Lobini H1: Brazil‘s Elise rival

The Elise is soon to face competition from an unlikely part of the world – Brazil. Like the little Lotus, the Lobini H1 is clothed in a glassfibre bodyshell, but instead of an aluminium tub it uses a tubular-steel spaceframe. Power is from a mid-mounted turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder VW engine producing 180bhp and claimed to propel the H1 from rest to 60mph in 5.8sec.

Aiming to provide more comfort and convenience than the Elise, the H1 will offer such goodies as power steering, cruise control, parking sensors, xenon headlights and tyre pressure sensors. As a consequence it weighs 1030kg. However, ex-Lotus and Ascari chassis designer Dave Minter has been involved, so it should handle well.

On sale in the UK from the spring, the stumbling block could be the price, which will start at around £35,000.