Zenos is into administration

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

UK sports car maker Zenos has gone into administration

http://dailym.ai/2jLrJDG

 

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

I wasn't really aware of them, but it's a sad day nonetheless.

[Andy (Sycho)]

Wasn't they on top gear or one of the other car programs not so long back?

It had a good review if I remember right.

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

Yeah wasn't it featured on both top gear and the grand tour

 

you would have though that would have been enough coverage to keep them going

 

[TAFKARM]

23 minutes ago, Cleggy the Spyder Man said:

Yeah wasn't it featured on both top gear and the grand tour

 

you would have though that would have been enough coverage to keep them going

 

Brand awareness is all well and good, but in such a niche market its sales that matter. 

Would you have bought one?

[jeff oakley]

Apparently they had a strong order book but a large order was cancelled. I am guessing it is the usual cash flow problems that has had a large hand in this.

From what I have read it was a good car, but as a track car not as good as others. As a road car why would you when a Lotus would do a better job for example.

Hopefully someone does buy it and make it better and attract a wide audience, you know with doors and a hood that might be a real alternative to some others out there

 

[John K]

10 hours ago, jeff oakley said:

I am guessing it is the usual cash flow problems that has had a large hand in this.

Tis a shame... Britain has always been the spiritual home for the shed based car industry, we should be proud of this and support it officially with tax breaks or something (like they seem to do for the movie industry)

I agree with Jeff, my bet would be cashflow. The mantra seems to be, the only way to survive is to expand, to expand you need money, so it is borrowed on the basis the orders will comes in and when one doesn't...

[Thrustyjust]

11 hours ago, jeff oakley said:

Apparently they had a strong order book but a large order was cancelled. I am guessing it is the usual cash flow problems that has had a large hand in this.

From what I have read it was a good car, but as a track car not as good as others. As a road car why would you when a Lotus would do a better job for example.

Hopefully someone does buy it and make it better and attract a wide audience, you know with doors and a hood that might be a real alternative to some others out there

 

Lotus as a brand, which has far more street awareness and is always cash struggling. I only knew of Zenos, as I saw one locally about last summer time and had to google it, so not that actually out in the market, particulary well. It has to fight the usual fully built cars such as Caterham R's and Atoms , which both have massive brand awareness. The TG and GT may have made more people aware, but as a market , it was going to be a massive struggle. I nearly bought a Ginetta G40r before building a Westie and even with TV coverage on touring cars, most people wouldnt know of them. They only built a handful of road cars in the end and then refocussed on their race cars, so it didnt hurt them. Maybe the consideration for buyers on potential resale is another thing, with Atoms and Caterhams both holding strong money after the owners want to move on. With the Zenos that may also have been a hidden loss maker. 

Its a shame that it has happened , but marketing and actual selling these types of cars is always going to be micro niche.

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

13 hours ago, RussH said:

Brand awareness is all well and good, but in such a niche market its sales that matter. 

Would you have bought one?

 

Well no cause I have a westy - for me it needed a roof to sell - else it's just a track car and if I was looking for a purely tack car I would rather have a seven or a xtr2 style car tbh 

[XTR2Turbo]

I went to their PH open day a few years ago when the first car was ready.

I was massively disappointed by the quality and looks.  I didn't even bother driving it as I knew I wouldn't buy one.

I think that they targeted the wrong market. For me the gap is the space that used to be occupied by TVR. Manual, RWD, 2 seater sports cars sub £45k.  The sort of car that you would use at weekends and for road trips but still feels individual and special.  What is out there today?  Elise is good but a bit small. MX5 even smaller and lacking power and special factor, Cayman / Boxster OK but a bit mainstream and 'safe' and gets expensive quickly with options,  Evora a great car but list price above budget above, BMW Z4 OK looking but not really a sports car, Merc auto only etc ....  That's why second hand TVR prices are still so strong.

There are plenty of cheap track orientated cars.  The Xenos is more road orientated and yet not practical and didn't even have killer looks, performance or price on its side.