@titleguy1 whistles awkwardly and walks away
Shite though, didn’t realise how similar the names were. I’ll change that now!
The Agathe looked the part and had the right ingredients, but felt half-baked compared to the second-gen Scarlet with which it shared its V6 engine. And at any rate, the presence of the Scarlet in the lineup meant that the Agathe would have seemed somewhat pointless. However, it could make a good base for a tuner car in the right hands. Anyway, all the cars you have made in the UE4 release look better than ever, even if they are really remakes of designs from the Kee engine version!
#1986 Erin Merna Coupe and Estate
History
It’s May 1985. Erin has just paid off its debts from its financial crisis and is at last able to expand its design team at its Central Design Studio at the company’s HQ in Nottingham, UK. Head of Design Chris Famerley, who had styled the entire current Erin range, had been asking to expand his staff numbers for some time now, mainly to bring in new talent and new ideas for cars. Finally, his calls are answered, and he oversees the addition of 30 new members, 14 of which we will be focusing on today.
These 14, known at the time as “the Junior team”, were all post-graduate design students around 1 to 4 years out of university, who had impressed Famerley and whom he felt were right for the task he was proposing. Research into who was buying the Mk 4 Merna showed that there were a significant number of younger buyers, many of whom were buying this as their first new car.
CEO Marco Erin had requested two new variants of the Merna as well as a face lift of the standard model. The idea was that this team who were right in the age bracket for this car would be in the right mind to style these new versions, as well as bring completely new talent into the company. It was risky, but Famerley had been recruited under similar circumstances at the age of 25.
A year later, and the results of this project came into being.
#1986 Erin Merna Estate
Aimed to cater to buyers looking for a first family car or just wanting some extra utility space, the Merna Estate was all about making a wagon appealing to young buyers.
The iconic tail lights were widened and stretched further to differentiate them from the standard car, and an extra faux vent was added at the rear on the boot lid for aesthetic purposes.
Then, on the back of the roof, a small glass window was designed in. It didn’t serve a purpose; the Junior team had simply been experimenting and felt this feature would be a nice touch.
At the front, the circle headlight fixtures were replaced by rectangular ones, while the front grill fascia was reshaped to be a little less ‘smiley’. This design would later be transferred to the standard car.
#1986 Erin Merna Coupe
This is where the Junior team really shined. They proposed a 3 door liftback variant of the Merna (yes, not exactly a coupe, but…) which, rather than keeping the same body style and hatchback style boot of the standard car, would be sleeker and styled differently. Essentially, at the rear, it became a fastback, while at the front, the nose was lowered and grill/lights section thinned.
A unique headlight design was then introduced to separate this version from other models. It was aimed at making the Coupe look more serious.
At the rear, an extra piece of grey plastic fascia was added (supposedly to make it sportier).
But the most exciting car the team produced was this:
#1986 Erin Merna X-Coupe
As if the X Department couldn’t get involved! The powertrain of the standard X variant were ported over, a rear wing was added and a fat exhaust fitted to ensure everyone head the blunt swaggeriness of the 2.0l i4 engine.
Today, this is one of the most sought after variants of the Merna, period. There has only ever been one X-Tuned Merna with a body style like this. Prices have been climbing considerably year on year since the late 2000s.
These new variants would remain in production until 1991, when the Mk 4 ended production and the Mk 5 arrived.
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#We’re switching over
From now on, this thread will be known as the Erin and ErinSport Historical Thread. Here, all and any Erin related stuff that isn’t to do with the company’s newest cars will be posted.
All new car stuff can be found on the new showroom threar, where I’ll be gradually rolling out the updated range of cars.
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1968 Erin Merna 200X (mini photoshoot)
I’ve been neglecting this thread, so here’s some nice shots of the sporty version of the Mk 2 Merna sporting some custom modern black rims and duck-egg blue paint.
This is of course has absolutley, definitley, nothing whatsoever to do with this or this. I swear!
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Did someone say UE4?
Now that more bodies have been added and the new fixture system has been fully implemented, I’ve been able to start to create some Erin’s in UE4 properly…
1986 Erin Scarlet X (Mk 1)
The first entrant in the company’s definitive Scarlet marque, the Mk 1’s smooth design smooth design lines created a sleek, understated sports car that packed plenty of punch. This top of the range X-tuned model, with its 3.6l V8, was good for 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 mph.
1983 Erin Merna (Mk 4)
The Mk 4 Merna was a radical depature from previous Erin’s and a much needed replacement to the dull and outdated Mk 3. Styled by Chris Famerley, the aim was to make something that felt new - at the time - yet contemporary. Today, it’s more recognised for its uber-Eighties charm.
1968 Erin Merna (Mk 2)
The car that cemented Erin’s position as an actual car maker and not just a race team; the Mk 2 was the most ‘normal’ car Erin had made to date, and would do well both with sales and out on the track. Today, it’s the company’s most popular classic car, with around 7000 still on the road.
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Not to be mean, but Merna Mk2 looks quite funny with those design choices 
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It’s a quirky little car. Fun and practicality in an economic and affordable package!
2017 ErinSport Scarlet GTE
With the return of their Scarlet sports car in 2016, it wasn’t going to be long before ErinSport got their hands on it. The Scarlet GTE marks the end of a 15 year absence from the world of GT racing for ErinSport. Factory teams ran in this year’s Asian Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series.
Like its road-going variant, it has all-aluminium construction and the same all-round double wishbone suspension. Its 2.6m wheelbase and compact size make it nimble, making up for its lower-than-average power.
It’s performed well in its first year, but next year is when it gets much more serious; Erin is returning to the World Endurance Championship, and this will be the car competing in the GTE category. The rolling-chassis variant is also now on sale to privateer teams, meaning we can expect the Scarlet to be racing in GT3 events from next year as well.
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That looks great. I love the subtle canards(?) on the sides of the front bumper and the fog-lights.
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That’s a LIKE. Love the design.
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@SideswipeBL Yep, they’re canard/aero fin kinda things. Who knew that an aerial fixture could be so useful!
@squidhead Thanks! 
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That is a proper race car from every angle!
Now if only the AMWEC were to be reimagined and relaunched for UE4… Surely that would be something to watch!
We’d need to get a stable version for that, since patches are coming in very quickly, and there’s a high chance that people would make cars in a version that wouldn’t be supported in a month or so, and AMWEC is at least 1.5 months worth of a season.
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@abg7 We might have to use our imaginations! to watch the race. Depends on how good the commentary is 
1996 Erin Berlose X-AllDrive
One of the defining cars of Erin’s 90s renaissance, and a remarkably capable performance saloon. The Berlose X-AllDrive was an all-wheel drive, V8 powered performance machine made previous attempts a sportier version of the Berlose look meager.
Packing the same 3.8l V8 found in the Mk 3 Scarlet, the Berlose X-AllDrive sent some 383hp to all four wheels, allowing it to rocket from 0-60 in 5.0 seconds and top out at over 170 mph.
A lighter, sportier interior, with specially designed race-derived seats dropped all and any illusions that this was just an executive saloon trying to play at being a fast car. It was purposeful, determined and executed brilliantly. Against rivals such as Sportivo trims of the Zavir Espada, from Revera, Rennen, Bonham and IMP, it offered a fresh twist with its AWD drivetrain, yet also stayed close to the trends at the time with its meaty, broad V8 roar.
Fat wheel arches, quad exhausts and a number of body modifications gave it far more beefed up look than other models of the Berlose, yet it still maintained the class and true 90s feel of the base car.
It could be pushed hard, and was very responsive in the corners. Purposely, it wasn’t made as a sharp as the Scarlet, but made the most of the great weight distribution of the Berlose chassis. And with all wheel drive, the acceleration was fantastic.
The Berlose X-AllDrive and Scarlet X became a performance power couple that spearheaded Erin in the latter half of the nineties. Today, it is one of the most sought after Erin’s, and its value is already increasing as insurers start to give it classic car status, with around 11,000 in total being produced from 1996 to 2000.
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It looks just mean. Proper. It emanates power and resembles a gentleman being an MMA fighter, that can have cultural, intelligent and interesting conversations, yet hit precisely, quickly and hard when needed, with deadly effectiveness. It could easily be the car for every film villain of the time. That is, a villain with class.
I WANT
Yet again Erin makes me reconsider my own plans to not be left in the dust. This is a very serious and formidable rival for the Espada Sportivo… maybe that was the cause of creation of the higher performance Z Sportivo line?..
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Definitely one of the best sports saloons of its time, and clearly capable of demolishing most sports cars in a straight line… No wonder it was a strong seller back in the day!
Oooooh. SEXY! Touring car roots.
@squidhead Almost a touring car, it’s 5-series sized so I reckon it’d probably be a bit big for touring cars of the day.