Analogue Automotive previews single-seat Elise
The Elise made its debut 30 years ago today - now Analogue is taking it into uncharted territory
September 12th, 1995 was a huge day in the history of Lotus. At that year’s Frankfurt motor show, exactly 30 years ago today, it showed the Elise to the world. And nothing - for Lotus, for sports cars, for enthusiasts - would ever quite be the same again. That companies like Analogue Automotive are still offering up fresh takes on little Lotus demonstrates what a momentous sports car it was.
Following the Terra seen at Annual Service last month, Analogue now has this: the VHPK. And it’s rather more special than the image might lead you to believe. Because look closely inside: it has a central driving position, just like another quite famous British sports car of the 1990s.
But there’s a proper Lotus link, too as the Elise racers from the Autobytel Lotus Championship (YouTube is your friend for that one) utilised a central driving position. This VHPK ‘places the driver perfectly at the centre of the experience, echoing the DNA of the legendary single-seat Elise’ used in the series.
This being an Analogue Automotive Lotus, too, the interior rework is really just the start of an Elise transformation. There’s the small matter of a 600kg kerbweight, for starters, taking more than 100kg from what was already a famously light sports car; Analogue says that ‘every element is engineered for minimal weight and maximum engagement.’ Carbon wheels and ceramic brakes are the big ticket items, but expect every bit of an Elise to have been redesigned to save kilos. What’s left of the interior is going to be carbon.
Power still comes from the trusty old K Series, which worked to glorious effect in the Supersport, only now it’s even more potent. In the black car, it was 210hp strong; now Analogue is claiming 250hp from a K thanks to more capacity (it hasn’t said exactly how much more yet), as well as forged internals. It’s going to be a very, very special engine by the sounds of it, the ‘K Series taken to its ultimate form’ no less.
Analogue suggests that the VHPK’s unique layout ‘echoes our motorsport intent and pure driving control.’ Given what’s been achieved already with the Supersport, on top of what the central driving position is said to do for the F1 experience, expectations will be extremely high indeed for this new car. Analogue says it’s going to build just 35, with orders opening next year.
Restomod seemed such a fresh, appealing idea when places like KWE started doing the XJS 20+ years ago, at more sensible cost. But it’s now very cliched, especially the low-volume ultra-expensive ones like this that seem to turn up twice a week, every week.
Don't ask about where the gear lever is, I haven't put that much thought into my solution.
Speaking of gear levers, I wonder if the buyer can specify whether it's located on the left or right side?
Do these guys never wake up one morning and think, "oh hang on - what's the POINT?" or is the draw of getting 15 minutes' publicity on What Autobore? too addictive?
S2K Engineering announces RHD kit for MacL F1 at POA and has already received zero orders.
"We are surprised to have received that much early interest" said their Spokes
. Exclusivity.
Reliability of a full restomod.
Lighter and more powerful than the original Elise so a much better power to weight ratio.
Central driving position - I bet it feels more engaging and fun, regardless of whether driving on track or on the road.
I could never justify the price for one myself, but there are a lot of people that have more than enough money to spend on such toys and I'd prefer that they spent their money and supported a small business like this rather than a godawful looking new Ferrari that's depreciating more than the average annual salary and would be breaking the speed limit before it's auto gearbox even thought about selecting 3rd gear.
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