Carbon fiber is only for exotic supercars... right? Maybe for the odd component on more accessible machinery. But if you want a vehicle built mostly out of the lightweight woven stuff, you're going to have to spend at least six figures. Or will you? That's where the Zenos E10 comes sliding in.
Developed by a couple of former Lotus and Caterham engineers (one of whom recently moved over to McLaren to run a new racing department), the Zenos E10 is built almost entirely out of carbon fiber, but it only costs £26,995. That works out to $38k at current exchange rates, but more tellingly, it's less than what VW charges in the UK for a Golf GTI – but for a purpose-built track machine made in the UK. That's just for the base model, of course, with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four good for 200 horsepower, but you can spend more if you wish.
The E10 S packs a turbocharger, 250 hp and a £32,995 ($47k) sticker. And the top-of-the-line E10 R gets 350 hp for only £39,995 ($57k), which is still less than Porsche gets locally for a base 718 Boxster. Components are designed to break off sacrificially to lower repair costs in case of a crash, and Zenos goes so far as to offer a warranty that covers use on the track, because even though it's certified for use on public roadways, the racing circuit is where it really belongs – and its creators know it.
The question, of course, is how it drives, and for the answer, we turn to our compatriots at Carfection who have taken one out for a spin. Check out their impressions in the latest seven-minute clip above.
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Developed by a couple of former Lotus and Caterham engineers (one of whom recently moved over to McLaren to run a new racing department), the Zenos E10 is built almost entirely out of carbon fiber, but it only costs £26,995. That works out to $38k at current exchange rates, but more tellingly, it's less than what VW charges in the UK for a Golf GTI – but for a purpose-built track machine made in the UK. That's just for the base model, of course, with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four good for 200 horsepower, but you can spend more if you wish.
The E10 S packs a turbocharger, 250 hp and a £32,995 ($47k) sticker. And the top-of-the-line E10 R gets 350 hp for only £39,995 ($57k), which is still less than Porsche gets locally for a base 718 Boxster. Components are designed to break off sacrificially to lower repair costs in case of a crash, and Zenos goes so far as to offer a warranty that covers use on the track, because even though it's certified for use on public roadways, the racing circuit is where it really belongs – and its creators know it.
The question, of course, is how it drives, and for the answer, we turn to our compatriots at Carfection who have taken one out for a spin. Check out their impressions in the latest seven-minute clip above.
Related Video:
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