Wednesday 21st April 2004

Vemac Update

Testing in Japan complete - production started

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After lengthy delays and numerous revisions, production of the VEMAC is finally go, with the company expecting to be churning them out at the rate of one to two per month initially, with completion of the first three scheduled for the end of June. You'll have to wait a while longer yet before you can buy one to put in your garage though as all initial production is earmarked for Japan, with six confirmed orders so far and four more expected to be confirmed shortly.
 
The production version of the car, dubbed the VEMAC RD200, uses the latest 2 litre Honda IVTEC engine and six-speed gearbox with LSD, mounted transversely, and is both stiffer and lighter than the original prototype.
 
VEMAC say that fulfilling orders from Japan (where the car is priced at £42,000) makes it unlikely that the RD200 will be available in the UK this year, but will announce UK availability, price and spec as and when.

Link : www.vemaccars.com

Graham Bell

[fizz]

Thank you GB for the update. The price is high--factor in the exchange rate--but boy what a nice looker. When are you going to Japan for the comprehensive roadtest? I'm sure it is in the Pistonheads budget...

[markburnt]

What a looker?? Are you having a giggle, this is 2004! I would hope for something other than a bad scimitar detailess kit car lookalike for my £42000!

£42000, yes let's say that again £42000!!

Just my 232998 Yen worth in current exchange.

[Xm5eR]

Why is the driver wearing a horse riding hat?

[chris_w]

Hmmm, S1 Elise; £12k. Honda conversion; £10k. Job done.

It's not bad looking car, just five years too late.

[Lotusacbc]

LOL @ XM

What a total rip off of the Elise.

[jpf]

The VEMAC has a better engine than the Elise, has derivative Ferrari styling and is probably a better day to day vehicle (comfort, etc.) than the Elise. Factoring in exchange rates and pulling out VAT, the car would cost $60,000 in the USA--is it 50% better than the Elise? Probably not--20% better, maybe.

Thanks for the followup, Mr. Bell!

[dinkel]

Great looking baby. Wonder what the 320 / 350 have behind the seats: v8 Judds? They do race and appear in some games . . . In the flesh a stunner except for the rear. Looks slimmer than Elise and a bit DelSolish. 42k is a lot . . .

>> Edited by dinkel on Thursday 22 April 12:54

[smele]

I am sorry, but there is clearly something wrong with that last picture, the back of that car is terrible. Looks like little like a Lotus Europa meets something Del Sol

[t1grm]

I genuinely thought this was a re-engine mod for an Elise MK1 when I saw the first pictures. It looks near identical.

[Lotusacbc]

jpf said:

The VEMAC has a better engine than the Elise, has derivative Ferrari styling and is probably a better day to day vehicle (comfort, etc.) than the Elise. Factoring in exchange rates and pulling out VAT, the car would cost $60,000 in the USA--is it 50% better than the Elise? Probably not--20% better, maybe. Thanks for the followup, Mr. Bell!

If it came down to it, what u would rather own. This or an Elise? Lotus of course! Who cares about day to day. We arent buying it for the grocery storage capability are we?

[jpf]

what do people buy a boxster for? a ferrari 360 for?

[jpf]

How many cars have these guys made?

[robbo64]

42K for shit-looking elise replica.
20-oddK for better lokking elise.

SIMPLE CHOICE IMHO.

[jpf]

GB--
Is it true these cars are no longer made in the UK?

How is the egress/ingress compared to the Elise?

Any VEMAC's hitting the UK roads?

Anyone have current pictures?

[anonymous-user]

I visited VEMAC for Evo a few years back to do a piece on Luke Craft who runs the company (you might remember the elder Craft's short lived F1 career?). The car was pretty impressive with some nice detailing. David Vivian drove an early one and thought it was a great drive, just lacking in power. The race versions were using NSX lumps back then.

Anyhow, it looks better in the flesh than the pics here and i think it's great to see more options for us as drivers, even if i haven't got £40k to splash on one!

Someone else may know more, but production was going to be moved to South Africa, may even be out in Far East now? Good luck to them i say!

[AlfaMaleV6]

Maybe I'm missing the point, but if it's a Jap car shouldn't it be twice as good and cost half as much? ;-)

[hendry]

AlfaMaleV6 said:

Maybe I'm missing the point, but if it's a Jap car shouldn't it be twice as good and cost half as much? ;-)

You ARE missing the point. They are made in Essex by the Crafts, who engineered The Rocket. This is no kit car trying to look like an Elise. It's credentials are probably better than Lotus's, recent history viewed in isolation.

The 320/350 had an NSX engine in. Now that car has gone, wouldn't this make a great Honda range topper. Especially in Lucky Strike livery...

[jpf]

Has anyone in PHland driven a VEMAC?

[jpf]

How many of these bad boys have been made?

Any chance of a Elise/Vemac comparison test?

How many are in Japan?

[jpf]

What's new in VEMAC land? Aren't they made in the UK and sold in Japan?