with the Zenos E10and the Mexican Vuhl, the RP1 uses a Ford 2.0 Ecoboost turbo as its prime engine. Like the Lotus Elise, Zenos and others the car is based around a central tub, here using a mix of aluminium and carbon fibre.

Like the Ariel Atom, KTM X-Bow, Caterham 620R and the rest of them it'll be manically quick, as you'd expect from a car weighing around 580-600kg with 280hp and 324lb ft of torque. Elemental say the car's been timed to 60mph in 3.1 seconds and that's with two people on board. Top speed is reckoned to be 160-170mph. There's also a plan to offer Ford's 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost pumped up to 180hp, making it cheaper and also 40-50kg lighter.

Longitudinal engine difference over Zenos, etc

The price isn't confirmed but we're told "more than an Lotus Elise and less than a BAC Mono". Since that spans a range between £30,000 and £80,000 we're none the wiser, but we'd estimate £50,000, meaning it would directly butt heads with the supercharged Caterham 620R.

That's a mighty leap above the Zenos E10 S's £30,000 but the RP1 is that bit more exotic in terms of set-up. We should probably here say that the guys behind it have got serious form in this business. The co-founder and technical head John Begley has worked most recently at McLaren both on race and road cars, and boasts that he and Elemental's composites guy Peter Kent were the first two people to work on the P1 hypercar.

The RP1's Ecoboost engine sits longitudinally behind the driver like the BAC Mono's Cosworth unit instead of transversely like the engine in the Zenos, X-Bow, Atom and forthcoming Lotus 3-Eleven. The gearbox here isn't one of Ford's but instead is a Hewland sequential race 'box mounted behind the engine and operated via paddles.

Raised feet enable underfloor aero

This layout helps balance the car according to Begley and also lets them hang the rear double wishbone suspension off the gearbox. The ECU isn't Ford's either but comes from Life Racing, which also does the electronics for Formula Ford's 1.0 Ecoboost single seaters. Begley calls the total bill for the powertrain "horrendous" without giving a figure.

He's most proud of the front aerodynamics, achieved in part by lifting the driver's (and passenger's) feet right up to create room for twin air tunnels exiting behind the front wheels. "Now the front acts as a wing sucking the car to the ground," Begley says. Along with the rear diffuser they provide enough downforce not to need a rear deck-mounted wing.

There are no doors of course and no roof, so getting in is a matter of removing the steering wheel, sticking your feet on the carbon bucket seat and inserting them into the foot-tunnel (for want of a better word). Sitting with your feet up doesn't sound uncomfortable and isn't. Apparently they've got a way to duct heat from the front-mounted radiator to warm your tootsies.

Looking around in the inside makes you realise how much easier it is for low-volume sports cars makers these days to create an interesting, technical interior without breaking the bank buying loads of bespoke switchgear and trim. The cockpit's spine and sides of bare carbon fibre look the part and there's a digital display very similar (if not identical) to the Atom's behind the wheel that can be configured to offer all sorts of info, including oil pressure, water temp and more.

Track focused but road friendly, they say

The exterior looks good too. The designer, ex-Ford man and current part-time lecturer in car design at the Royal College of Art, Guy Colborne, has a thing for fast bikes and it shows. The high, centrally mounted exhaust pipe for example he says was inspired by bikes, specifically Ducatis, zipping past while he sat in M25 traffic. The wing mirrors are Ducati too, although height regs mean they might not stay. Quad circular rear lights may or may not be shared with the Elise but the format is a proven one and looks good.

Like Nissan and now Aston Martin, Elemental has been smart in creating an imaginary target customer. He lives in the south of England (perhaps close to Elemental's new factory near Chichester), loves track days (of course) and wants to be able to drive the car to Le Mans. That means although there's no real windscreen to speak of (an optional one is planned), the car will have a modicum of practicality in that there's room to store a tent and helmets in twin lockable storage areas ahead of the rear wheel arches. It'll have biggish (54-litre) tank for these kind of longer trips and the car will ride comfortably enough to make sure, as Begley says, this valued customer "won't be annoyed when he arrives."

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ELEMENTAL RP1
Engine: 1,999cc 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed sequential, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): 324@N/A rpm
0-60mph: 3.1sec (claimed)
Top speed: 160-170mph (claimed)
Weight: c.580-600kg (dry)
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Price: £50,000 (estimated)
On sale: Early 2016

[scubadude]

First XBow copy that doesn't look awful... still not loving the two-tone effect although works better here than on the Zenos.

Why do all Track car manufacturers think we don't want roofs? (I realise roofs mean doors and windscreens and they are hard but they could at least try)

[soad]

It reminds me of something?

[Frimley111R]

scubadude said:

First XBow copy that doesn't look awful... still not loving the two-tone effect although works better here than on the Zenos.

Why do all Track car manufacturers think we don't want roofs? (I realise roofs mean doors and windscreens and they are hard but they could at least try)

I think you've answered your own question. I remember when Lotus built the original Elise that they spent £1m (might have been £2m) on the doors alone.

It does look nicer and less budget than the Zenos but them I expect that it will also cost a big chunk more. I do think though that anything without a roof is going to be a big challenge in the UK. I have a friend with a Cobra and unless its almost 100% no chance of rain he doesn't go out. Can you image going to a TD and its starts raining all day and all the way home.

[jeffw]

The Dash is a Race Technology Dash2Pro as used in the Atom and lots of race/kit cars.

[unsprung]

Does what it says on the tin. Personally I adore this sort of barchetta-inspired track car.

However, as the author notes, I wouldn't have thought that the UK market is crying out for another entrant -- at least one that brings no disruption.

Rather than conjure an archetypal customer based on demographics, I would suggest that this manufacturer look at customer jobs-to-be-done. That is, "For what 'jobs' do customers 'hire' these track cars?" and "How are current offerings under-delivering (if at all) on these 'jobs?' "

Given the crowded field, is there competitive advantage in, say...

- lowest price / leasing / bundled deals on consumables
- being the most popular UK track car for export
- creating a national shared ownership scheme

Good luck to them. I hope that merely offering another car will lead to success. But I'm not confident that a strategy based mostly on "me too" is going to be sufficient.

[mgbond]

Oh no, I fit his target customer criteria. Think I would want a roof though.

[miniracer118]

scubadude said:

First XBow copy that doesn't look awful... still not loving the two-tone effect although works better here than on the Zenos.

Why do all Track car manufacturers think we don't want roofs? (I realise roofs mean doors and windscreens and they are hard but they could at least try)

For someone who despises the UK niche vehicle market so much you are very persistent. Your first comment is like saying a Corsa is a Fiesta copy because they are the same market.

And a lot of the UK track day cars do have roofs. Caterham and Zenos both offer shower hoods to keep most of the rain off you. More than would be kept off if you had a motorbike...

Thumbs up to British Engineering.

[MrTappets]

I don't think there's such a thing as a casual purchase in this sector. Sure a lot of people who aren't remotely into cars buy Corsas just because it's that or a Fiesta. Only petrol heads are going to be looking at this sector, and what with the Caterham, Morgan, Ariel, BAC, Zenos, KTM, Vuhl, Lotus, Ginetta, Ultima, GTM, Fury, Gardner Douglas, Sylva, Locost, Grinnall, etc. etc. etc. it looks like there's already enough to go around.

[ewenm]

No roof for a track toy isn't a problem as long as the interior is wipe-clean/water-resistant. Yes, it is not the most pleasant experience driving a roofless, screenless car in the rain but it's not too bad if you know the car can handle it.

[mr shoddy]

I wonder how many they plan to sell?

Surely putting a roof and doors on it would appeal to a much wider audience. There are so many enthusiasts that would use one of these as a daily driver if it had protection from the elements.

[ceebmoj]

I saw this last year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it looked great in the flesh and has a lot of nice touches.

[jakeb]

quite want one of these - windscreen would be good rather than having to wear a helmet everywhere

[SpudLink]

This was at the NEC in January. The suggestion was that the RP1 has been designed for a range of engines, not just the Eco-Boost. I guess that they've had to narrow their focus as they move closer to production.
I really liked it. The only thing I didn't like was the conversation that was mostly about what Zenos are doing wrong, in both engineering and the business model.
They do seem very focused on the engineering, so I'm guessing this should be a real weapon on track. If I had the money for a BAC Mono to would be my first choice trackday toy. Failing that, if I had about £60k (my estimate of what it will be when it goes on sale) I'd give this serious consideration, but not until we see how the next 2-11 shapes up. In reality my budget only stretches to a Zenos, which I think is an exceptional piece of kit for Elise money.

[daytona365]

Much better looking than that other thing...But hardly cheap.

[Zumbruk]

I've just sold my Westfield, for the simple reason that cars with no roofs are simply not on in the UK. Doing track days in the rain is a miserable, desperate experience once the novelty has worn off, and if you wait until it's clear what the weather forecast is for a given day, it's usually full. You can't drive these cars on the public highway the way they should be driven - you'll either be killed or prosecuted - so going out for a Sunday blast rapidly palls - more often than not I came back in a worse mood than when I went out. So, all things considered, I want a top on my next track car.

Add to this that you can buy a perfectly good Boxster for under £5K, or a Cayman for under £15K if you want a tin top rather than a rag one, and I don't see why anyone buys these.

Edited by Zumbruk on Sunday 24th May 16:33

[unsprung]

Zumbruk said:

I've just sold my Westfield, for the simple reason that cars with no roofs are simply not on in the UK. Doing track days in the rain is a miserable, desperate experience once the novelty has worn off, and if you wait until it's clear what the weather forecast is for a given day, it's usually full. You can't drive these cars on the public highway the way they should be driven - you'll either be killed or prosecuted - so going out for a Sunday blast rapidly palls - more often than not I came back in a worse mood than when I went out. So, all things considered, I want a top on my next track car.

Add to this that you can buy a perfectly good Boxster for under £5K, or a Cayman for under £15K if you want a tin top rather than a rag one, and I don't see why anyone buys these.

Edited by Zumbruk on Sunday 24th May 16:33

An illuminating testimony to customer "jobs" and the decisions that flow from these. Especially useful: product substitution from outside the category (ie: Boxster / Cayman).

These are the comments of one customer, and they will not apply to all. But they may represent a good number of customers.

[flyingscot68]

Zumbruk said:

I've just sold my Westfield, for the simple reason that cars with no roofs are simply not on in the UK.

Not on for you maybe, personally I like not having a roof or screen - I've been riding motorbikes since I was 17 and as long as you have the right clothing the weather makes no difference.

I like the look of this but I doubt it'll come in under £60k

[Axionknight]

I think it looks great, even in that colour.

The front end, sorta, kinda, reminds me of a VX220, hmmm.

Best of luck to 'em!

[kambites]

I like the idea of a longitudinally mounted engine in a car of this class, but not at that sort of price. I hope their sales targets are modest.

[DonkeyApple]

Zumbruk said:

I've just sold my Westfield, for the simple reason that cars with no roofs are simply not on in the UK. Doing track days in the rain is a miserable, desperate experience once the novelty has worn off, and if you wait until it's clear what the weather forecast is for a given day, it's usually full. You can't drive these cars on the public highway the way they should be driven - you'll either be killed or prosecuted - so going out for a Sunday blast rapidly palls - more often than not I came back in a worse mood than when I went out. So, all things considered, I want a top on my next track car.

Add to this that you can buy a perfectly good Boxster for under £5K, or a Cayman for under £15K if you want a tin top rather than a rag one, and I don't see why anyone buys these.

Edited by Zumbruk on Sunday 24th May 16:33

I couldn't agree more when it comes to usinnon the road or getting to the circuit. On paper they all look wonderful but in reality they become a ballache very quickly.

However, when you then look at the more practical sort of car they are very dull in a circuit.

I stopped bothering with track days as I suddenly realised they were boring. Several years later I got dragged along to one and then forced to go out in a car with no screen or roof. It was at that moment that I learnt that I wasn't board of track days but bored of normal cars. I pissed myself laughing at the buzz from something like a Radical.

So, the simple solution is to have the perfect car for track days and keep it in a trailer that has enough space to sit with a hot brew and get changed back into warm, dry clothes in.