Elfin releases sketch, details on upcoming Type-5 roadster
Think "Elfin" and you're liable to (quite aptly) conjure up images of point-eared fantasy creatures (thank you Mr. Tolkien and Jackson). But to Lotus and Caterham fans, a group as enthusiastic to its realm as hobbit geeks are to theirs, Elfin is another beast entirely. Sprightly though they are, Elfin sportscars offer some of the best power-to-weight ratios on the market. But as we reported previously, the Australian niche automaker is preparing to bust out of the confines of the Super-7 kit-car scene with an entirely new model of its own.
Known internally as the Type 5, the new vehicle is targeted at the likes of the Lotus Elise and Ariel Atom as an open-air track-car. Power will come from the turbocharged four in the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Redline, packaged in a completely new chassis with styling penned by sister company HSV's design studio. Pricing, released along with the design sketch you see above, is pegged at AUS $65,000 (approximately $63k in today's devalued American greenbacks). That's significantly less than a supercharged Elise, but with more power and even less weight, which sources suggest should allow it to hit sixty in a scant 3.7 seconds. We'll be watching closely to bring you the latest once the Elfin Type 5, or whatever Tom Walkinshaw's outfit chooses to call the vehicle, makes its anticipated debut down under sometime next month.
[Source: PressPortal.com.au via World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cornholio 7:09PM (7/23/2008)
Needs bigger wheels....
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Dave 7:19PM (7/23/2008)
Those are 13s. Its a really small car. ;)
Rocketboy 8:39AM (7/24/2008)
Interesting offset hubs though. I would think that it would make for a rough ride on a smooth road.
Jason 9:02AM (7/24/2008)
Haha with those wheels it looks like one of those Automoblox!
Ken 7:11PM (7/23/2008)
Call me crazy, but isn't that the Plymouth Prowler?
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mr.ed 8:05PM (7/23/2008)
This would have to be track-only, with limited use and sales, therefor higher price. Add some fenders and legal bumpers, lights, glass, wipers etc. Race on Sunday, sell on Monday.
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hidden_hunter 9:28PM (7/23/2008)
I live in Melbourne and I've seen Elfin's being driven on the road before :O
mr.ed 11:50PM (7/23/2008)
Maybe your road laws are different from the US. We require lots of testing and inspections to put a vehicle on the road. States have additional laws for lower emissions. Some states have regular inspections to make sure you haven't taken off or modified equipment. Some police are really anal about this, some not. Basically, unless you want to spend lots of time in court and at various agencies, if it isn't compliant, it isn't worth trying to put it on the street.
Sam 1:01AM (7/24/2008)
if anything Australia's road laws are stricter than the US.
Hidden Hunter probably saw the recent Elfin's, just not this one obviously (unless he is referring to an original), which are softer and more of a roadster, and have in fact sold 5 in America i was told.
chrisdavis 7:54PM (7/23/2008)
I could see Bjork driving it, but not particularly well.
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hidden_hunter 9:53AM (7/24/2008)
Yeah I mean the version that came out a few years ago, in yellow. They're usually at the motorshows here as well and for a car of it's type it's quite well built and has a decent cockpit.
Scott 6:21PM (7/24/2008)
Actually, $63k USD is significantly MORE than an Elise SC. It's a tad more than an Exige S and only a smidge less than an Exige 240.
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adrian 1:24AM (7/27/2008)
actually elfin dont make kit cars at all.....
http://www.elfin.com.au/elfin/2008/
they already have a couple of their own models, all made by themselves but and LS engines.
they were around in the 60's and 70's and have recently been revived. they have a very rich motorsport history.
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