AN ICONIC British sports car brand is back – eight years after it entered administration.
Little-known carmaker Zenos has been revived and is making a go of it with an updated version of its quirky E10 roadster, which is set to arrive in 2026.
Zenos is back – eight years after the brand fell into administration[/caption]
The brand’s quirky E10 roadster is back with a tweaked looked and a new engine[/caption]
The company has been acquired by AC Cars – famed makers of the Cobra – who has worked to revive the Zenos brand[/caption]
The Norfolk-based brand has had a troubled few years, having entered administration in 2017.
Originally, they sold over 100 units of its E10, priced at £24,995 to appeal to a wider audience.
But the company went under and its assets were soon acquired by AC Cars – Britain’s longest-standing car manufacturer and famed makers of the Cobra – which initially shelved the project.
But over the last 10 months, AC Cars has worked to revive the Zenos brand and this week announced the first new E10 will arrive sometime next year – largely unchanged, albeit with a new, Volvo-sourced 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
It will also use a lightweight aluminium chassis, recycled carbonfibre composite tub and new carbonfibre bodywork, made by AC Cars.
A single working prototype has already been created, boasting a six-speed manual gearbox and pushrod front suspension.
Engineers are now reworking the body structure to handle increased torque, replacing the aluminium rear subframe with steel.
Aesthetically, the production model will feature a subtle restyle, particularly around the lights.
The cabin, which looks more like something from a Le Mans racer rather than the everyday practicality of a standard road car, will undergo a complete redesign, featuring new seats, modern switchgear and a central display unit.
While the first model will cost £140,000, less powerful and more affordable versions are also being considered.
This comes as a slightly larger British car brand, Bentley, has decided to delay its electric vehicle plans – due to a distinct lack of demand for luxury EVs.
The historic carmaker, that’s headquartered in Crewe, Cheshire, has opted for a shift in strategy as they now plan to renew three models with petrol engines, instead of electric.
According to Autocar, the firm has decided to delay its EV targets after noting a decline in demand for luxury EVs.
The company originally planned to transition to a fully electric lineup by 2030 – under its Beyond100 strategy.
These previous plans included offering only plug-in hybrids and EVs by 2026, then eventually phasing out hybrids for a zero-emission lineup.
This strategy, though, has been amended due to insufficient customer interest in all-electric vehicles.
