Lotus may not have a whole lot to worry about yet, but a bizarro Elise of sorts is in the offing for the UK — the Javan R1 roadster. Both are mid-engined sportsters, but where the Elise sports a modified Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine, the lighter Javan R1 will get power from its closest rival, Honda's 2.0-liter i-VTEC four. The Cornwall-based company — which plans to launch the car this year — says the 1433-lb R1 can hit 60mph in 3.6 seconds. It's built using an epoxy-bonded aluminium honeycomb monocoque and meets the road via a computer-designed, race-bred suspension. The plan is to give the Caterham Superlights, Ariel Atoms, and, of course, Elises, a go, though the company plans to build to suit — around 12 per year. Click through for specs.
· Engine: Two-liter, four-cylinder Honda i-VTEC DOHC engine producing 220bhp; optional supercharger
· Redline: 8,600rpm,
· Transmission: Six-speed
· Weight: 1433 lbs.
· 0-62mph: 3.6 seconds
· 0-100mph: 9.8 seconds
· Standing quarter-mile: 12.2 seconds
· Price: 30,138.75 (no US model)
NEW BRITISH SPORTS CAR: EXCLUSIVE [PistonHeads]
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