This Lotus Elise Safari Build Is Designed for Conquering Trails (and Potholes)

      Get Lost

      Sign up for The Drive Daily

      This is one trend that never seems to wear off for me. Transforming low-profile, purpose-built sports cars into rugged safari vehicles is always exciting. Creative minds continue to innovate with new models to elevate, and this latest one from the British company Get Lost may just be my favorite: a Lotus Elise S1. Not only does it appear to be a lot of fun, but it's also the ideal two-seat convertible for those of us in the Northeastern United States as spring approaches.

      Dubbed Project Safari, this creation is more than just an Elise with higher shocks—it's a thorough, ground-up restomod featuring distinct design elements. It was crafted with a self-aware sense of humor that I find appealing. Get Lost understands that an off-road Elise is quite absurd, but that's precisely what makes it enjoyable. It's a beautifully crafted insanity that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

      “The notion of taking an Elise off-road may sound ludicrous, and that’s exactly why we embraced it,” remarked Get Lost founder George Williams. “That one ridiculous idea granted us genuine creative liberty. Every aspect was thoughtfully designed from the ground up, not merely to look good on its own but to enhance the overall character and capability of the car.”

      A custom suspension system raises the Elise’s height, providing nearly four additional inches of ground clearance, significantly more than its original skateboard-like form. All-terrain Nankang tires ensure traction, while a reinforced undertray protects its underside from rocks and debris. Four impressive yellow rally lights are mounted atop its sleek nose, and one of the most fascinating mid-engine air intakes I’ve ever encountered is positioned above its roll bar. The central air intake is broad and splits into two ducts that run alongside the rear window to service the mid-mounted engine. It also boasts a specially designed rear engine cover featuring a space for a spare tire. The white exhaust tips that emerge from the rear mesh match the wheels, which is a neat detail—even if they are likely to turn sooty after a few adventures.

      Get Lost hasn’t disclosed what kind of engine is positioned beneath that spare tire, but it’s likely not the original Elise’s 1.8-liter Rover-sourced four-cylinder, as Project Safari claims it offers “strong, reliable performance.” Additionally, Get Lost equipped this Elise with a limited-slip differential and hydraulic handbrake, making it enjoyable to maneuver in dirt and snow.

      Currently, Get Lost is only accepting expressions of interest from potential clients and collaborators, but it intends to start building customer vehicles later this year. There's no information on pricing yet, but given the bespoke body parts and custom suspension, it’s bound to be expensive. It also requires a Lotus Elise as a base vehicle, which isn’t an affordable foundation. Nonetheless, this would be ideal for us in the Northeast. Our winters feature snow and slush, which beat up our roads by spring and summer, leaving sports cars at a disadvantage. This issue intensifies the further north you go. However, the Project Safari can be enjoyed throughout the year and, unlike other sports cars, would actually become more entertaining in the winter.

      Got tips? Send them to [email protected]