Zenos project E10 - design So far the Zenos Project E10 has been revealed to us from the inside out. We know about the inspiration, the chassis and how the technical USP of an extruded aluminium spine and tub made of recycled carbon came about. But what\'s the finished product going to look like?

Credit due to Zenos for laying the financial and engineering foundations first. \"It is hardly surprising that most projects start off with a vision - a design vision - intended to seduce and beguile aspiring owners,\" writes Ansar Ali exclusively for PH. He goes on to explain that before a marker pen (or its digital equivalent) even touched a drawing board he and co-founder Mark Edwards sat down and identified key words that would inform the way both the brand and products would develop. Words like \'rigorous\', \'accessible\', \'true\', \'fun\' and \'pure\' came to mind, \'thrill\' and \'intelligence\' selected as the core to the brand identity.
There\'s a risk there of coming across more like goatee stroking, latte-sipping ad execs than hard headed engineers creating a back to basics sports car brand. But Ali and Edwards would counter it\'s important for Zenos to have an emotional heart, as well as a technological one.

To expand a little Ali says the \'intelligence\' bit comes from the tub at the heart of the Zenos architecture. \"Our technical partners came back with the proposition of using recycled carbon material because of its low mass and cost,\" he says. \"Similarly the approach to the body programme stems from customer affordability, both at the point of purchase and during ownership. Using recycled carbon for the tub allows it to be part of the external body, thus reducing the number and size of body panels. If there have to be panels then make sure they are affordable to replace.\"
Which is how the early sketches showing wheelarches overlapping the tub came about, the latter smaller than shown in the early proposals to help keep costs down. In total the finished design will have about 15 panels, all intended to be \"easily and economically replaceable.\"
The thrill bit? Well, 300hp per tonne is a good start, likewise this implication they intend owners to feel like they can push the car hard and not fear a small prang will write it off. As far as expressing that in design terms goes take a look at the sketches and see what you think...
Source: Pistonheads