If you ever needed a reminder that you’re getting old, the Lotus Elise S1, first introduced back in 1996, is already being considered a classic car. On the bright side, it’s just about old enough that the Elise S1 is now ripe to receive a restomod treatment or two, and the very latest one is just about as far removed from the original Elise recipe as possible. No longer a focused racer for the road, Get Lost unveiled their debut concept, Project Safari, reimagining the old Elise S1 into an off-road-capable rally car. And, before you think it’s a simple modification, think again, as Project Safari is basically a complete, from-the-ground-up overhaul, starting from scratch.
The goal, as envisioned by Get Lost’s founder, famed car photographer George “GFWilliams” Williams, is to fuse extreme rally-raid capability, road-trip practicality, and a bespoke design into one uncompromising package, all wrapped up inside the compact, lightweight chassis of the old Lotus Elise S1. Instead of simply tacking on a simple body kit, and I’ve seen quite a few cheap body kits for the Elise S1, Get Lost Automotive engineers bespoke components for their Project Safari Elise S1. This includes custom bits and bobs, such as the hydraulic handbrake, as well as the limited-slip differential, and even the custom roof scoop and the all-terrain tyres.
Giving The Lotus Elise S1 The Rally Treatment
Individual chassis and bodywork elements that you might find on the original, donor Elise S1 are then re-engineered to be able to deliver supreme off-road prowess. Yet, despite all these mods, the Elise S1’s legendary lithe agility and sharp handling are retained, while also giving Get Lost a chance to improve on some of the shortcomings of the original Elise S1. Even from the looks alone, Project Safari is quite the handsome machine, and you would quickly notice some of the changes that Get Lost Automotive have made. I quite like that snorkel-style roof scoop, helping the engine to breathe a bit easier, as well as the custom-made rectangular LED headlights.
Further in the back, the Project Safari Elise S1 has a pretty noticeable floating rear wing, which also houses a set of muscular flared body panels, and a spare wheel, too! As a whole, I do have to praise Get Lost Automotive for changing up the looks of the old Elise S1 and giving it a rally car look, without butchering the original car’s fluid curves and organic shape. Of course, as Project Safari is destined for terrain that would definitely break the original Elise S1 in half, even more upgrades had to be tacked on, starting with the suspension. The custom suspension raises the ride height by around 100mm – perfect for trekking over gravel tracks and deep sand dunes.
Adding Hardcore Off-Road Capability In A Lotus
Aside from that, the Project Safari Elise S1 gets a wider track front and rear, alongside quite a bit more fettling about with the steering system, too. On top of that, to make sure that you’re not going to damage the Elise S1 by hopping over boulders and ditches, there’s a vast amount of reinforced underbody protection further below. Alas, for the time being, we don’t know the specifics around Project Safari’s powertrain, or what kind of engine it’ll use. But, at least we’re able to take a closer look at the other modifications that Get Lost made, like a limited-slip diff for better traction, and a rally-style hydraulic handbrake for playful, controlled slides.
Once you step inside, the cabin has seen quite a few improvements over the Elise S1. You now get a properly plush and luxurious interior, with high-quality leathers, some rally-inspired switchgear, and even additional storage space! As you can imagine, getting your hands on the Get Lost Automotive Project Safari isn’t going to be cheap, even though pricing hasn’t yet been announced. However, if you are interested, you can submit letters of interest via Get Lost’s site, and the first customer builds are planned to begin sometime later this year. And hey, if we are very lucky, we might even get to see some of these on the road in the not-so-distant future.
