Thursday 23rd January 2014

Zenos E10 - latest

PH drops by to see Zenos and catch up on the latest post Autosport unveiling

---

Given that both Zenos founders Ansar Ali and Mark Edwards are former Lotus men the location of the firm's industrial unit next door to Hethel could be seen as somewhat provocative. For PH though it was mainly convenient, given we were at Lotus yesterday and tooling about on the test track the other side of the fence. Rude not to call by on our way home and catch up on the latest with the E10 after its public debut at Autosport.

What little that's there 'falls easily to hand'

Seemingly we timed our visit well too, Ali explaining that the show car was shortly to be taken apart before the next stage in the E10's path to becoming a living, breathing car. It looks pretty much there even now, the car pictured based around the fabricated spine we saw on our original visit rather than extruded beam production cars will use. As such it's a little heavier than the targeted 650kg dry weight and there are small details to resolve. Like the fact the pedals aren't actually connected to any controls. No chance of a sneaky test drive around the car park then...

We can dream though and from the driver's seat the first thing that strikes you about the Zenos cockpit is how roomy it is, the footwell capacious and even with the roll cage's side bars - covered by a trim panel - in place and plenty of elbow room. With control points set by the wooden buck we sat in a few months back the Ford Focus donated gear stick is set high and a short flick of the wrist away from the wheel. It's minimal, for sure, but stylishly so.

Inside and out the look of the E10 really is impressive, though this did have unexpected consequences. Ali talks of hurriedly having to post up some 'starting at £24,995' banners for the Autosport stand after earwigging passing showgoers saying 'yeah but it'll be 50-grand won't it, can't afford that'.

Floating body offers glimpses of structure beneath

It's a measure of a success of the design process that it both looks good and offers a visual suggestion of the car's construction and core values - the contrasting wings and floating sections of bodywork have an additional functional benefit in being cheap to replace after minor track dings for instance. As previously discussed the same goes for the carbon chassis tub, which Mark told us would be 'less than five grand all-in' to replace if you had a really big off. Stiffness shouldn't be an issue either, the aluminium spine in isolation designed to be torsionally more rigid than an Elise tub.

Which all bodes well for the driving experience, the mule intended to turn a wheel for the first time in March with Zenos's Chris Weston doing the initial testing. Around the same time Zenos will up sticks and move a couple of hundred yards into a larger unit on the Hethel Engineering Centre where production E10s will be assembled at the rate of three per week when deliveries start this time next year.

Autosport secured 20-odd deposits already and Ali has been overwhelmed by the interest, not least from overseas. PHers are among the initial customers too, one who put his order in sight unseen before popping down to see the car apparently dumbstruck on the threshold at the sight of the E10 in the flesh. Passionate reactions like this are clearly a huge boost to the team too and reward for the long hours required to get the car ready for its debut.

 

[Gorbyrev]

Very very promising machine. If they can keep costs and weight down they should be able to sell every one they build.

[soad]

Good to see more photos, I'm beginning to like it.

[Davey S2]

I really like it but the lack of practicality means it will only be bought by really hardcore track types who have gone for cars like the Lotus 340R and 2-11 in the past.

Your average weekend / trackday buyer will probably stick with an Elise or Caterham.

[stuart-b]

Will it be fully road legal?

[mikeg15]

Backbone chassis are all very well, but leave very little space for side intrusion protection - essential for a track car. Look at the amount of ugly external ironmongery that has to be hung on Caterhams and Westfields.

Edited by mikeg15 on Thursday 23 January 11:48

[suffolk009]

It seems to make the aeroseven look a tad pricey.

[gianlu]

Article said:

PHers are among the initial customers too, one who put his order in sight unseen before popping down to see the car apparently dumbstruck on the threshold at the sight of the E10 in the flesh

Well, that would be me then
I was there on Monday to see the car for the fist time. Some 10 days apfter the deposit! Loved the car and amazed by how roomy it is inside. I already have an Elise and a 7, being similar size to the elise I was expecting a similar feel, but the lack of sills does change the inside of the car completely. I'm now sitting on the option list to see which box to tick...

It's going to be a long 12 months of waiting

[gianlu]

stuart-b: yes, it will be, it is sold as road legal and the price includes IVA
mikeg15, it is not just the back bone, there is some "ironmogery" already, but I'm sure Ansar will be soon be here to comment better...

[OlberJ]

Davey S2 said:

I really like it but the lack of practicality means it will only be bought by really hardcore track types who have gone for cars like the Lotus 340R and 2-11 in the past.

Your average weekend / trackday buyer will probably stick with an Elise or Caterham.

See the E11/12 that's following this for what you need.

[samdale]

OlberJ said:

See the E11/12 that's following this for what you need.

the E11 is going to be much more elise-esque. Based on the E10 but with doors, screen and roof. And again will be very reasonably priced

[Davey S2]

E11 eh? 'Velly interesting'

/scratches chin and looks at bank balance.

[OlberJ]

4 years till that's released though!

[jayemm89]

I was very fortunate to be up at Hethel the other day where Ansar Ali spared me some time. I can say the car looks stunning and I have never known a more enthusiastic and knowledgeable bunch of people.

I don't want to divulge any information but yes as the website suggests the E11 (roadster) and E12 (Coupe) will be coming in the future and those are aimed at being more realistic everyday cars - the E10 I think is designed pretty much as a track/second car for nice weather.

[Vee12V]

Very AM CC100 from behind. Like it.

[V6GT]

They look like 8C or mito rear lights.

Do like this though.

[Hatchoo]

"from the driver's seat the first thing that strikes you about the Zenos cockpit is how roomy it is"

This is not what strikes me about the cockpit. The external design approach that beautifully combines different materials in curves and folded planes hasn't made it to the inside which seems a shame. Nor have the designers said, "look it's a track car" and allowed form to follow function as Radical and Lotus do successfully with the SR3 the 2-Eleven, instead they seem to have used a trapezoidal design cue that risks looking a bit 1980's hatchback. I understand this is a minimalist track focused car produced on a very, very tight budget, but the exterior's so good that I can't help feel a bit disappointed by the place where you sit.

Edited by Hatchoo on Thursday 23 January 12:44

Edited by Hatchoo on Thursday 23 January 14:14

[lewisf182]

That looks fantastic in my eyes and at £25k looks to be a proper bargain! Makes it so much more justifiable as a weekend car & snotter set up.

[Ex Boy Racer]

Hatchoo said:

"from the driver's seat the first thing that strikes you about the Zenos cockpit is how roomy it is"

This is not what strikes me about the cockpit. The external design approach that beautifully combines different material in curves and folded planes hasn't made it to the inside which seems a shame. Nor have the designers said, "look it's a track car" and allowed form to follow function as Radical and Lotus do successfully with the SR3 the 2-Eleven, instead they seem to have used a trapezoidal design cue that risks looking a bit 1980's hatchback. I understand this is a minimalist track focused car produced on a very, very tight budget, but the exterior's so good that I can't help feel a bit disappointed by the place where you sit.

Edited by Hatchoo on Thursday 23 January 12:44

Just so I'm sure - you don't like it??

[Dan Trent]

gianlu said:

stuart-b: yes, it will be, it is sold as road legal and the price includes IVA
mikeg15, it is not just the back bone, there is some "ironmogery" already, but I'm sure Ansar will be soon be here to comment better...

Thanks for digging that pic out! As per article, that's the prototype fabricated spine mentioned and not the finished extrusion that'll be in production cars. You can also see the side intrusion and rollover protection, much of which is now covered by bodywork.

Cheers,

Dan

[anonymous-user]

£5k to replace the tub in the event of a crash, yeah right, pull the other one!

(by the time you've paid the labour for the stip/rebuild, painted it, bought all the fixings, fastenings etc that'll be a LOT more than that.......)