Just in case you thought there weren’t enough British-built lightweight track-focused sports cars on offer, Elemental Cars, based in Surrey, have come to the rescue with the Elemental RP1.
The Elemental RP1 offers much the same as the competition. It’s as light as reasonably possible, highly tunable and customisable, and offers just the bare minimum of comfort and day-to-day practicality. It’s one of the better looking two-seat track cars out there, and it looks like someone with a design degree has been allowed to make the decisions regarding styling. In fact that someone is Guy Colborne, and he’s worked on projects for Pininfarina, BMW, Opel and Ford, as well as acting as a visiting lecturer for the Vehicle Design course at the world renowned Royal College of Art.
It’s also clearly been engineered by people who understand what amateur racers and track-day enthusiasts want. The team is made up from a number of racecar and supercar engineers, guys who have worked on vehicles like the McLaren 12C and P1 and who have provided their expertise to F1 teams and aircraft manufacturers. The Elemental RP1 isn’t something which has been knocked up by someone with a welder and a few spare rolls of fiberglass.
Underneath the attractive composite bodywork is a rigid carbon fiber tub designed to protect the occupants. The aluminium frame sections have been designed to allow easy access to all the mechanical elements of the car. The suspension is fully adjustable and the car will be offered with a range of engines. Although if you change your mind and want to upgrade to a bigger engine option, all the drivetrains have been designed for quick and easy interchangeability.
At launch the car will be offered with either a custom-tuned 2.0 litre Ford Ecoboost engine producing a claimed 280 horsepower, a smaller 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine, or a 999cc motorcycle engine from the Honda Fireblade. The transmission is a Hewland paddle-shift 6-speed sequential unit driving the rear wheels. Elemental say that the most potent of these drivetrains, the 2.0 litre engine, should allow for a 155 mph top speed.
Other highlights of the Elemental RP1 include a programmable digital dash, a simple and logically laid-out center console and multi-function steering wheel, a combination of halogen and LED exterior lighting, active aerodynamics, and a powerful braking system courtesy of Caparo AP four-piston calipers and large-diameter vented discs hiding behind 17-inch lightweight Pro Race wheels.
Full scale production of the Elemental RP1 is scheduled to begin in 2015. Prices are yet to be announced
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