Zenos E10 Returns With More Punch and a Much Higher Price

Few small British sports car names are as memorable as Zenos. The company was founded in 2013 by Mark Edwards and Ansar Ali, two Lotus veterans who had left Caterham to build a rival. Their idea was a modern, clean-sheet, mid-engined track car that could take on Caterham's cars on price as well as performance.

The price was the problem. Zenos went bankrupt in 2016, and the following year its assets were bought by Alan Lubinsky, who also owns AC Cars. That deal gave the E10 a second life. The car has now been updated under the revived company and is close to being ready for customers.

The new E10 is said to offer more performance, but it will cost a good deal more than the original. That change makes sense in hindsight. The first car was priced so aggressively that the business could not stay afloat, and the revival appears to be aiming for healthier margins.

For buyers, the appeal is narrow but clear. The E10 is a purpose-built machine from a small manufacturer, so it will mainly interest track-day enthusiasts who want focused driving over mainstream comfort or everyday practicality. Whether enough of them will pay the higher asking price to keep the company going is the real question for the relaunch.