The Lotus Elise was conceived to be lightweight, to cling to the tarmac, and to deliver the purest, most incisive driving experience possible. But the British firm Get Lost had a different plan, and that is how Project Safari came to be.
Lotus Elise Project Safari: a rally-flavoured twist
In essence, it is an Elise reimagined for rallying-very much in the mould of the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato or the Porsche 911 Dakar. The goal is the same: an unfiltered, engaging drive, only this time it is meant to be enjoyed away from the road.
Off-road hardware and a more radical look
This unapologetically extreme toy comes with a new suspension set-up that lifts the ride height by roughly 10 cm. It also adopts wider wheel arches, designed to make room for wheels shod with Nankang all-terrain tyres.
To suit the job, there is additional protection underneath the bodywork, extra auxiliary lamps, and an air intake positioned above the occupants’ heads. Visually, the result is bolder too, blending Dakar-inspired cues with a distinctly British charm.
Engine swap, limited-slip differential and hydraulic handbrake
The original Rover K-Series engine has been replaced with a different unit, although the company has not yet revealed exactly what it is. At the rear, the car now features a limited-slip differential, and it has also been fitted with a hydraulic handbrake.
“Taking an Elise onto trails sounds ridiculous - and that’s why we did it”
George Williams, founder of Get Lost
And it is a good thing they did. The best ideas are not always the ones people treat seriously, and proposals that prioritise driving fun are becoming increasingly rare.
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