Representing everything we believe a sportscar should be, The iconic Elemental RP-1 has been continuously developed, optimised and refined, but we have always stayed true to our original vision of what a road-legal track car should be:
A true visceral thrill.
At the heart of the RP-1 is our intelligent design philosophy, tying six unique steps together to offer a user experience not seen outside the most extreme of supercars or high end racing cars.
1: Driving Position
The RP-1 has a “feet-up” driving position that is unique amongst road going cars.
We created this innovative solution for 2 reasons:
Firstly, it allows us to incorporate radical front diffuser aerodynamics into the design of the car, providing unparalleled levels of downforce with minimal drag. The RP-1 corners unlike any other road legal car.
Secondly, it gives a formula one-style driving experience, with the closest possible connection between driver, car and road.
The RP-1’s unique feet up driving position necessitates an equally unique seat design and our custom-designed carbon composite seats are both strong and lightweight as well as being supremely comfortable.
The feet up driving position might initially seem unusual, but it is a very natural position, found in all F1 and LMP race cars, it’s surprisingly intuitive, comfortable and feels just “right” – even on a road trip, and it quickly makes other cars feel unnecessarily upright.
“Perhaps the most intriguing element of the RP-1 is the seating position, which will be familiar to drivers of modern F1 cars. The seat is tilted back nearly 30 degrees, meaning that the pedal box is higher than your hips.
To look at it makes no sense, but slide in and it feels the most natural of driving positions.
It’s not a design gimmick either, as it has allowed the flat floor at the front to be as large as possible, allowing the diffuser to work even more efficiently. “
Stuart Gallagher
Evo Magazine
2: Structural Tub
At the heart of the RP-1 is a lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium composite Structural Tub.
Featuring Elemental’s Patented CarbonAl composite technology the RP-1 Tub weighs just 65kg and features a design philosophy that follows the very latest thinking in lightweight materials, manufacturing and assembly.
The results is a supremely lightweight and strong structure (that exceeds FIA structural performance standards) at the very core of the car.
The profile of the tub optimises the low height of the feet up driving position to create a car that’s only 1070mm tall.
This is to minimise the frontal area of the car and smooth airflow along the upper body (although unsubstantiated rumours claim that John Begley wanted the car to be low enough to drive under the entry barrier at the McLaren Technical Centre where he worked at the time).
However, low height doesn’t mean cramped.
Using our experience in motorsport and road car design we have been able to optimise the interior space of the RP-1 to accommodate occupants from 1.52m-1.98m (5′ 0″ to 6’6″) in height.
3: Aerodynamic Downforce
Taking advantage of the driving position and low profile tub, we were able to design the Rp1 from the outset to include a front aero splitter and integrated front and rear underfloor diffusers to create phenomenal levels of usable downforce.
The great advantage of doing this, as opposed to simply adding wings and spoilers onto the bodywork, is that you gain massive amounts of downforce (and therefore grip) while creating far less drag, much like the latest F1 cars.
The underside of the car begins with a custom-machined marine plywood front splitter that guides airflow as it hits the front of the car, and a central flat floor panel which creates a large and aerodynamically clean surface.
Behind the splitter, and under the driver’s feet, two large front diffusers create a low pressure area, sweeping underfloor air out behind the front wheel, thereby generating downforce and front end grip.
With the RP-1 uniquely generating appreciable front end downforce, we can increase the rear downforce without adversely affecting stability, the resulting very large double stage rear diffuser controls the remaining airflow and reduces air pressure under the rear of the car.
Reducing air pressure beneath the car in this way when the car is moving, allows the normal air pressure above to push the car down onto the road and generate more load on the tyres.
As the RP-1 has an extremely low overall weight, this means that at speed, the tyres have the vertical load of a heavier vehicle but the reduced inertia of a lightweight one.
This results in dramatically increased cornering grip and high speed braking capability.
During its development the shape of the RP-1 was extensively refined using the latest CFD software, tested in the MIRA wind tunnel and validated on both the test track and the road.
The RP-1 is the only road car at this price point with such integrated front and rear underfloor aerodynamics, providing levels of downforce and cornering performance usually only found in top flight race cars costing more than twice as much.
“Above 60mph it feels like Nellie the invisible elephant has parked her behind on the bonnet.
The RP-1 has the most planted and positive front end of any lightweight car I’ve ever driven. You feel the steering weight up, so you turn in a bit harder, and then just keep turning, marvelling at the wonderful sense of security, weight, accuracy and feedback.
And grip. Masses and masses of grip.”
Ollie Marriage
Top Gear Magazine
4: Light, Fast, Strong
Light
Our core philosophy when designing the RP-1 was to reduce the weight of the car as much as possible.
By reducing weight, the engine power required to achieve high performance is also reduced, so the engine and gearbox can be made smaller, making the car even lighter. A lighter car means lower forces exerted on the car so other components such as the suspension can become lighter too.
And so the process continues. We followed this philosophy to the point where if an off-the shelf part was not light enough, we designed a bespoke one that would be.
The result of this attention to detail is a tub that weighs only 65kg and a whole car that weighs from just 620kg.
Fast
Having made all the components lighter you can reap the rewards in terms of faster acceleration, harder braking and tighter cornering.
The light weight of the car, compared to the power and torque of the engine are key indicators of performance. The RP-1’s combination of 520bhp per tonne and 675Nm per tonne are absolutely class leading.
Strong
Low weight is of little use if it simply sacrifices strength. Conventional lightweight designs can be prone to chassis flexing and offer little or no driver protection.
We optimised every part and employed cutting edge design, manufacturing and materials technology, to create exceptional structural rigidity.
This in turns gives the RP-1 better chassis dynamics, whilst the structural Tub has been designed to meet FIA side impact standards.
5: Usability
The RP-1’s suspension can be easily adjusted and optimised by the user, either by hand or using basic tools. This allows a level of chassis adjustment that would normally require the services of a fully trained mechanic and means that the vehicle dynamics can be quickly and easily refined to the users requirements when at a track day.
The idea of ease of maintenance is further evident with the entire body and under floor capable of being removed, using basic tools, in less than an hour, allowing easy access to all the mechanicals of the car.
Switchable traction control is fitted as standard. With the option of up to 5 traction control and engine map settings that range from standard road to full race setups, the car can be easily tailored to the individuals driving style and surface conditions.
The RP-1 is just as usable for traveling over distance as it is for track days.
It provides exceptional leg, elbow and shoulder room to accommodate the widest possible range of occupants. There’s also over 200 litres of secure luggage space, map pockets, USB mobile phone charging and foot-well heating.
The driver ergonomics are exceptional. The RP-1 features a steering wheel with indicators, horn and main beam levers as well as the gear shift paddles.
The dashboard includes a colour LED multi-function main display, waterproof centre control panel, push-button start system and a custom electronic ignition key with integrated Thatcham immobiliser.
As standard, the RP-1 features a classic racing car inspired open cockpit with wrap-round polycarbonate visor screens and air deflectors for a pure open air sports car feeling.
“From the outset our idea for the car was that it had to offer the very best on-track performance but without compromising usability on road”
John Begley
6: Aesthetic
Not performance related, but arguably the characteristic with the most immediate impact, the aesthetic of the RP-1 was always considered of paramount importance.
The innovative carbon composite tub is exposed as the centrepiece of the car with the front and rear body panels “stretched” fore and aft from the tub and then visually “shrink-wrapped” over the wheels and mechanical package.
Taking the shrink wrapped athletic form further, the RP-1 features a classic “coke bottle” plan shape on the bodyshell and tub, and has an unashamedly contemporary GT race car aesthetic.
When viewed from above, a visual raw carbon fibre spine runs through the middle of the car from the hood radiator duct, through the tub between the driver and passenger and over the engine to the brightly polished central exhaust outlet.
The interior, with its custom carbon fibre seats and minimalist waterproof suede trim, carbon fibre and machined alloy detailing, a programmable colour LED dash display and custom designed centre touch-control panel, takes this idea of sporting form and functional minimalism further.
The RP1 offers the visceral thrill of a single seater race car but without sacrificing the comfort of the driver or passenger.
All of these elements combine to give a modern, dynamic, aggressive, and yet lightweight and athletic form to the car.
“ ..open up its accelerator with your right foot and then the world very quickly goes into hyperspace.
The RP-1 could be a game-changer in years to come. Genuinely, it’s that good.”
Steve Sutcliffe
Auto Express
10 July 2015