The Zolfe Orange might sound like a car made in Germany or Switzerland, but it’s actually an all-British project built in the West Midlands. And before pessimists dismiss it as a non-starter in the present climate, consider this: it accelerates faster than a Ferrari F430, costs less than a Porsche Boxster and has been developed by the man responsible for the Caterham 7 — the most fun four-wheeled machine in the world. Suddenly, the compact little Zolfe looks like being an affordable sports car at just the right time.
Because it’s so light, the £31,625 base model gets to 60mph in just 5.3sec, while the higher-performance £40,250 version makes it in 3.8sec. City traders faced with the novel concept of a budget should take note: that’s well within supercar territory.
The key to its performance is size: the Zolfe is small, but it’s perfectly formed. Everything you need to have fun behind the wheel is there, anything you don’t has been thrown out. Slightly smaller than a Mazda MX-5 and a little narrower than a Lotus Elise, the Zolfe has a nicely planted, low-to-the-ground stance.
The styling is pleasingly retro without being an embarrassing pastiche of past glories. Indeed, the attention to detail lavished on the Zolfe is impressive. Who, for example, would take a perfectly acceptable set of wheels — an off-the-shelf item — and machine them down to save weight? Zolfe would, as they’re designed for a much heavier vehicle than this flyweight 698kg two-seater. The fully independent suspension was developed with the help of John Miles, a former grand prix racing driver and engineering expert, who worked on Lotus road cars.
The result of all this is a car with simply tremendous potential. Better still, anyone can drive it. Where most sports cars are designed around racehorse jockeys, the Zolfe is capable of accommodating a 6ft 4in driver wearing a crash helmet. The chassis is slightly stiffer than a Lotus Elise’s, which is very good indeed, and the weight distribution is a near-perfect 52% rear, 48% front (with a driver on board).
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