Monday 13th October 2008

Elfin T5 Clubman

Australian sports car manufacturer's new lightweight roadster.

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As the autumnal days get a little shorter and the heating switches are turned on across UK households you might be excused for wanting to run away to the land down under for a bit of summer sun. And if you were inclined for that option you could do worse than looking up the new Elfin T5 Clubman as your hire car.

The Australian sports car firm - backed by motor sport legend Tom Walkinshaw – has announced their new rival to the Caterham and Westfield market at the Sydney motor show.

The new roadster is powered by a turbo 2.0-litre block that produces 260bhp and 258lb/ft. Though the car weighs more than a Caterham R400 by 225kg, at 750kg,  the pure pulling power of the T5 means it will reach 60mph in 3.7 seconds, a whole 0.1 seconds quicker than the R400.

There is no confirmation on the price yet, but it is expected to retail around $50,000 Australian dollars – which converts to 19,500 of your finest British Pounds. There is also no news if Hertz has got one in for rental either.

 

[Official Slacker]

Looks not too bad - very much like Caterham's fat cousin

[SleeperCell]

article said:

Though the car weighs heavier...

[Vedrfolner]

The added weight is probably adding grip, so that it can handle the increased power. Is it the VW/Audi 2.0 Turbo?

[jamcam23]

''reach 60mph in 3.7 seconds, a whole 0.1 seconds quicker than the R400''

Not a whole 0.1!

[Niffty951]

T5?? Does he mean a 5 cylinder engine?? If so THANK GOD! I've been waiting years for someone to put a 5 cylinder in a kit car for me Ok the exterior is a bit ugly but the interior looks good and I need that noise in a kit car!

[missing the VR6]

It's got M3 mirrors, aaaaarrrrhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Apart from the mirrors I quite like it. Yes if it's got a V5 engine it'll sound good too!

[DamoLLb]

missing the VR6 said:

It's got M3 mirrors, aaaaarrrrhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Apart from the mirrors I quite like it. Yes if it's got a V5 engine it'll sound good too!

Prob not a V5, if it is going to use a 5 cylinder I would think it would be the Ford/Volvo unit?

However, it does say its a 2.0 litre block.......prob Audi FSI

Edited by DamoLLb on Monday 13th October 12:33

[morgrp]

Found this other pic of the front end on the net:

[Niffty951]

morgrp said:

Found this other pic of the front end on the net:

Hey actually it doesn't look so bad from that angle.. maybe its the colour;)

[darth_pies]

jamcam23 said:

''reach 60mph in 3.7 seconds, a whole 0.1 seconds quicker than the R400''

Not a whole 0.1!

Yeah wow. Unfortunately at the first hint of a corner the R400 would be outbraking you and disappearing off round the bend at a considerably higher speed whilst you hurtled through a hedge backwards in your fugly-mobile.

Didn't evo review the previous Elfin model and say it was sone of the worst handling cars they've ever driven?!?

Sorry antipodean friends, maybe stick to big heavy fast saloons and leave the 'lightweights' to us pommies.

[morgrp]

DamoLLb said:

missing the VR6 said:

It's got M3 mirrors, aaaaarrrrhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Apart from the mirrors I quite like it. Yes if it's got a V5 engine it'll sound good too!

Prob not a V5, if it is going to use a 5 cylinder I would think it would be the Ford/Volvo unit?

However, it does say its a 2.0 litre block.......prob Audi FSI

Edited by DamoLLb on Monday 13th October 12:33

By Ford/Volvo you mean "Volvo engine used by Ford"

If it's Walkinshaw - it'll be the 20valve Volvo 5 cylinder engine as TWR helped develop the 850 T5-R and touring car and the C70

The Volvo 2.3 T5 is a 2.0 block

Edited by morgrp on Monday 13th October 12:54

Edited by morgrp on Monday 13th October 12:54

[Lawrence5]

Streamliner was a good looking car but again stupid money.......

[MrTappets]

Can you imagine what in idiot you would look driving that! At least the regular rivals are a fairly familiar sight on our roads.

[nekrum]

What happened to this (MS8 clubman)?!..

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/pic.php?imagenum=1&...

[Supervet]

Elfin? Stupid ef*in name, what bloke's going to drive a car with that name?

[hugoagogo]

they're bringing out a new one with a full cage, calling it the Elfin Safety

[cowellsj]

morgrp said:

Found this other pic of the front end on the net:

Yeah not wrong there, think i'd spend out on a KTM x-bow tho...

[missing the VR6]

hugoagogo said:

they're bringing out a new one with a full cage, calling it the Elfin Safety

Mate I lol'ed!

[97octane]

It's a fugly 7!

[F.C.]

lardy arsed.
750Kg!! Some people never learn.