Zenos E10 R gets 350bhp Ford Focus RS engine

We drove Zenos' first offering, the E10, back in March, finding it a genuine alternative to a Lotus or Caterham. It certainly wasn't lacking performance, with a 250bhp 2.0-litre engine providing more than enough shunt for the 725kg body. But Zenos have seen fit to increase this by 40% with the introduction of the E10 R, which utilises the 2.3-litre engine from the upcoming Ford Focus RS to provide 350bhp.

This power grants the E10 R over 500bhp per tonne, putting it in the same club as the Caterham 7 Superlight, Ariel Atom 300 and even the Bugatti Veyron. This endows it with plenty of performance, and Zenos say 0-62 should be dispatched in 3.0 seconds - and it soldiers on to a top speed of 155mph. However with a windscreen resigned to the optional extras list, drivers may not want to approach that too often...

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The E10 R is unashamedly a track-focused car, with adjustable suspension, race harnesses and uprated brakes. The six-speed transmission has had the gear level shortened for rapid gear changes, and it all rests upon a chassis bristling with lightweight carbon fibre. This helps to keep the car just as light as its predecessor.

The Zenos E10 R is undeniably a toy, but it's not a particularly expensive one whe you put it against the likes of the £80,000 BAC Mono. The Zenos comes in at just under £40,000 on the road, comparing favourably with its Caterham rivals.

Do you think the Zenos is a worthy competitor to the likes of the legendary Caterham? Let us know in the comments...