It there is one kind of car that the British are famous for, it’s the open-roof roadsters and track cars that crowded former airfields across the British Isles in the wake of World War II. Even today, the Brits carry on the fine tradition of small, light, and topless sports cars, with more boutique, niche automakers per capita than anyplace in the world (at least according to some math we did on a napkin earlier today).
The Zenos E10 is just one of the many track-focused offerings to come out of the U.K., but it may be the only one to boast the insanely potent 2.3 liter EcoBoost motor powering the upcoming Ford Focus RS, according to AutoCar.
It’s a natural progression for Zenos, which already uses the 2.0 liter EcoBoost motor to deliver 200 horsepower in the standard E10, and 250 horsepower in the E10 S. But Zenos is planning an even lighter, fastest, and ostensibly more expensive E10 R, leaving them with two options when it comes to the powertrain. Either squeeze more power out of the mid-range 2.0 liter motors, or step up to the big leagues with the 345 horsepower, 2.3 liter EcoBoost used by the 2016 Focus RS.
With a curb weight of just 725 kg/1,600 pounds for the E10 S, the power-to-weight ratio would allow for blistering acceleration and a tremendous top speed compared to many of its contemporaries. Yet even though the E10 R is expected to be Zeno’s most expensive model, the coachbuilder still aims to undercut rivals like the Lotus 3-Eleven and Caterham 620R, while still delivering comparable performance.
We have a feeling this is just the first of many coachbuilders considering the new Focus RS engine for their own performance needs.