Known as one of Australia's oldest sports car makers, Elfin Sports Cars is currently owned by Tom Walkinshaw, the same guy who owns Holden Special Vehicles and Holden tuning firm, Walkinshaw Performance. Styled by HSV designers Julian Quincy and Adam Dean Smith, Walkinshaw is getting ready to launch an all new Elfin model project named ‘Type 5’ in about one month.
Building off of the current V8 powered MS8 Clubman and MS8 Streamliner, the Type 5 sets out in a slightly different direction to compete with the Lotus Elise, Caterham 7 and the Ariel Atom.
Although details are tightly held, PressPortal.com.au who met with Elfin spokesman, Gary Beer (dig that last name), speculate that the vehicle will receive the GM sourced 260hp 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine found in the Pontiac Solstice / Opel GT / Saturn Sky Redline clones. With a weight of approximately 750 kg (1,650 lbs.) the type 5 should dominate all of it intended competitors on all fronts (see comparisons chart below).
| Lotus Elise SC | Elfin ‘Type 5’ | Caterham SVR 200 | |
| Power | 163kW | *200kW | 147kW |
| Torque | 211.8Nm | *350Nm | 225Nm |
| Weight | 870kg | *750kg | 677kg |
| 0-100km/hr | 4.6sec | *3.7sec | 3.9sec |
| Price | $104,990 | *$65,000 | $107,700 |
Joe_Limon
July 18, 2008 6:24 PM
