Automotive

Zenos reveals details of the E10 roadster

Zenos reveals details of the E10 roadster
The Zenos E10 made its debut at Autosport International 2014 in Birmingham
The Zenos E10 made its debut at Autosport International 2014 in Birmingham
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Zenos E10 cockpit
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Zenos E10 cockpit
Zenos E10 rear
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Zenos E10 rear
Zenos E10 rear perspective
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Zenos E10 rear perspective
Zenos E10 without bodywork
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Zenos E10 without bodywork
Zenos E10 tub design
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Zenos E10 tub design
Zenos E10 brake design
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Zenos E10 brake design
Early sketch of the Zenos E10
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Early sketch of the Zenos E10
Artist's concept of the Zenos E10
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Artist's concept of the Zenos E10
Zenos E10 design detail
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Zenos E10 design detail
Zenos E10 suspension design
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Zenos E10 suspension design
Design sketches of the Zenos E10
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Design sketches of the Zenos E10
Zenos E10 chassis rendering
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Zenos E10 chassis rendering
Constructing the Zenos E10
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Constructing the Zenos E10
Zenos E10 design skethes
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Zenos E10 design skethes
Zenos logo
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Zenos logo
Zenos E10 grille
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Zenos E10 grille
Zenos E10 console
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Zenos E10 console
Xenos E10 information display
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Xenos E10 information display
Zenos E10 headlamp
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Zenos E10 headlamp
The Zenos E10 made its debut at Autosport International 2014 in Birmingham
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The Zenos E10 made its debut at Autosport International 2014 in Birmingham
View gallery - 20 images

Sometimes less is more. In cooking, that means cutting back on the spices can produce fuller flavors filled with subtleties. In cars, it means that cutting down the weight while holding onto the horsepower gives you something that goes round a corner like a stabbed rat. This week Zeno Cars tried its hand at this recipe as it launched its super light E10 sports car at Autosport International 2014 in Birmingham.

When we last saw the Zenos E10 in October, it was little more than nibbles of information and sketchy sketches. Now the company, founded by former Caterham executives Ansar Ali and Mark Edwards, has taken the wraps off what of the first of three new models of small, affordable, road-legal cars for motoring enthusiasts that are scheduled to roll out over the next five years.

Available in both right-hand and left-hand drive, the Zenos E10 is a rear-wheel, step-in two seater road-legal track car with Elise-type proportions. With an overall length of 3,560 mm (140.1 in) and a curb weight of 650 kg (1433 lb), it has one of the highest power to weight ratios for its price class: 300 bhp per tonne.

Zenos E10 grille
Zenos E10 grille

The E10 has definite echoes of a Caterham car, but would never be confused with one. The E10 has a much more high tech feel with an aggressively aerodynamic body that looks like it was designed as one gigantic spoiler to keep it glued to the road.

The grille isn't just aggressive, its downright angry. It even looks a little scary going into the distance with its non-nonsense rear. But from the side, everything comes together in a profile that’s probably as close to poetry as you’re going to get in carbon composites.

However, it’s the extremely efficient, compact nature of the E10 that stands out. It’s less a car you sit in than a car you wear. The chassis, bodywork, and tub are so interconnected that its hard to tell where one bit ends and another begins. The outside is a hybrid carbon/aluminum monocoque with removable front and rear wings. Underneath, the chassis platform is a spine made of a single-piece aluminum extrusion through the middle of the car to improve rigidity and a carbon cockpit that straddles it.

Zenos E10 rear
Zenos E10 rear

The carbon tub straddles the spine and is made from recycled carbon. According to Zenos, this saves weight and cost while retaining 70 percent of the technical characteristics of continuous-layered carbon fiber. Assembled, the cockpit forms a fully encased steel safety cell complete with twin roll-hoops and side-impact bars integrated with the carbon monocoque.

The powertrain that thunders this roadster around the track is a mid-mounted, normally aspirated, two-liter, four-cylinder Ford GDI engine with over-square configuration and variable cam timing encased in a rear extruded sub-frame, which is removable for assembly and in-field repairs. It pumps 200 bhp (149 kW) and 210 Nm (155 ft-lb) of torque, which is a lot for something this light, to produce a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h) and 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. There’s a five-speed manual gearbox, a double wishbone design front and rear that connect directly to the spine, bespoke tires, and Alcon (two Pot) racing calliper brakes in the front and OEM with integrated handbrake in the back .

Zenos E10 cockpit
Zenos E10 cockpit

The interior makes even a minimalist Caterham cockpit look like a blinged out American luxury car with lightweight composite seats and a tiny speedometer/driver information display dead behind the steering wheel. All the other readouts come from the center-console multi-function LCD that looks like Zenos slipped a smartphone in the dash and called it a day.

The Zenos E10 sells for a base price of £24,995 (US$40,800), but the first 75 E10s to come off the line will be the Launch Edition, which will sell for £28,995 (US$47,300) and includes a six-speed manual gearbox, a limited slip differential, a quick release steering wheel, bespoke Zenos composite seats, four-point race harness, an OZ performance wheel pack with ZZR Avon tires, footwell heating, and special red “launch edition” wings.

Deliveries are slated to begin in early 2015.

Source: Zenos Cars

View gallery - 20 images
9 comments
9 comments
BigGoofyGuy
It is like a sports car that the non-rich can afford; or the rich can afford to have many of. At that price, I think it should do quite well, IMO.
I will put it on my list of affordable dream cars. :)
DonGateley
Wow! That's ridiculously affordable. Now, where's my piggy bank?
Keith Reeder
No windscreen - that'll be pleasant to drive at speed...
Jimmy Limo
0-60 in 4.5 seconds ? Wow ! That's ALMOST as fast as a Tesla S 7-passenger sedan !
dalroth5
@Keith Reeder:
I think that little black kick-up directly in front of the cockpit directs airflow at speed over the occupants' heads.
Mindbreaker
Looks a little short of being a car: side mirrors, rear view mirror, seat belt (got to assume they will include that, though I can't see them in the photos), windshield and wipers, some sort of weather cover, padded dash, airbags. Long way from road legal. I don't even see a trunk. If you have to wear a motorcycle helmet you might want to put that somewhere when you get out. No stereo either? Well, you probably could not hear it anyway.
The Skud
Hey Jimmy - Almost as fast as a Tesla? Yeah, but how far and for how long can you drive the Tesla flat out on a track day?
The Skud
Mindbreaker - Side and RV mirrors are probably going to be optional accessories. You don't need wipers to drive a motorcycle, why have them here? Most drivers of these minimal sports cars wear helmets anyway. They can be locked around the roll cage bars when not worn. It could well have airbags, they are not out in the open. Stop carping just enjoy it.
godscountry
Nice but ,How nice is it at 50,000 dollars with a few options,Factory Five racing has a kit car called the 818,1800Lbs,2 seat sports car, it comes with everything you need ,less drivechain,it uses a Subaru Engine and trans.You don't need a engineering degree, no welding, it is a bolt together car.A steal at 10,000 plus