That sound when you lift off is for two reasons 1) To make sure you're alert when going into a corner 2) To encourage you not to lift off unless you have to :)
Good review, James. Few comments: The original design didn't have a windscreen so drivers wore helmets which made the noise a non-issue. I use mine without a windscreen most of the time and prefer it that way. Many owners (including me) have moved the air intake from the OEM position, which is directly behind the driver's head, to elsewhere in the engine bay to reduce the air intake noise. Yes, the seats are Tillets (B6 model I think). I agree with your conclusion: a great track day/ Sunny Sunday blast type car.
The look from behind and over Jay's shoulder cracks me up (2:43). It's like none of the panels are even meant to fit. Is that just an impression or is the exterior build quality as poor as the interior? I looks like is has a solid chassis, but then messed up in everything else from motor-choice to quality control.
@@TheLobstersoup If you are looking for tight, even, panel gaps, you don't buy a Zenos! It has a decent, innovative chassis design and robust mechanicals, clothed in lightweight, replacable body panels. You need to remember that the car was designed to hit a modest price point and the fit and finish are consistent with that objective.
So glad that you featured this as I do remember lots of articles about the Zenos at the time and the car, the whole set up sounded so promising, with the company stating that they had very much had pricing at the forefront of their thinking in order to make it an affordable track car in comparison to so many. It seemed like they were aware of the financially unstable basis of most start up companies like this and were in a position to navigate away from the usual jagged rocks that sink so many sports car dreams. The expected road focussed model with doors and the planned coupe that was to follow sounded like the basis for a well thought out sports car range that would become another British player alongside Lotus, Caterham and Ginetta. When it was announced that AC had bought them I didn't expect to hear much as their earlier plans for expansion of the AC brand had come to nothing and unfortunately that does appear to be the case. Such a loss really and like the last Jensen revival and potentially TVR now it looks like all we will have left is a few remaining cars and another what if story to add to the numerous names littering British sports and specialist car history. You really do have to be very brave, very rich and probably very stupid to try to set up an operation like this but like so many of us I would given the opportunity make that leap of faith. Thanks again for reminding me of Zenos.
Looked at one of these to replace my Lotus 2-11, which again, didn’t have a windscreen as standard. Bitter sweet in terms of form verse function. BAC with their MONO and Ariel with Atom have shown that there is a market for high performance small volume “track bias” cars. So it can be done.... but tricky bit is the price band they launch within. Either way, the quality of build, fit and finish do now need to be above an old 1980’s kit car caliber as consumers have higher expectations. Original Caterham and Lotus Elise still corner the market for track day fun with BMW 3 series / Renault Clio / MX5’s etc now the “entry point” for weekend warriors.🤓
It's bad for a brand to go bust, but the depreciation on these as a result is nuts! You can buy them for about £20k for a nearly new one. If you are after a modern track car it seems pretty good value. As for the turbo noise, as with any modern turbo engine I'd imagine it is very easy to change to what you want. There are loads of aftermarket parts for the Focus RS.
It was James May who drove one on the Grand Tour episode with the piece in Morocco. Hammond took the MX5 and Clarkson the 4C. I think. Though sure Clarkson would have got his hands on one for another review.
I remember when there was some hipe with this car and I thougth it was amazeing. I saw it like a new lotus 2-eleven. Cheaper and not so powerful as the 7-eleven. Such a pity to know it failed...
Yup. 2L Naturally Aspirated E10 on ITBs is the way to go. Buddy of mine is sitting on a stock of 12 new ones; maybe he should ship them back to Blighty?
If the Zenos doesn't work, then check out the *Caterham 21* , the company's first attempt at doing a pratical sports car, and they failed, too, because the car was debuted at similar time when the Lotus Elise was first launched.
lotis elise is also know as a ricer car,the car is not fast and extremely not safe. after it lanched in canada,canadian governmmet banned the car,i meet bunch of guy bought it and let it collect dust in the garage bc they can drive it on road
@@JayEmmOnCars Although it was doomed, but at least the car has some following. They even have owners club, I know it does sound interesting but it's existed.
Jay - I’ve got the only e10R on the road in the US. While it’s licensed and tagged, I use it almost exclusively as a track day car. It is the closest thing I’ve found to the 2008 Lotus 2-eleven I used to have. I never should have sold that car, but there’s a saying that “anytime you can sell your race car, sell your race car” - this arises, I believe, from the very small market for these kinds of limited use vehicles. After selling the Lotus, I went through a series of cars in search of another track day weapon - but preferably one that was, unlike the Lotus, street legal in the US. During this period I had an Alfa 4C, a Zenos e10S, an older Evora, and a Lotus Exige s260 Sport. The Alfa was just too small for me - but with a new ECU, exhaust and some suspension bits was a capable track car - but no Lotus. The e10S was an interesting car but it really did seem under powered and under braked for me. The Exige was essentially the 2-Eleven with a roof, A/C & street legal - but somehow with the roof, I found it claustrophobic. I’m truly enjoying the e10R - it’s loud, but it’s a track car. The get me home cover is a joke, but I don’t really need to be driving in the rain. The engine and transmission are glorious - plenty of power, but the real sweet part is the torque - it’s magnificent. The only real downsides are the aero (the front starts to feel squirrelly at high speed) and the brakes - they just don’t inspire the same confidence as the 2-Eleven. The Ford components are readily available and the engine bay, unlike the Lotus is accessible. The car is what it is - a great piece of track day kit.
Jeffrey - I have an E10R with a few modifications designed to overcome its limitations on track (brakes, suspension & cooling). I'd love to compare notes with you, if you are willing. Can you contact me via the Zenos Owners UK facebook group?
Considering what you can Get in the atom, for 30 grand. Just over for a caterham. Don't Think they would have sold many. The alpine 110 is the same money, But can use it more often. Interesting Concept though. Great video 👍
I really enjoyed your description of this bizarre automobile. At my age, 72, having been a gearhead since I was a kid, I’ve gotten very jaded. Every time somebody comes along with another super sports car that’s going to blow the doors off Porsche Ferrari and Lamborghini I yawn and nod. I can’t count how many of these I’ve seen in the magazines and more recently, on RUclips, that bake an incredible with gobs of fanfare only to disappear Before an actual working version has been produced. When I see guys driving them and doing evaluations and quoting stats, then I start to believe a little bit. When I see them up for sale and real people driving them I start getting interested, but not before.
Zenos built about 130 cars in total before they failed and there are happy owners using the cars in various countries across the world so Zenos was a bit more than a unrealised concept. I have an E10R which is an awesome road-legal track-day special (but perhaps a bit too much for the road).
not sure on this comment exactly, it was never meant to be put against a Ferrari or lambo etc, and tbh i find the ferrari and lambo following just pure childlike now, doesn't matter about cost or practicality or want or like its just about a badge on a car they know so it must be good. its just you get hooked as a kid because its seen as unrealistic and out of this world when i see hundreds of people now on youtube even in a Peugeot 205 and 106 the basic of the basic and they cant stop smiling and appreciating the hobby of a motor head, where as in Ferrari videos etc its just some dickhead looking for street cred with rarely a true smile and semi bragging how there wheels cost 8k as an option or something. now that doesn't dismiss them as bad cars, they certainly arent, but its 2 different markets of people i feel. in my opinion id be ashamed to myself to outright buy a Ferrari or lambo brand new, but then again im saying that as i physically cant, all i want to mean is its about the energy and effort more so than just splashing and people showing off or feeling better in a Lamborghini.
I've long thought that the Ariel Atom and BAC Mono going turbocharged will be hugely detrimental to their enjoyment. Negligible environmental benefit too. Sensible lawmaking would not apply emissions rules to cars that sell in such few numbers.
This is definitely one of your best reviews! A hidden gem of a video. I only watched it as I searched for the Zenos after watching the Grand Tour back catalogue. I agree, sounds absolutely awful, even without the turbo sounds. Exhaust, induction, etc... wrong, just wrong. But then I'm not a fan of the way the MX-5 sounds, either. I know people have been chiming in with their engine choices, but how about the Renault engine as fitted to the Alpine A110?
This was a car I was very interewsted in until I saw this video. I find it hard to renege a 4cyl engine with my car dreams, and that car sounds DREADFUL.
The new brake master-cylinder probably had a different bore size, in order to tune the pedal feel. If the 'R' version had different calipers, with different total piston area, that would certainly have been logical. If not, they may simply have wanted to adjust brake pedal response for track use. So, I doubt the change was out of any concern about the reliability of the standard MC.
there is also a youT review where the brakes failed horribly and went straight into an island from a dual carraige way, something about the breaks is meant to be an issue, but you would think solvable...
Thanks for the new term added to my vocabulary. Raison d'etre On the Zenos, I wonder if a Honda K series engine would have been more suitable? And if more power was really needed a supercharger could of be added.
Hi jay I have not seen you as happy driving as in this video. You loooove the chassey of the car like no one else but the noise which personally i love a lot, the interior and it does not has glass windows 😂😂😂... ZENOS ... Please fix these things
Uprated master cylinders on these light cars are usually for better pedal feel on the track rather than absolute stopping ability. I am lucky enough to have two Caterhams - one's a road car with a normal brake cylinder, the other a race car with the fancy one. The road car is still very capable - it will do track laps all day long - the brakes work just fine - and it's only 2 seconds a lap slower than the race car. But the brake pedal feel at threshold is just a little less sensitive. On the other hand, for driving around town and pulling up to stop lights elegantly, the feel is much better. Whereas the race car is a bit of a troglodyte until you're at over 7/10ths - all herky-jerky.
Jay, is there any chance you'll review Bristol Blenheim mk3 (of latest production)? I would like to see it up close. What's happening with them, any news about continuing with production?
Apothecary Terry No, the Zenos is a pretty nice road drive - the cabin is much more spacious than a Caterham, for example, and the suspension is supple and comfortable for the road. As long as it doesn’t rain you are fine for long journeys. It’s not very practical in the rain but still better than a motorcycle - many Zenos cars have heated seats!
Shame. I remember them offering test track days. Was tempted but know I was never going to buy one new. Missed opportunity, but at least I didn't contribute to their demise by ragging one round a track with no realistic buying intent. I mean they have the right idea; classic British recipe - add lightness. Still, a car needs at least a half proper lid in this country. Hopefully someone can buy the IP embedded in Zenos and take it to the next level with build quality and refinement etc
When Royals used to be a bigger thing a few years ago, and when they used to sell Jaaaaags, my local one always had a set of 4 zenos E10's, and a few different ones showed up every now and then but i remember going with my parents to service our old XF and seeing them there. i dont think they sold well and i doubt royals loosing their main source of income - jaguar, helped. sadly that Royals is a sofa shop now. how the turns tabled
Hi Jay, I have a question for you, do you think that in 3 years time the McLaren 720s will depreciate enough to where you could buy one for £100,000? Considering that some of them right now go for around 150-160,000. Also you mentioned in a previous video that theres McLarens with the steering wheel on the left in UK dealerships, are those usually cheaper over there?
@@JayEmmOnCars oh wow, that's insane, I'd love to buy one in 3 years if the prices are that low, despite the reliability issues it's still an amazing car, I wanted to go for a 570 at first since from what I've seen online, they're at around £100,000, but if theres going to be 720's for that price that's definitely the better option
Late but I thought so too! Was visiting family and put this on the TV and my mum, who has absolutely no interest in cars or engineering, still enjoyed your journalistic style.
I love the Zenos, its looks and the sound tho i dont think the review on Top Gear/Grand Tour had the squeek sound. agree that would be painful to hear but the rest of the sounds are great! even it being so loud
N/A engine would have been still better, because this engine - and thrust me, I drove it, too - is just aweful. It has a huge turbo lag. When the power comes, it comes out of a sudden. It doesnt want to rev as well. Its just not a sports car engine. Or it needs just a complete remap. Every Lotus, and every Caterham is more fun and better build.
They must be some salesman to convince investors to put their money into this. You need a unique selling point to get into this very niche, saturated market. Looks are subjective, an Elise is better on the road, a caterham 7 if you want something more raw, an MX5 if you need every day usability. And then you stick a heavily turbocharged engine in it. In a light car. A car that you want to be responsive yet progressive. A car that doesnt need a mountain of torque to get it moving or turn it into an everyday prospect. It's as ridiculous as putting a noisy, shouty Honda S2000 engine into a Rolls Royce.
Great review. I definitely agree with the engine..sound good in an rs so who knows what they did to ruin it. The power seems a bit much too. I would have loved to have seen two variants. Since they were using ford parts I feel like the 1.0 and 1.5 EcoBoost engines would have been interesting. They sound very good. Much lighter and smaller units so could have been better packaged. Ford themselves have turned the 1.0 to to 180bhp before which would make a good entry level. The 1.5 in the current fiesta st can touch 240/250bhp very easily. Turn down the turbo swooshes a little.
@MunroM84 small profits from a handful of cars, and they keep throwing it away on things that come to nothing. If they can make money developing the 7 - given how few are sold - they can do it with this
@@vladimirzakrevski3157 I agree, but 700kg is absolutely nothing these days. Most hatchbacks are at least twice that weight, so those that want this car would want it because lightweight generally means a great balance of handling and power. A huge heavy lump of an engine would mess that up.
was waiting and wondering when you would talk about the sound, both engine and gearbox......and then you let it out....ha ha...thanks. So you think AC have the rights to the chassis design?
detail please.. is it rear engine or mid engined? is there a LSD? being a new car is there rear steer? is there any trick suspension electronic dampeners etc?
@@JayEmmOnCars I would like to see the 2.0ltr vs a Elise or my mr2 2zz swap, which seems great value for 5k all in.. least my dash trim has stayed in lol
so is it to be considered a production cars ? or they just put out prototyps and cars for journalists? does they sold any to real customers. sad story, it would be cool for a company like catheram to buy back the production as a 7 2.0 alongside the real one.
funny... the car does not come across as loud, but it sounds like you're shouting... microphones, what can you do? :) and GOOD GOD! riding a bicycle on that bermless road is not for the faint of heart!
That car looks great but it sounds horrendous! It is in desperate need of a redesign to the intake and exhaust with much more sound deadening built-in! It might even be improved with a change of engine to say the H6 Subaru unit (ultra-reliable and good for 500K) with or without the turbo!
There is no such thing as a Perfect Car all is compromise you can have form or function but alas not both, my first Car was a Caterham Seven the best car on the road but very Spartan no Heater try that on Winters Day, would I buy it back in a seconds, I do not mind dying of Hypothermia but I never want to die of Boredom so pick your poison.
If you thought that was loud... You're going to hate my car 😆 To be fair, the quality of the sound is the main factor. If it's loud but sounds good, you can enjoy the car... Just not for too long
I hate turbo engines with a passion, I don't care how fast it is, give me natural aspiration every time! In fact, I hate turbocharged engines so much, I've quit watching F1.
@@JayEmmOnCars good to hear. The content is brilliant as always. So happy to see your channel continuing to grow and succeed especially in the face of this global situation
It's neither dramatic nor particularly entertaining. For fun videos of me getting in and out of cars, watch my Fat Guy Elise video, my Caterham 420R review, or my recent "how to drive a Ferrari" video
It’s reliable enough, the one you see here is ours, it has not got many miles, they are decently reliable, it may not be the best engine in the world but consider that it’s light, and sounds really really good when you are driving it then it’s good
Building these with a mk3 focus rs engine was a mistake, its an absolute lemon of an engine. Sounds terrible, inferior block design to the st250 block (open deck vs semi closed) and having a turbo engine doesnt match the chassis setup of this car. A honda k20 or NC/ND mx5 engine wouldve suited it better
First glance I thought it was a wide body mx5
That sound when you lift off is for two reasons
1) To make sure you're alert when going into a corner
2) To encourage you not to lift off unless you have to :)
2 point 🤣🤣
Good review, James. Few comments: The original design didn't have a windscreen so drivers wore helmets which made the noise a non-issue. I use mine without a windscreen most of the time and prefer it that way. Many owners (including me) have moved the air intake from the OEM position, which is directly behind the driver's head, to elsewhere in the engine bay to reduce the air intake noise. Yes, the seats are Tillets (B6 model I think). I agree with your conclusion: a great track day/ Sunny Sunday blast type car.
also at the current low prices, a bit of a bargain...
The look from behind and over Jay's shoulder cracks me up (2:43). It's like none of the panels are even meant to fit. Is that just an impression or is the exterior build quality as poor as the interior? I looks like is has a solid chassis, but then messed up in everything else from motor-choice to quality control.
@@TheLobstersoup If you are looking for tight, even, panel gaps, you don't buy a Zenos! It has a decent, innovative chassis design and robust mechanicals, clothed in lightweight, replacable body panels. You need to remember that the car was designed to hit a modest price point and the fit and finish are consistent with that objective.
They'd have sold bundles if they'd called it just a 10R, instead of trying to flog a dead horse!
So glad that you featured this as I do remember lots of articles about the Zenos at the time and the car, the whole set up sounded so promising, with the company stating that they had very much had pricing at the forefront of their thinking in order to make it an affordable track car in comparison to so many. It seemed like they were aware of the financially unstable basis of most start up companies like this and were in a position to navigate away from the usual jagged rocks that sink so many sports car dreams. The expected road focussed model with doors and the planned coupe that was to follow sounded like the basis for a well thought out sports car range that would become another British player alongside Lotus, Caterham and Ginetta. When it was announced that AC had bought them I didn't expect to hear much as their earlier plans for expansion of the AC brand had come to nothing and unfortunately that does appear to be the case. Such a loss really and like the last Jensen revival and potentially TVR now it looks like all we will have left is a few remaining cars and another what if story to add to the numerous names littering British sports and specialist car history. You really do have to be very brave, very rich and probably very stupid to try to set up an operation like this but like so many of us I would given the opportunity make that leap of faith. Thanks again for reminding me of Zenos.
Different BOVs (Blow-Off Valves) are available , they don’t all make loud noises, simple to change.
Impressive audio with your commentary coming through clearly the whole time, improving audio is taking your channel to the next level.
I wasn't aware that they weren't available anymore, their website really does act as if you can buy a new one, right now!
Looked at one of these to replace my Lotus 2-11, which again, didn’t have a windscreen as standard. Bitter sweet in terms of form verse function. BAC with their MONO and Ariel with Atom have shown that there is a market for high performance small volume “track bias” cars. So it can be done.... but tricky bit is the price band they launch within. Either way, the quality of build, fit and finish do now need to be above an old 1980’s kit car caliber as consumers have higher expectations. Original Caterham and Lotus Elise still corner the market for track day fun with BMW 3 series / Renault Clio / MX5’s etc now the “entry point” for weekend warriors.🤓
It's bad for a brand to go bust, but the depreciation on these as a result is nuts! You can buy them for about £20k for a nearly new one. If you are after a modern track car it seems pretty good value.
As for the turbo noise, as with any modern turbo engine I'd imagine it is very easy to change to what you want. There are loads of aftermarket parts for the Focus RS.
It was James May who drove one on the Grand Tour episode with the piece in Morocco. Hammond took the MX5 and Clarkson the 4C. I think. Though sure Clarkson would have got his hands on one for another review.
Great vid! And the first proper ‘road test’ of this car on video I believe 👍
Great video, your enthusiasm and passion for cars comes through brilliantly.
I remember when there was some hipe with this car and I thougth it was amazeing. I saw it like a new lotus 2-eleven. Cheaper and not so powerful as the 7-eleven. Such a pity to know it failed...
Sounds like the brakes are engaged till they squeak every time you rev.
Are you talking about the turbo blow off valve?
Yup. 2L Naturally Aspirated E10 on ITBs is the way to go.
Buddy of mine is sitting on a stock of 12 new ones; maybe he should ship them back to Blighty?
I thought my headphones was going bad in the beginning..
Is there a rubber chicken in the engine?
If the Zenos doesn't work, then check out the *Caterham 21* , the company's first attempt at doing a pratical sports car, and they failed, too, because the car was debuted at similar time when the Lotus Elise was first launched.
lotis elise is also know as a ricer car,the car is not fast and extremely not safe. after it lanched in canada,canadian governmmet banned the car,i meet bunch of guy bought it and let it collect dust in the garage bc they can drive it on road
The Caterham 21 was just a seven with a body on, it was doomed
@@JayEmmOnCars Although it was doomed, but at least the car has some following. They even have owners club, I know it does sound interesting but it's existed.
Jay - I’ve got the only e10R on the road in the US. While it’s licensed and tagged, I use it almost exclusively as a track day car. It is the closest thing I’ve found to the 2008 Lotus 2-eleven I used to have. I never should have sold that car, but there’s a saying that “anytime you can sell your race car, sell your race car” - this arises, I believe, from the very small market for these kinds of limited use vehicles. After selling the Lotus, I went through a series of cars in search of another track day weapon - but preferably one that was, unlike the Lotus, street legal in the US. During this period I had an Alfa 4C, a Zenos e10S, an older Evora, and a Lotus Exige s260 Sport. The Alfa was just too small for me - but with a new ECU, exhaust and some suspension bits was a capable track car - but no Lotus. The e10S was an interesting car but it really did seem under powered and under braked for me. The Exige was essentially the 2-Eleven with a roof, A/C & street legal - but somehow with the roof, I found it claustrophobic. I’m truly enjoying the e10R - it’s loud, but it’s a track car. The get me home cover is a joke, but I don’t really need to be driving in the rain. The engine and transmission are glorious - plenty of power, but the real sweet part is the torque - it’s magnificent. The only real downsides are the aero (the front starts to feel squirrelly at high speed) and the brakes - they just don’t inspire the same confidence as the 2-Eleven. The Ford components are readily available and the engine bay, unlike the Lotus is accessible. The car is what it is - a great piece of track day kit.
Jeffrey - I have an E10R with a few modifications designed to overcome its limitations on track (brakes, suspension & cooling). I'd love to compare notes with you, if you are willing. Can you contact me via the Zenos Owners UK facebook group?
That squeaky dump valve would drive me crazy! Change or do some extra plumbing and it would be great!
Considering what you can
Get in the atom, for 30 grand.
Just over for a caterham. Don't
Think they would have sold many.
The alpine 110 is the same money,
But can use it more often. Interesting
Concept though. Great video 👍
The Zenos makes a great used buy - low mileage cars are available in the £15k to £20k range.
@MunroM84 yeah, the ford jobs
Just arn't as well built. V-tec all
Day long.
I really enjoyed your description of this bizarre automobile. At my age, 72, having been a gearhead since I was a kid, I’ve gotten very jaded. Every time somebody comes along with another super sports car that’s going to blow the doors off Porsche Ferrari and Lamborghini I yawn and nod. I can’t count how many of these I’ve seen in the magazines and more recently, on RUclips, that bake an incredible with gobs of fanfare only to disappear Before an actual working version has been produced. When I see guys driving them and doing evaluations and quoting stats, then I start to believe a little bit. When I see them up for sale and real people driving them I start getting interested, but not before.
Zenos built about 130 cars in total before they failed and there are happy owners using the cars in various countries across the world so Zenos was a bit more than a unrealised concept. I have an E10R which is an awesome road-legal track-day special (but perhaps a bit too much for the road).
not sure on this comment exactly, it was never meant to be put against a Ferrari or lambo etc,
and tbh i find the ferrari and lambo following just pure childlike now, doesn't matter about cost or practicality or want or like its just about a badge on a car they know so it must be good.
its just you get hooked as a kid because its seen as unrealistic and out of this world when i see hundreds of people now on youtube even in a Peugeot 205 and 106 the basic of the basic and they cant stop smiling and appreciating the hobby of a motor head, where as in Ferrari videos etc its just some dickhead looking for street cred with rarely a true smile and semi bragging how there wheels cost 8k as an option or something.
now that doesn't dismiss them as bad cars, they certainly arent, but its 2 different markets of people i feel.
in my opinion id be ashamed to myself to outright buy a Ferrari or lambo brand new, but then again im saying that as i physically cant, all i want to mean is its about the energy and effort more so than just splashing and people showing off or feeling better in a Lamborghini.
I've long thought that the Ariel Atom and BAC Mono going turbocharged will be hugely detrimental to their enjoyment.
Negligible environmental benefit too. Sensible lawmaking would not apply emissions rules to cars that sell in such few numbers.
This is definitely one of your best reviews! A hidden gem of a video. I only watched it as I searched for the Zenos after watching the Grand Tour back catalogue. I agree, sounds absolutely awful, even without the turbo sounds. Exhaust, induction, etc... wrong, just wrong. But then I'm not a fan of the way the MX-5 sounds, either. I know people have been chiming in with their engine choices, but how about the Renault engine as fitted to the Alpine A110?
Awesome! Even your criticism makes me want the car. But I think I'd go for the R.
This was a car I was very interewsted in until I saw this video. I find it hard to renege a 4cyl engine with my car dreams, and that car sounds DREADFUL.
The new brake master-cylinder probably had a different bore size, in order to tune the pedal feel. If the 'R' version had different calipers, with different total piston area, that would certainly have been logical. If not, they may simply have wanted to adjust brake pedal response for track use. So, I doubt the change was out of any concern about the reliability of the standard MC.
there is also a youT review where the brakes failed horribly and went straight into an island from a dual carraige way, something about the breaks is meant to be an issue, but you would think solvable...
Thanks for the new term added to my vocabulary.
Raison d'etre
On the Zenos, I wonder if a Honda K series engine would have been more suitable?
And if more power was really needed a supercharger could of be added.
This looked like a winner in the making.
they made advertising in 2018 for a limited production model the E10T.
Other than that, nothing.
Hi jay
I have not seen you as happy driving as in this video. You loooove the chassey of the car like no one else but the noise which personally i love a lot, the interior and it does not has glass windows 😂😂😂... ZENOS ... Please fix these things
We just took ownership of this car your driving in the vid haha it’s up for sale now on autotrader we are selling for a reasonable price
Great review.... that unseemly noise during gear changes though....
Uprated master cylinders on these light cars are usually for better pedal feel on the track rather than absolute stopping ability. I am lucky enough to have two Caterhams - one's a road car with a normal brake cylinder, the other a race car with the fancy one. The road car is still very capable - it will do track laps all day long - the brakes work just fine - and it's only 2 seconds a lap slower than the race car. But the brake pedal feel at threshold is just a little less sensitive. On the other hand, for driving around town and pulling up to stop lights elegantly, the feel is much better. Whereas the race car is a bit of a troglodyte until you're at over 7/10ths - all herky-jerky.
Good review but I think I'll stick with my Caterham 👍
Funny thing... love the one in my garage (E10-S) but have been thinking of converting it to an EV using a Tesla drive train. Great video James.
I was thinking it seemed ideal as electric, throughout the video. Go for it, it’ll be a beast.
This had a lot going for it shame the company went under before they could refine it!
8 minutes 53 seconds.....absolutely hilarious. Sorry to laugh at your pain :)
This very car is on Autotrader at the moment for £29k, looks fun!
Jay, is there any chance you'll review Bristol Blenheim mk3 (of latest production)? I would like to see it up close. What's happening with them, any news about continuing with production?
It seems unlikely
@@JayEmmOnCars They are rare? Or you don't like them?
Much better video review than smee150
Shmee is useless, idk how he pulls cars worth £1m out of his backside anyway
Seems like a great car for taking track days VERY seriously, but not a car you'd enjoy driving for more than a few minutes at a time.
Apothecary Terry No, the Zenos is a pretty nice road drive - the cabin is much more spacious than a Caterham, for example, and the suspension is supple and comfortable for the road. As long as it doesn’t rain you are fine for long journeys. It’s not very practical in the rain but still better than a motorcycle - many Zenos cars have heated seats!
Nice Zeno
"i'm not a fast ford guy" haha love the content buddy.
Shame. I remember them offering test track days. Was tempted but know I was never going to buy one new. Missed opportunity, but at least I didn't contribute to their demise by ragging one round a track with no realistic buying intent. I mean they have the right idea; classic British recipe - add lightness. Still, a car needs at least a half proper lid in this country. Hopefully someone can buy the IP embedded in Zenos and take it to the next level with build quality and refinement etc
@Jay. Would this car be better with a K20 or the V6 from the lotus evora / toyota camry?
The perfect screaming engine for this sled would have been a Subie EJ.
Bmw 3 litre turbo
Twincharged Toyota v6?
When Royals used to be a bigger thing a few years ago, and when they used to sell Jaaaaags, my local one always had a set of 4 zenos E10's, and a few different ones showed up every now and then but i remember going with my parents to service our old XF and seeing them there. i dont think they sold well and i doubt royals loosing their main source of income - jaguar, helped. sadly that Royals is a sofa shop now. how the turns tabled
What’s a GT40 replica go for
Hi Jay, I have a question for you, do you think that in 3 years time the McLaren 720s will depreciate enough to where you could buy one for £100,000? Considering that some of them right now go for around 150-160,000.
Also you mentioned in a previous video that theres McLarens with the steering wheel on the left in UK dealerships, are those usually cheaper over there?
720S is already down to 125K here, 100K in the next two years seems extremely likely.
And yeah LHD versions of normal cars here are usually worth less
@@JayEmmOnCars oh wow, that's insane, I'd love to buy one in 3 years if the prices are that low, despite the reliability issues it's still an amazing car, I wanted to go for a 570 at first since from what I've seen online, they're at around £100,000, but if theres going to be 720's for that price that's definitely the better option
There is a man in the West Country that has taken on some of these and is supplying panels etc for them and I think has some unfinished chassis,
looks like the website hasn't been updated since 2018.........so AC cars are still going, what do they actually do?
Maybe one of your best reviews
Thanks :)
Late but I thought so too! Was visiting family and put this on the TV and my mum, who has absolutely no interest in cars or engineering, still enjoyed your journalistic style.
How many miles do you get before you have to sharpen the blade on that lawn tractor?
I love the Zenos, its looks and the sound tho i dont think the review on Top Gear/Grand Tour had the squeek sound. agree that would be painful to hear but the rest of the sounds are great! even it being so loud
N/A engine would have been still better, because this engine - and thrust me, I drove it, too - is just aweful. It has a huge turbo lag. When the power comes, it comes out of a sudden. It doesnt want to rev as well. Its just not a sports car engine. Or it needs just a complete remap.
Every Lotus, and every Caterham is more fun and better build.
They must be some salesman to convince investors to put their money into this.
You need a unique selling point to get into this very niche, saturated market. Looks are subjective, an Elise is better on the road, a caterham 7 if you want something more raw, an MX5 if you need every day usability.
And then you stick a heavily turbocharged engine in it. In a light car. A car that you want to be responsive yet progressive. A car that doesnt need a mountain of torque to get it moving or turn it into an everyday prospect.
It's as ridiculous as putting a noisy, shouty Honda S2000 engine into a Rolls Royce.
some of us prefer turbos!
Great review. I definitely agree with the engine..sound good in an rs so who knows what they did to ruin it. The power seems a bit much too. I would have loved to have seen two variants. Since they were using ford parts I feel like the 1.0 and 1.5 EcoBoost engines would have been interesting. They sound very good. Much lighter and smaller units so could have been better packaged. Ford themselves have turned the 1.0 to to 180bhp before which would make a good entry level. The 1.5 in the current fiesta st can touch 240/250bhp very easily. Turn down the turbo swooshes a little.
Set Fire to it ! 👍😀
Synthwave ending is back
the first time Zenos went bust i thought "if caterham don't buy this, they've screwed up"
@MunroM84 small profits from a handful of cars, and they keep throwing it away on things that come to nothing. If they can make money developing the 7 - given how few are sold - they can do it with this
Perhaps it's with a helmet that it's been designed for or ear plugs 😂😎 ( sorry you just said that Ja)
imagine if one slapped a volvo 2.5 in this, it would take of with a nice throaty roar
I feel like if they had made it with a removable roof it would have sold a lot better.
A car with no roof (at all) in the UK is just silly.
If it had a V8 or V10, it would've sold much better IMO
At 700kg it doesn’t need an engine that big. May even make it less fun due to the added weight. V6 maybe.
@@rosstee it's want, not need, that sells a car like this.
@@vladimirzakrevski3157 I agree, but 700kg is absolutely nothing these days. Most hatchbacks are at least twice that weight, so those that want this car would want it because lightweight generally means a great balance of handling and power. A huge heavy lump of an engine would mess that up.
was waiting and wondering when you would talk about the sound, both engine and gearbox......and then you let it out....ha ha...thanks. So you think AC have the rights to the chassis design?
detail please.. is it rear engine or mid engined? is there a LSD? being a new car is there rear steer? is there any trick suspension electronic dampeners etc?
Mid engined. No LSD standard. No trick adaptive dampers but they are adjustable
@@JayEmmOnCars I would like to see the 2.0ltr vs a Elise or my mr2 2zz swap, which seems great value for 5k all in.. least my dash trim has stayed in lol
Hard for a company to get off the ground. To have enough money to get by regulations alot of hurdles. Fit and finish also always matter
Try to get hold of the Bristol Bullet!
I think I might be alone here but I really love that highly turbocharged sound it gives off.
Haven't I already mentioned the Chavvy hair gel?
It's a car with it's own "Shite flute" music soundtrack.
Can you say "buyers Remorse"? :)
Didn't the CEO or director pass away in one as the end of last year?
AC Cars. Bought Xenos. Never knew. Is AC Cars still going
so is it to be considered a production cars ? or they just put out prototyps and cars for journalists? does they sold any to real customers. sad story, it would be cool for a company like catheram to buy back the production as a 7 2.0 alongside the real one.
I guess I'd rather have an Ariel Atom :p By the way, have you ever tested one?
Dad had one and he bought it and sold it back to the guy who invented it.
JayEmm loves this. OMG is this an Exige beater
funny... the car does not come across as loud, but it sounds like you're shouting... microphones, what can you do? :)
and GOOD GOD! riding a bicycle on that bermless road is not for the faint of heart!
Ow dear!!... I don't like that turbo sound! 🤢
That turbo dump is so obnoxious
That car looks great but it sounds horrendous! It is in desperate need of a redesign to the intake and exhaust with much more sound deadening built-in! It might even be improved with a change of engine to say the H6 Subaru unit (ultra-reliable and good for 500K) with or without the turbo!
Zeee-Nos?
Zenos 👍
There is no such thing as a Perfect Car all is compromise you can have form or function but alas not both, my first Car was a Caterham Seven the best car on the road but very Spartan no Heater try that on Winters Day, would I buy it back in a seconds, I do not mind dying of Hypothermia but I never want to die of Boredom so pick your poison.
If you thought that was loud... You're going to hate my car 😆
To be fair, the quality of the sound is the main factor. If it's loud but sounds good, you can enjoy the car... Just not for too long
so its a project car deservant of an engine swap? sounds cool but... 50k...
£30k…
It a shame a car with such great performance and driving dynamics failed. Quality is shocking in many respects.
I feel if it had a roof or hardtop option and heater it would still be alive today.
I hate turbo engines with a passion, I don't care how fast it is, give me natural aspiration every time!
In fact, I hate turbocharged engines so much, I've quit watching F1.
Name sounds like an ointment .
really missing the old intro now
This one won't last long - will get replaced in June
@@JayEmmOnCars good to hear. The content is brilliant as always. So happy to see your channel continuing to grow and succeed especially in the face of this global situation
Looks like bad body panel swap kit car using a ND MX5 as the base car.
Anyone else watch this whole video hoping to see him getting in and out of it only to be disappointed. 😞
It's neither dramatic nor particularly entertaining. For fun videos of me getting in and out of cars, watch my Fat Guy Elise video, my Caterham 420R review, or my recent "how to drive a Ferrari" video
it looks like so many car that i.dont even know which is his true identity.
2.3 liter Focus RS engine, could it really get any worse concerning reliability.. let alone for a track oriented car.
yep my friend just blew his slightly and ive told him barely a year of flying about has already fucked his RS.
@@Dockhead lol well the Zenos lasts long so ye
It’s reliable enough, the one you see here is ours, it has not got many miles, they are decently reliable, it may not be the best engine in the world but consider that it’s light, and sounds really really good when you are driving it then it’s good
You have a really knowing away about presenting I don't know if you're trying too hard or what try and be yourself be better
It looks dreadful and sounds dreadful. They fell short on two of the most important factors when you wanna establish a niche sports car.
"the next big Thing" "but it all went WRONG" 😁😁😁😁.... as Always with british Manufakturer 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Building these with a mk3 focus rs engine was a mistake, its an absolute lemon of an engine. Sounds terrible, inferior block design to the st250 block (open deck vs semi closed) and having a turbo engine doesnt match the chassis setup of this car. A honda k20 or NC/ND mx5 engine wouldve suited it better
Just get back into a Porsche its a track car not an every day driver
Great vid crap car ☕
Disagree, it’s a cheap fast car, we just took this one for a spin and sound great mate, very engaging ride