I must admit that I’d never heard to Zenos before stumbling upon the E10 R, but the relatively obscure, year-old company should see increased exposure with the release of “its fastest, most focused and most thrilling model yet.” The brainchild of two former Lotus and Caterham execs, Zenos is releasing the Porsche Boxster-fighting, track-ready speedster only one year after its first model entered production, and promises “significantly more power, less weight and key upgrades deliver scintillating performance and even greater driving thrills.”
More importantly, the E10 R is powered by a Ford-sourced turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, which uses a bespoke ECU developed with partner Specialist Components to deliver 40 per cent more power (350 bhp) and 19 per cent more torque (475 Nm / 349 lb.ft) than the marque’s initial E10 model. Combined with a dry weight of just 700 kg — thanks to an extremely strong yet lightweight Zenos hybrid chassis — and a power-to-weight figure of 500 bhp/tonne, the result is an astonishing zero to 60 mph time of just 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Adding to the fun elsewhere are upgraded brakes and a fully adjustable suspension, while the wheels are lighter and the six-speed manual transmission now features a shorter throw. Besides the E10 R, Zenos will also be offering the exclusive Drive Edition — named after the company’s design partners — which comes with a unique black anodised finish, satin black accents, carbon leather trims and seats, and performance features such as one-way adjustable dampers, quick-release steering wheel and an uprated master cylinder.
