HPE Automotive has expanded its HPE SV Elise restomod lineup with a new spec called the R500. It weighs only 620 kilos and benefits from a major power bump. It’s also the priciest in the lineup, but for a good reason.
Lotus had produced the Elise for more than two decades, ultimately sending it to retirement in 2021. While the S3 was the last generation made, it was the S1 that remained the fan favorite (see video). It debuted in the distant 1996 and went out of production in 2001. The standard spec weighed 725 kilograms (1,600 pounds) and output 120 PS (118 hp / 88 kW) to the wheels. Sprinting from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) took 5.8 seconds.
Based on this model, HPE Automotive offers a trio of restomods – the R300, R400 and R500. All three utilize the same Honda K20 engine stroked out to 2.1 liters of displacement. It revs up to roughly 10,000 RPM and sends 330 PS (325 hp / 243 kW) to the rear end along with 278 Nm (205 lb-ft) of torque. The transmission is six-speed sequential, and there is a limited-slip differential for better cornering.
As minimalistic as the interior of the original Elise was, it becomes even more barebones in the restomod. The main advantage of the track-only R500 comes in the form of an all-new racing chassis dropping its weight to the aforementioned 620 kg (1,367 lbs). It still somehow manages to pack modern suspension components and heavy-duty carbon-ceramic brakes into that figure.
Prices for the R500 start from a cool £375,000 before taxes.
