Analogue Automotive’s Single-Seat Lotus Elise VHPK: Ultra-Lightweight and Ultra-Expensive

Analogue Automotive is a young company founded by car enthusiast and entrepreneur Steffen Dobke, who has spent years repairing and maintaining Lotus Elises. Last year, Analogue Automotive launched its first restomod, the Lotus Elise Supersport. Based on an early-production Series 1 (1996–2001) Elise, the car’s aluminum tub is fully restored and becomes the backbone of what is essentially a brand-new vehicle.

The Supersport features a new suspension with adjustable dampers and a wider track, a more precise steering rack, and lightweight disc brakes. The original 1.8-liter Rover K-series engine, which made between 120 and 195 hp in stock form depending on the trim, is thoroughly upgraded to around 210 hp. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox and a Quaife limited-slip differential. Inside, the cabin is completely redone, with lightweight carbon-fiber–framed seats. The finished car weighs just 699 kg (1,541 lbs), sprints from 0–62 mph in 4.5 seconds, and tops out at 140 mph. Pricing for the Supersport starts at £100,000 (not including a donor car—you can provide your own Elise or let Analogue Automotive source one for you).

This week, Analogue Automotive unveiled an even more hardcore project: the Lotus Elise VHPK, which the company calls “a purist’s dream.” The VHPK aims for a curb weight of no more than 600 kg (1,323 lbs) and over 250 hp from the same 1.8-liter engine. One of the most radical measures to cut weight is its single-seat layout—a concept borrowed from racing Elises that competed in the Autobytel Lotus Championship in 2000 and 2001, which supported the British Touring Car Championship.

The VHPK’s body will be almost entirely carbon fiber, including its wheels, which will be paired with carbon-ceramic brakes. The interior will be completely reconfigured for the single-seat setup, with every component engineered to be as light as possible without sacrificing refinement.

Analogue Automotive plans to build just 35 examples of the Lotus Elise VHPK. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s expected to be significantly higher than the Supersport’s. Production and deliveries are scheduled to begin next year. The company is also working on a rally-style “cross” version of its Elise restomod, intended to compete with George Williams’ Project Safari.