Elfin MS8

Launched in March 2004 at the Melbourne Motor Show, the Elfin created a media frenzy, which, in turn, created unprecedented interest in the car, both here and overseas. Darren House explains what all the fuss is about.

Elfin has received more than 2.5 million internet enquiries since that surprise launch, and two cars have been sold to US buyers even before the first examples have started tearing up local roads and racetracks. Another 25 cars have been ordered (13 have been built), with the first customers to take delivery in January.

The cars are available in three specification levels: Sportster and Roadster for the road, and Racer for the track. More than 50 per cent of orders are for Racers, and with new engines costing just $7000, a lot of that interest has come from Porsche owners looking to reduce their competition running costs without sacrificing performance.

It's not hard to see why there is such interest in the low-volume, limited-use vehicle. For starters, the MS8 is a Clubman-style car, which are probably the closest things to open-wheeler racing cars you'll ever drive on the road. With superb handling and an outstanding-power-to-weight ratio, Clubmans exist not for transportation but for pure driving pleasure. Elfin took that philosophy to the extreme by stuffing the tiny, hand-made steel chassis with 5.7-litres of Gen III V8 and Tremec six-speed transmission.

This is not the first time someone has upped the power on a Clubman, but what is significant here is the project's unusually high level of integrity, born from Elfin's ground-breaking collaboration with Holden's design team.

Turning a hand-made show car into a production-ready vehicle is a time-consuming task (hence the nine-month delay); Elfin needing to find cost-efficient methods of mass-manufacturing that did not compromise the prototype's outstanding quality.

But as interesting as the MS8's history is, this car is all about driving.

It's race-car links are immediately obvious as you enter the cockpit in true open-wheeler style – step over the chassis, stand on the seat, grab the roll bar and slide down into the footwell.

Once there you'll find yourself in a very snug cocoon, though there is enough room -- and no more -- than you need to comfortably use the pedals.

The gearstick and steering wheel are well-positioned, though the seating position is far more upright than expected. Like we said, the MS8 is designed solely for driving, so forget luxuries like storage areas and cup holders. The minimalist cockpit houses essential gauges and there is an optional heater, but that's it. If you want air-conditioning, you'll need to wait until the Streamliner version is released.

You fire up the big aluminium V8 with a smile of anticipation; one that grows even larger when you hear the pipes of the MS8 Racer – four on either side – bellow a menacing growl that belies the standard tune of the 245kW engine. Owners of road-going cars will have to make do with a more subtle system.

Sitting very low to the ground, you look out over the long bonnet and select first gear. With standard engine, gearbox and clutch, the car is remarkably easy to operate and the precise, short-shift gearstick provides great feel.

Given the car only weights 875kg, our first drive on a rain-soaked Calder Park Raceway is treated with great caution; more so after Aussie racing great Larry Perkins warned the car will swap ends down the straight if you give it too much right foot.

On wet road the car understeers badly, and applying feather-light throttle quickly has the steering wheel turning in the opposite direction.

Hit the standing water full-on at speed and you begin to aquaplane. Hit it with just one front wheel and it's like applying the brake to that corner only. Accelerate moderately hard in third gear on damp bitumen and you spin the wheels and feel the car slew to the left.

Get the MS8 on a dry road, though and you'll discover the benefits of Elfin's fully-adjustable suspension and 50:50 weight distribution, which deliver a beautifully neutral-handling car, albeit one that can still easily be throttle steered.

Now the Elfin's prodigious straight-line grunt can be unleashed, and as I do so my severely buffeted helmet tries to lift me out of the car as I approach 200km/h.

There's plenty of performance beyond that figure, of course, but with the battering generated by the low aero screen and bumpy Calder track, I attempt to watch where I am going rather than the speedo.

The brakes -- 343mm front; 315mm rear -- offer plenty of feel and do a superb job, pulling the car up in an impressively short distance and fuss-free manner.

All in all, the MS8 is an exhilarating and immensely involving sports car, which, unlike previous local efforts, should have a long and prosperous future.

FAST FACTS

WEIGHT: 875kg

ENGINE: V8 5.7-litre

DRIVETRAIN: front-engine, rear-wheel drive

TRANS: six-speed manual

POWER/TORQUE: 245kW @ 5600rpm; 465Nm @ 4800rpm

PERFORMANCE: 0-100km/h – 4.4sec

PRICE: $109,645

WEBSITE: www.elfin.com.au