The Elemental RP1 might only have been on sale for a short time, but the company has been hard at work behind the scenes, installing a new engine and increasing downforce.
Previously fitted with a 2-litre Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder, the latest car now gets the 2.3-litre unit you'll find in the Ford Focus RS and the four-pot Mustang.
Subscribe to evo magazine
The company hasn't revealed power figures for the engine just yet - though given the old 2-litre engine produced 320bhp, and the 2.3 makes 345bhp in the Focus RS, it's safe to assume a similar or greater figure will feature in the RP1.
Torque is less easy to estimate - at 332lb ft, the old engine was already developing more twist than the Focus RS's 325lb ft output - but again we'd expect the new figure to eclipse the old, giving plenty for the rear tyres to think about in a car that should weigh a similar amount to the 2-litre car's 595kg dry weight (around 630kg with fluids).
The new unit isn't just to increase power and torque though - the newer engine will also allow the RP1 to meet future emissions regulations, not just in the UK and Europe but in North America, the Middle East and Asia too.
Elsewhere, changes have been made to the car's aerodynamics. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software have allowed Elemental to improve the front and rear diffusers, testing and fine-tuning the ideal setup before the car ever reaches the road. The net result is 500kg of downforce at 150mph - a full 100kg more than before.
> From Lotus to Caterham - the Seven turns 60
While you won't be hitting that on the road it should enhance the car's track performance - and with the new engine, there may well be improvements on the outgoing car's 2.7-second 0-60mph time and 170mph top speed, the latter influenced by the gear set chosen.
We found the first Elemental RP1 quite spectacular to drive, with an F1-style driving position, incredible performance and progressive handling - so we're looking forward to seeing what the new model can offer.
