Cool little thing, isn't it?

Get Lost is the brainchild of George Williams, better known as the automotive photographer GF Williams – a long-time fan of lightweight British sportscars. Project Safari is the first car by the new Surrey-based firm, and is the result of 12 months of clandestine development by a small skunkworks team of engineers and fabricators.

Based upon a Mk1 Lotus Elise, the Project Safari is equipped with all-terrain tyres, as well as a completely bespoke suspension system – ride height and track width are both increased by 100mm, whilst the tyres have been switched to a square set-up to encourage playfulness.

To cope with the rigours of off-road driving, the underbody has been reinforced and protected, and the new suspension has been coated in Cerakote. Get Lost is remaining coy about power and performance of the car for now, simply stating the car will feature a new (unspecified) powertrain claiming to deliver “strong, reliable performance”. Further hardware upgrades include a limited-slip differential and a hydraulic handbrake.

Beyond the jacked-up ride height, wheelarch extensions and WRC-style alloys, further styling flourishes include a front light bar made up of four spot lights, and bespoke rectangular headlights with subtle eyelashes in a nod to the Lamborghini Miura. The aforementioned new powertrain now inhales through a custom roof snorkel, and exhales through a zircon-coated twin-exit exhaust. A rear-mounted spare wheel has also necessitated a relocated ‘floating’ rear wing.

Elsewhere, the interior is said to have been completely redesigned using the highest-quality materials. Get Lost haven’t released any images of the cockpit beyond a glimpse of the leather and tweed-trimmed bucket seats, but the firm says the redesign ‘contributes to a new identity while respecting the car’s roots.’

“The idea of taking an Elise off-road might sound ridiculous, and that’s exactly why we leaned into it,” said George. “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.”

“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…”

Despite being such a pure sportscar, the Elise platform has a long history of engineering flexibility – from providing the basis of the very first Tesla, to the Vauxhall VX220 and, more recently, the Nybolt EV.

Even so, the Get Lost Project Safari has taken us by complete surprise. It follows the off-road performance trend, yet simultaneously manages to be the complete antithesis of the establishment. This Elise re-imagination has all the ingredients to become an instant cult classic.

Customer builds are due to start later this year, and the company is now welcoming letters of interest from customers, collaborators and potential employees who share their vision.