UK company unveils a 600kg tribute to S1 Lotus Elise on iconic car's 30th anniversary
Published on Sep 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Sep 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The S1 Lotus Elise is celebrating its 30th anniversary of release with a fitting tribute.
First unveiled at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, the sports car was incredibly important.
In many ways, it set a new benchmark for what Lotus – and sports cars as a whole – stood for.
And a UK company has unveiled a 600kg, single-seater tribute to the legendary vehicle.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Lotus changes the game with release of the Elise
30 years ago, Lotus threw the covers off an incredibly important car.
The iconic British brand revealed to the world a sleek, two-seater sports car.
That car, as we now know, was the S1 Lotus Elise – and it was special.
It made its debut in 1995 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
And straight away, it was clear that there was something different about this car.
The Elise was designed with a revolutionary, lightweight design.
Its extruded aluminum chassis provided incredible flexibility and agility.
The Elise provided a direct connection to the road – and would set a new standard for handling.
The focus of the S1 Lotus Elise was very much on minimal mass and a pure driving experience.
And it was this focus that made it an instant classic and one of the best sports cars ever made.
British company unveils tribute to S1 Lotus Elise
Sadly, the British brand itself is not celebrating this epic milestone with a brand-new release.
But thankfully, another UK company has decided to do so – and it is special.
Analogue Automotive has released the VHPK, a 600kg, single-seat tribute to the S1 Lotus Elise.
Despite being heavily based on the original S1, the VHPK has been heavily modified.
It is clad in carbon fiber bodywork and comes with a heavily modified interior.
For one thing, it now only has a single seat, placed squarely in the middle of the cockpit.
Further weight-saving measures include carbon fiber wheels and carbon ceramic brakes.
The power is still provided by a K-series engine, although it has been tuned just a little.
It now produces 250hp – with a power-to-weight ratio of 400hp per tonne.
So, you might be wondering – how many examples of this cool tribute will be released?
Well, Analogue Automotive has confirmed that just 35 tribute cars are planned to be built.
No asking price has been publicly listed, so you can safely assume that a deep rummage around in your pockets will be required.
What do you think of this S1 Lotus Elise tribute? Would you buy one if you could?
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
