The Only Acceptable Lotus Off-Roader Is Nothing Like The Eletre

Safari all the things is an excellent modified car strategy. The lifted sports car trend that has brought us the likes of the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato and Porsche 911 Dakar, not to mention the Morgan CX-T and countless other home-builds and enthusiast projects, is a great one. You get a sports car that can handle today’s lunar landscape highways while at the same time getting some SUV-style capability, in a car that’s still fun.

The latest to join the trend is a Lotus. But it’s not from Lotus; this is the work of an enthusiast, one who has turned their Lotus Elise into a Dakar-ready beast. The Get Lost Project Safari is by far the better of the two Lotus SUVs that now exist. With no apologies to the Eletre at all.

A Lotus That Is More Fun Than The Original, On Dirt Or Pavement

Get Lost was founded by automotive photographer and noted Lotus fiend George Williams. He describes this not as a modified car, but as one that is a new interpretation of what the car had to offer. The goal was something that was fun and, somehow, more reliable than the original.

The most important part of the job is an extra four inches of suspension height. The system was custom-built for the car and delivers better body control off-road, and the extra ground clearance it needs to leave the pavement. Big chunky all-terrain tires and rally-style wheels fill the new plastic wheel arches and give the Elise the off-road durability and traction it needs.

“The idea of taking an Elise off-road might sound ridiculous, and that’s exactly why we leaned into it. That one silly idea gave us real creative freedom. Every element was considered from the ground up, not just to look good in isolation, but to enhance the character and capability of the entire car. It wasn’t enough for the car to look good – it had to be brilliant to drive too. This is not a modified Elise, it’s our interpretation of what the platform had to offer. Everything has been considered – from the design to the drive – all in the pursuit of creating something that’s fun.”

– George Williams, Founder, Get Lost

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Get Lost has added underbody reinforcement to protect it when that extra height isn’t enough. It also added a limited-slip differential at the rear. Project Safari comes with a new hydraulic handbrake, too, though we’re not sure exactly why.

Build Plans Come With New Powertrain

Instead of the old Rover K-Series engine, Get Lost is planning something new. Something with performance and reliability, it says, though Get Lost didn’t say what the new engine would be. More modern Lotus sports cars use a Toyota V6, and it’s hard to get more reliable than that, so it’s a possibility.

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The bodywork has gone full-rally with massive LED lights on the hood and a spare tire carrier on the back. It has a new cabin with seats meant to let taller drivers get in this compact beast.

Get Lost plans to start building customer cars later this year. Yes, you can take your customization even further, if you want to. Costs are unknown at this stage, but if it’s less than the Sterrato’s $317,272 MSRP or the 911 Dakar’s base price of $223,450, it could be quite the fun bargain.