Vuhl Launches In The United States, Fills The Gap Left By The Lotus Elise

If you’re still bummed that the Lotus Elise is no longer offered in the United States, there’s some good news as Vuhl is here to fill the void.

The company used this month’s Monterey Car Week to announce plans to offer the 05, 05ROC and 05RR in the United States. There’s no word on pricing, but Vuhl will initially focus on the markets of Miami, Houston and California.

As part of this effort, the company delivered its first US-spec car, a 05RR, to a customer based in Miami. While deliveries are just getting underway, Vuhl revealed they have already received a number of orders from customers in California, Florida, Nevada, New York and Texas.

Also Read: Vuhl 05RR Street Legal Track Car Has Veyron-Beating Power-To-Weight Ratio

Vuhl didn’t say much about the US-spec models, but confirmed they are all street-legal. That should help to make their cars more appealing as there isn’t anything quite like them in the United States.

Assuming specs carryover unchanged, the entry-level Vuhl 05 should come equipped with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 320 hp (239 kW / 324 PS) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to a six-speed manual transmission which enables the 1,609 lbs (730 kg) roadster to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

Drivers looking for something more powerful can opt for the 05RR which featured an upgraded 2.3-liter engine that develops 400 hp (298 kW / 406 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. It’s paired to a Sadev six-speed sequential transmission which lowers the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time to just 2.7 seconds. The top speed also climbs to 170 mph (275 km/h).