The first gen Scarlet had been a stonking success for Erin, putting them back where they most comfortable; in the sports car market. As a wave of other sports coupes arrived on the market in the latter half of the decade, a follow up to Erin’s halo began to be designed.
Launched in 1991, the Mk II Scarlet was more of a revolution rather than an evolution. Much of the chassis remained the same, but the styling was updated to be cleaner, as well as featuring a distinctive strip tail light. Under the bonnet, Erin’s NewSeries V8 was enlargened from 3.6 to 3.8l, which, combined with a complete overhaul of intake and injectors, meant it could produce 303 hp.
The top of the range XTune trim on which this new larger engine was made far more distinct from the softer entry-level S trim. This included much sharper suspension and less weight thanks to the removal of the +2 configuration. The results: 0-60 in 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 159 mph, making the Mk II a proper supercar killer.
This sharper feel, however, also made this the least “drivers car-esque” variant of the Scarlet, something which did receive criticism from the press at the time. That said, it’s now regarded as its most distinct feature for buyers today, who will be looking to pay at least £40k for a model in condition.
