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Lotus is planning a successor to its cult-classic Carlton special edition model, according to Mike Kimberley, Lotus Group CEO. The original Lotus Carlton was a project commissioned by General Motors, who at the time owned both Lotus and Vauxhall. Beginning with the standard Vauxhall Carlton, Lotus boosted its engine displacement from 3.0-litres to 3.6-litres, with twin Garret T25 turbochargers added for good measure. The result was over 280kW and a zero to 100km/h time of just 5.2 seconds - over a second faster than its German rivals at the time. To follow in the footsteps of the original, imagine a Lotus -tuned twin-turbo edition of the VE Commodore - its every Holden fans wet dream. However other sources suggest the Vauxhall Insignia will become the platform for the new model - let’s hope they are wrong. © Source: caradvice We need your comments below >>
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The first picture of the top secret Lotus Eagle has been revealed ahead of its British International Motor Show debut. Codenamed Lotus Project Eagle , it will be the company’s most powerful car since the Lotus Esprit and will boast a top speed of more than 150mph. The Lotus Eagle will be the most important new car for the British sports car builder since the Lotus Elise was unveiled in 1996, and should help bolster a significant sales boost. Bigger than the Elise, the new sports car will be given its official name at its motor show launch party. It’s a two-plus-two seater, with two full-sized front seats and two small rear seats for short journeys, kids and baggage – similar to the layout in a Porsche 911. And its engine is placed in the middle of the car, behind the rear seats, for optimum weight distribution and balance. It’s expected to be fitted with a 3.5-litre V6 engine sourced from Toyota but heavily modified by Lotus to give it racier attributes and more than 270bhp. This should...
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(from Lotus Press Release) Trackday Warrior Turns Eco Warrior Lotus unveils the Eco Elise technology demonstrator at the British Motor Show, capitalising on great strides forward in green technology. The Eco Elise project promotes a different perspective on green, one which does not revolve solely around tailpipe CO2. This holistic approach is in keeping with the progressive Lotus culture, driving Lotus to become the worlds green automotive consultancy. Sustainable materials, hemp, eco wool and sisal have been developed for body panels and trim and, combined with hi-tech water based paint solutions, showcase new affordable green technologies. The green credentials of the technology on show in the Eco Elise have been analysed throughout the lifecycle of the car. A green gear change display has been integrated into the dashboard to promote greener driving as well as a weight reduction programme, illustrating the holistic approach taken. The energy expended to manufacture the car has been...
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Lotus has introduced the newest addition to its 2008 line-up, the 162kW Supercharged Elise SC. Identifiable by its new wheels and spoiler, the Elise SC sports an all-new supercharger setup on the current 1.8-litre 2-ZZ VVTL-i engine. Using a smaller Eaton rotor pack than that of the Exige S combined with the absence of an intercooler and associated pipework, the supercharged powerplant in the Elise SC is 8kg lighter than in the Exige S. Weighing in at 870kg, the Elise SC is just 10kg or one percent heavier than the Elise S, but is 62 percent more powerful with 162kW and 212Nm at 5000rpm. Performance of the Elise SC is stunning: 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, 0-160km/h in 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 241km/h. It also stops as well as it goes, with a unique combination of AP Racing calipers up front and Brembo calipers down back linked to 282mm vented and cross-drilled discs. Despite its track-day heritage, it also features an advanced ABS system which is so unobtrusive, most drivers will not...
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Under the watchful eyes of Malaysian backers, Lotus has been undergoing a period of management stability allowing the company to reach its best. Recent rumours that the Malaysian-British joint-venture is gearing up to release another model seem to be true. Snapped while undergoing handling testing in southern France, this picture show what we currently know as the Lotus “Eagle” . Larger and more powerful than the Elise, the ‘ Eagle ’ will be powered by a mid-mounted 3.5-litre petrol engine borrowed from Toyota and driven via the rear wheels. Little else is currently known about the engine, but we are keen to find out if it’s the same 200kW unit found in Toyota’s Aurion, RAV4 V6, Kluger, Tarago etc… The mass-produced engine will ensure that the ‘Eagle’ will pass strict EU and US emission regulations. The Lotus Eagle is rumoured to be heading for the British motor show in July this year. © Source: caradvice We need your comments below >>
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The Carlton was a sports sedan in the AMG Hamme r vein in that it allowed four adults and a trunk full of luggage to cruise in sumptuous comfort at 170 mph on the autobahn--a rarity when the Carlton debuted in 1990. Unlike the Hammer, which evolved from a blue-blooded Mercedes-Benz, the Carlton started as a lowly General Motors family sedan--namely, the Vauxhall Carlton . Despite the humble GM origins, anybody assuming the Carlton was a lightly-massaged civilian like the "Handling by Lotus" Isuzus would be tragically mistaken. the Carlton was and is a true world-class sports sedan. Smooth, muscular, and understated, the Lotus looked the part of a deadly serious super sedan. Under the skin, though, things got even more lethal. Besides the inevitable handling tweaks, Lotus married the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1's six-speed manual transmission with a twin-turbocharged 24-valve DOHC inline six pumping out 377 horsepower and 419 pound-feed of torque. That's stunning output today...
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(from Lotus Press Release) Choosing your track day performance car has just become a lot more exciting with the introduction of the entry level 2-Eleven and extensive range of Lotus Sport performance options. Choosing your track day performance car has just become a lot more exciting with the introduction of the entry level 2-Eleven and extensive range of Lotus Sport performance options. The latest Lotus 2-Eleven , bristling with Lotus Sport options and wearing a dramatic carbon fibre body was exhibited at the 78th annual Geneva International Motor show. This car has been specified with, amongst other options, the 255 PS (252 bhp, 188 kw) power upgrade, carbon fibre tonneau cover, four piston front brakes, “Aero Pack” and “Sport Pack” as an example of how the new range of Lotus Sport options can be configured. The entry level and launch edition are available with the incredibly popular UK SVA option pack, making it possible for owners to drive to a circuit, race around all day and drive...
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(from Lotus Cars Press Release) Lotus Researches Cars Running On CO2 Exige 270E Tri-fuel is the next stage of Lotus Engineering’s long-term sustainable, synthetic alcohol research Lotus Engineering, the world renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus, unveils its latest development towards carbon neutral road transport at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show . The Lo tus Exige 270E Tri-fuel is the most powerful road version yet of the Exige (0-60 mph / 96 kph in 3.88 seconds, a top speed of 158 mph (255 km/h), 270 hp (201 kW / 273 PS at 8000 rpm) and it runs on any mixture of gasoline, bioethanol and methanol. Emerging technologies will allow alcohol fuels such as methanol, already a proven internal combustion fuel, to be made synthetically from CO2 extracted from the atmosphere. An alcohol-based fuel derived renewably from atmospheric CO2 would allow society to transfer relatively easily to sustainable, carbon-neutral internal combustion. Lotus Engineering is researching the...
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What's New for 2008 The supercharged Elise SC debuts for 2008, boasting a 220-horsepower version of the standard Elise's 190-hp four-cylinder power plant. All Elises for 2008 get a new instrument display with a trip computer, along with revised options packages. Introduction The 2008 Lotus Elise is a one-of-a-kind, lightweight sports car for purists who yearn for the closest thing to a telepathically controlled track special you can find on the road. While other exotics rely on massive engines, space-age materials and high-tech technologies to hustle them down America's twistiest roads, the Elise utilizes an age-old principle -- the lighter, the better. Now there's a mantra celebrities can get behind. Despite a mere 190 horsepower generated from its Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four-cylinder, the base Elise still manages to go from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Credit a curb weight of 1,984 pounds, which is a minor miracle in this era of perpetually pudgy vehicles. By comparison...
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It turns out that the McLaren F1 project was a point of departure for its creators. Gordon Murray, the chief designer, went his own way and is preparing to revolutionize the city car. Several of his colleagues stayed at McLaren's road car division to develop the Mercedes SLR , while others presumably returned to the racing division. A few former McLaren engineers went on to work on the Caparo T1, and now another one of the designers, Jim Dowle, has revealed plans for his own sportscar. Although the car is just entering the clay-model stage and doesn't even have a name yet, PistonHeads has some preliminary details. Dowle's sportscar will reportedly carry a £35k price tag and will target the Lotus Exige but be more usable. The target weight is 870kg, and while the definitive powertrain has yet to be determined, the package calls for 200 horsepower mounted in the middle of the aluminum/carbon chassis. We'll have to keep our eyes pealed, because if the project ever makes it...
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When we last saw the Lotus Esprit in 2004, it was equipped with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at about 350 hp. Offering much more motivation than its early turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant, the Esprit V8 was quick -- pedal to the floor, the two-seat coupe could punch through 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Impressive as it was just a few years ago, there are more than a handful of cars (at half the price) that can shame the Lotus back across the Pond today. To keep the upcoming 2011 Lotus Esprit at the front of the pack, it is rumored to be fitted with the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 found under the hood of the recently released BMW X6. The powerplant is rated at 400 horsepower with only light boost under the German's hood. Under the fiberglass cover of the future British Esprit, it will most likely be tuned to deliver nearly 500 horsepower. It will need every bit of power it can get, as the new Lotus will be competing with the Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F430, and the new Nissan GT-R...
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(from Brian Eyerman) It started as a dream. Inspired by only the purest of sports cars, the Spyder 1 focuses on performance through light weight. The car originated as a 2005 Lotus Elise which weighed around 1975 lbs. Private owner, Neil Ratnavira, dreamed of a car that was centered around driving. Rather then block out the driving experience with things like stereos and climate control, Neil wanted to embrace the elements that were once familiar to the origins of the automobile. In doing so he designed a fresh, unique car that many tuners dare to even think of. With the help of co-builder, Brian Eyerman, the dream became a reality. Over 600 hours went into the creation of the Spyder 1 . The project took 8 months to finish. The car was featured for the first time at LOG27 (Lotus Owners Gathering) in Aspen Colorado in 2007. When asked if Neil was going to trailer the car to Colorado? He answered "And miss out on 1,700 miles of driving... Why the hell would I want to do that?"....
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VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 0-door roadster BASE PRICE (U.K.): $68,532 ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 90.6 in Length: 150.5–152.4 in Width: 67.3 in Height: 43.8 in Curb weight: 1650 lb We are amazed and mostly delighted by the way Lotus has played so many tunes on the theme of the Elise. Lightweight cars are the thing today, so it is a surprise to learn that this thoroughly modern British sports car dates back 10 years—although it only came to the U.S. officially for 2005. Milestones in Elise development were the introductions of the Exige coupe, the 2-Eleven-style 340R, and a redesigned roadster, and the replacement of the original Rover engine with the 1.8-liter Toyota VVTL-i (for the U.S. launch) and supercharging that engine for the Exige S. Along the way, the same chassis, made with bonded aluminum extrusions, has been adapted...
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Seller: parkplace Address: 13710 Northup Way City: Bellevue State: Washington Country: USA Price: $66,150.00 Date Added: December 4, 2007 Expiration: April 2, 2008 Link: http://www.parkplaceltd.com Views: 189 Description: This Exige S is available for immediate delivery. It takes the already hard-core theme turns it up even one more notch with the optional Track Package and optional Lotus Traction Control. It is further equipped with Starshield paint protection for the Ardent Red paint, and the Touring Pack that gives you premium audio with XM satellite radio capability, leather seats, and weight-saving power window lifts. © Source: seriouswheels We need your comments below >>
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(from Lotus Press Release) Lotus Cars is very pleased to release its limited edition for Mainland Europe – the Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition. This unique limited edition is based on the entry-level model of the Elise Range – the Elise S – and commemorates the 40th anniversary of production at the Lotus factory in Hethel in 2007. The specification of the car is as follows: Elise S – Model Year 2008, featuring twin airbags; Burnt Orange Premium Paint; Hardtop; Painted rear diffuser and wheels; Leather trim in orange stitching; Painted centre consol & exterior panels in body colour; Coloured brake calipers; Build plate; Country specific unique Decals; 40th commemorative letter signed by Mike Kimberley, CEO of Lotus Cars Ltd. To celebrate both the 40th anniversary of production at the Lotus factory in Hethel, England and also the fourth consecutive year of sales growth in Europe for Lotus (up 9% year to date verses the same period last year) the car will be extremely competitively...
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