If there is one problem with track days, it’s that so few people make enough money to be able to enjoy them. If there’s a second problem with track days, though, it’s that the cars you see there are all too common. Allegedly there are benefits to buying your car from a manufacturer you can trust to still get parts for years to come, but why let something small like that stop you from standing out at the track? Which is where the 2016 Zenos E10 S that’s currently listed for sale on Cars & Bids comes in.
At first glance, you might just assume that the Zenos E10 is some kind of modified Mazda Miata, but the lack of an engine up front may have you thinking Ariel Atom or BAC Mono. In fact, it is none of those things. According to Zenos, the E10 is its own unique mid-engine creation.
The mid-engine track special uses a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber to come in at a claimed 1,587 pounds. So while the turbocharged Ford four-cylinder’s 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque might not sound all that impressive, it’s still enough to launch the cute lil track rat to 60 mph in only 4.0 seconds. And that’s without the assistance of an ultra-quick-shifting dual-clutch transmission, too. Instead, you get a good old-fashioned six-speed manual sending the power to the rear wheels.
If you haven’t seen or even heard of the Zenos E10 S before, you’re not alone. Zenos is a tiny British sports car company, and only about 100 were reportedly ever manufactured. Since they had to be imported to the U.S. as kit cars, there’s even a chance you’ll be able to register it for street use in your state. The seller can’t make any promises, but depending on where you live, you might even be able to drive your Zenos E10 to the track.
Plus, while we’re sure the price will increase by the time the auction is over, it’s currently sitting at $15,250, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see it top out in the mid-$30,000 range. Whether you’re allowed to drive it on the street or not (and from a safety perspective, you probably wouldn’t want to), that’s pretty darn affordable for a track car. Can you even get a Lotus Elise for less than $40,000 these days?
