Elemental RP-1 for Goodwood debut
Yes, it's another Brit newcomer promising a new take on the minimalist road/track car thing
The facts, as we have them from Elemental's website, the press release and a few abstract computer renderings: The RP-1 would appear to be a lightweight (c. 450kg at best it's claimed) road legal track car with no roof, a 280hp Ford Ecoboost engine, sequential gearbox, the inevitable patented carbon fibre tub and ambition to "completely update the traditional idea of an occasional-use road and track car."
Thing is, there are quite a few other cars out there with the same goal. Caterham continues to spin new variants off the endlessly adaptable Seven theme, ever more mental Ariel Atoms build on an established fan base for the skeletal Honda-powered rocketships, Radical can build you a road legal track car complete with proper downforce and real racing car vibes while KTM has its wild-looking X-Bow range and, for the wealthy/unsociable the BAC Mono offers perhaps the most purist vision of the breed with stunning design and bonkers performance. That's before you factor in the Vuhl 05 and Zenos also following a similar path and closer to production reality.
Elemental boasts the expected roster of motorsport and engineering experience and, from the renders, an eye for style too. It'll need a USP to stand out in the above crowd though, the most distinctive feature we could pick out being the seating position which raises the driver's feet up to create room for underbody aero and contrive proper racing car sensations. Other intriguing sounding features include a 'cassette installation' to enable 'further engine options' to be 'easily fitted'. The car, built in aluminium for the first XP1 prototype last year and then in carbon XP2 form, also features fully adjustable suspension and a programmable dash display linked to built-in cameras to replay your on-track heroism at a later date. Boldly Elemental promises the RP-1 is the first of a range of cars it will build.
The car will be unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed at the end of the month and while pricing has yet to be disclosed looking at the spec it would be extremely surprising if it were any less than £50K. If Elemental offer us any more information on that we'll update you as soon as we hear.
[Sources Sniff Petrol, Elemental Cars]
Now if someone would make a minimalist, no fancy expensive kit, light car - in inexpensive materials, yet beautiful (think modernised Ferrari Dino shape) small road sports car with say 150bhp mid mounted roadcar powertrain at under £25,000- maybe even part kit as Lotus did in 1960s/early 70s with say 40hrs of final assembly- that would be interesting.
We keep seeing ambitious exotic car start ups that just fade away - all the massive effort is wasted.
Now if someone would make a minimalist, no fancy expensive kit, light car - in inexpensive materials, yet beautiful (think modernised Ferrari Dino shape) small road sports car with say 150bhp mid mounted roadcar powertrain at under £25,000- maybe even part kit as Lotus did in 1960s/early 70s with say 40hrs of final assembly- that would be interesting.
We keep seeing ambitious exotic car start ups that just fade away - all the massive effort is wasted.
Now if someone would make a minimalist, no fancy expensive kit, light car - in inexpensive materials, yet beautiful (think modernised Ferrari Dino shape) small road sports car with say 150bhp mid mounted roadcar powertrain at under £25,000- maybe even part kit as Lotus did in 1960s/early 70s with say 40hrs of final assembly- that would be interesting.
We keep seeing ambitious exotic car start ups that just fade away - all the massive effort is wasted.
Now if someone would make a minimalist, no fancy expensive kit, light car - in inexpensive materials, yet beautiful (think modernised Ferrari Dino shape) small road sports car with say 150bhp mid mounted roadcar powertrain at under £25,000- maybe even part kit as Lotus did in 1960s/early 70s with say 40hrs of final assembly- that would be interesting.
https://vimeo.com/90207054
I sent it to Lotus, Caterham and a few more and they never answered, not even criticising it. I'm posting it here in hope that somebody will tell me how stupid it is.
Inclined to agreed with above comments - what people want is a kit car.
Basically you can get a mechanically newish second hand car for £2k like a Mondeo or Nissan Micra turbo.
Strip and bolt on to a beach buggy style race tub
There's plenty of people who would never consider spending more than £20k (me for one).
Sometimes I wonder also about Sports car ownership saturation point.
Unlike Mondeos (bad example cos they hang around for eons and wont die) they never seem to disappear.
E.g. nobody scraps an Aston Martin but they keep making 'em. A dripping tap fills a bath etc, especially a RHD bath.
To raise the reverse viewpoint, there's a big bored world out there, maybe a "British lightweight" track car will become a niche of its own.
Maybe they should set up a franchise with a choice of ten of them, e.g. Radicals, Westfields, Mono's, this, etc all under one roof in each Euro/US/world conurbation.
https://vimeo.com/90207054
I sent it to Lotus, Caterham and a few more and they never answered, not even criticising it. I'm posting it here in hope that somebody will tell me how stupid it is.
I can't help thinking there's still a lot of money out there in petrolhead land and they probably don't have to sell that many (1 or maybe 2 a month?!) to stay afloat and move on from there.
Just my 2p worth obvs.
http://www.elementalcars.co.uk/
http://www.elements-of-islay.com/
'Tis uncanny.
Seems like the UK is going all a bit Italian bike manufacturers. More and better exotic fare for the punter...cash flow problems, rescue, bust, rescue.
How about a £20K track and everyday car? Might sell many more.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff