There’s something timeless about taking a delicate, low-slung sports car and giving it a gritty, off-road makeover. It shouldn’t work, but it does. In the case of Project Safari by UK-based outfit Get Lost, it’s worked rather spectacularly.
They’ve taken a Lotus Elise S1, a car known more for cornering g-forces than gravel slides, and turned it into a rally-ready, snow-bashing, dune-hopping, mid-engine goofball. The kind of car that will make you grin just by looking at it and likely howl with laughter once behind the wheel.
What is Project Safari?
This isn’t just a lifted Elise with chunky tyres. It’s a ground-up restomod done with precision and a hefty dose of mischief. Think of it as a proper engineering project wearing a Halloween costume… and absolutely pulling it off.
What’s Been Done to It?
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Custom suspension: Nearly 100 mm of extra ground clearance over stock
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All-terrain tyres: Nankang rubber built to handle gravel, slush, and snow
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Reinforced underbody: Because rocks and aluminium don’t mix well
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Rally lights: Four of them, mounted proud on the front end
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Rear-mounted spare: Housed in a bespoke engine cover valley
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Unique air intake: Mid-mounted, flanking the rear window with ducts
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White wheels and matching exhaust tips: For added style points (even if soot turns them black)
Under the Skin
Get Lost hasn’t disclosed exactly what powers Project Safari, but it’s not the original Rover-sourced 1.8-litre engine. They promise “strong, reliable performance,” which probably means a modern motor swap. There’s also a limited-slip differential and a hydraulic handbrake, so expect it to drift like a champ on loose surfaces.
What’s It For?
Everything. Winters in the northeastern US? Sorted. Springtime potholes? Bring it on. Summer dust trails? Easy. Unlike most sports cars that hibernate for half the year, this one's built to misbehave in all seasons.
As Get Lost founder George Williams puts it:
“The idea of taking an Elise off-road might sound ridiculous, and that’s exactly why we leaned into it.”
Can You Buy One?
Not just yet. Get Lost is taking letters of interest from potential customers and collaborators. Full production is expected to begin later this year. Pricing remains under wraps, but given the bespoke suspension and bodywork, plus the need for a donor Lotus Elise, expect it to cost a fair bit more than your average used hot hatch.
Why It Matters
Project Safari doesn’t just reimagine the Lotus Elise. It reminds us that performance doesn’t have to be serious. It can be silly, loud, impractical, and wildly fun. And frankly, we need more of that in the car world.
Conclusion
You wouldn’t take a Lotus Elise into the woods, onto a snow-covered trail, or across a rocky trail. But now, you could. And you’d want to. Because it’s bonkers in the best possible way.
If mad genius had a shape, it might just look like this lifted Elise, yellow rally lights and all.
