Archive for Lotus

The Malaysian Reserve reports that a local firm has approached Proton with a proposal to take over Proton’s stake in Lotus. The business daily did not mention which local firm this is - but whispers through the grapevines say this might be Naza.

Naza wants to build its own cars. It’s first attempt at it’s own car was the Naza Sutera, now known as the Naza Forza. For future models, Lotus could provide Naza with the necessary platform to build its car on - the Versatile Vehicle Architecture. Also, as successful distributors of most of the supercar brands here in Malaysia, it could also take over the marketing of Lotus sports cars in this country.

Of course, we don’t actually know for sure if it is Naza, or if there is such a thing at all, so let’s wait and see if The Malaysian Reserves is right about this.

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Lotus Engineering and Siemens VDO will be jointly exhibiting a new 1.5 liter 3-cylinder force inducted hybrid engine at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show which should be starting any time now. The new engine combines parts from both Lotus and Siemens VDO’s parts bin, including Lotus Engineering’s previously revealed integrated exhaust manifold, a Lotus cam profile switching system, centrally-mounted Siemens VDO gasoline injectors and a new Siemens VDO high pressure fuel pump.

The two companies call the new engine the Low CO2 engine - no prizes for guessing why so. Lotus and Siemens VDO intends to reduce emissions but deliver an engaging driving experience at the same time, all using affordable, modular technologies which can easily be used to deploy a set of powertrains with low mass packages.

“It is very appropriate that some of the key features of this Low CO2 project will be on display at one of the world’s foremost automotive exhibitions. I am delighted that we are working with Siemens VDO on this very special project. Both Lotus Engineering and Siemens VDO are recognised as world experts in cutting-edge powertrain technologies and I look forward in the coming months to sharing with you the results of this incredible combination of complementary skills and technological leadership. This project is a prime example of how Lotus Engineering’s research activities, often in conjunction with globally recognised partners, are contributing to bringing to fruition a number of efficient powertrain and automotive advanced technology solutions for the future,” says Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc.

“The cooperation with our partner, Lotus Engineering, shows once again, that there is still a lot of potential for further innovation and development within the internal combustion engine. The combination of direct injection and turbo charging means noticeably better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions for the Gasoline engine, without compromising driving fun. With our advanced expertise in low CO2 know-how we see clear benefits for our customers and will further strengthen and improve our role as systems integration experts,” added Dr. Klaus Egger, Siemens VDO Group VP.

More details on this new engine to come soon as details are unveiled at Frankfurt. A demonstrator vehicle with the new 1.5 liter 3-cylinder engine will be shown to the public towards the end of 2007.

Most of you may remember the Lotus NEF engine introduced in early 2006 with the Lotus APX Concept. The Lotus NEF engine is a 3.0 liter V6, so this 1.5 liter inline-3 could just be half of an NEF. The NEF was supercharged, which leads me to believe this new engine’s method of forced induction will most likely be a supercharger as well since the integrated exhaust manifold makes no mention of a turbo manifold.

Related Posts:
Lotus Integrated Exhaust Manifold
Project NEF: Lotus 3.0 liter supercharged V6
Proton and Lotus Engineering develop Proton GEN2 Eve Hybrid Concept

Something Lotus generally does not do is respond to individual articles in the media, but this time the British company has stepped up and responded to the recent news that Jinhua Neoplan will be assembling Lotus sports cars in China.

“The company does not normally respond to individual articles in the media, but occasionally we feel it necessary to comment directly to set the record straight about specific rumors that could affect staff morale or performance. There has been comment in the Chinese press that two Lotus sports cars will be put into production in China by the end of the year. This is not true. Staff has been briefed by [chairman] Mike Kimberley on plans for the company for the next five years. Those plans do not feature the manufacture of Lotus cars anywhere other than at Hethel. In future please treat such press comments with the scepticism (sic) they deserve,” said a Lotus representative in an email.

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Related Posts:
Jinhua Neoplan to assemble Lotus cars in China

Jinhua Neoplan will be assembling CKD kits of Lotus cars in China, with one of the first cars set to be the Lotus Europa.

Interesting to note that Jinhua Neoplan is part of the Jinhua Group, and it is the division that makes buses with technology from German company Neoplan with an annual production capacity of 2,000 vehicles. A bus company making Lotus sports cars.

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Proton has loaned the Lotus Group £40 million, or RM272 million ringgit, to cover the Lotus Group’s third successive year of losses. This loan will be converted to equity, which actually means Proton is basically giving Lotus money in exchange for more shares. While new CEO Michael Kimberley has a 5-year plan to turn Lotus around, it is not expected to return to profitability until after 2009.

Related Posts
Spyker wants to buy Lotus
More on Lotus turnaround plan - Lotus Satria Neo?
Group Lotus 5 year turnaround plan
Lotus cars for the next 5 years

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Remember Zap? I reported earlier in February that US electric car maker Zap was employing the services of Lotus to develop the ZAP-X for them, an all-wheel drive crossover MPV which would be fully powered by electric motors. The ZAP-X was to use Lotus Engineering’s VVA platform and be based on the Lotus APX Concept.

Zap has released sketches and 3D renderings of the ZAP-X, which reveal some details on what’s going to be in the car as well as how it will look like. Some of the basic performance stats include 644hp combined power from 4 in-wheel motors, a top speed of 250km/h and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.8 seconds.

A lightweight aluminium chassis combined with lightweight motors and the removal of extra weight such as driveshafts in common single engine configurations balance out the weight of the batteries needed, thus making this a relatively light vehicle. On a full charge, the ZAP-X can go 350 miles or 563km, with a rapid 10 minute recharge time.

On the interior, seating is a 5+2 configuration, much like the new BMW X5. By 5+2 instead of 7, it means the rear 2 seats are only for use when you really have to, they aren’t the most comfortable around. The interior is full of gadgets - a computer running Windows XP (it’s Vista now?), Wi-Fi, Blue-tooth, High definition video support, iPod connectivity, Firewire, USB2 and Mini USB ports. There’s also photo voltaic glass with thermoelectrics for heating and cooling, and energy collecting windows and windshields to harness solar energy.

Dutch car manufacturer Spyker has made a bid for Lotus, reported Dutch auto magazine AutoWeek. AutoWeek’s unnamed sources claims the Dutch company is already in talks with Proton about the possible porchase. Spyker’s owner however, refused to confirm this but commented it could be a serious option.

Sources say Spyker intends to use Lotus Engineering’s technical know-how to develop it’s upcoming Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris SUV (shown above). The odd name is to commemorate Spyker’s participation in the 1907 cross-country race of the same name. The concept model, first put on show at Geneva 2006 features full-time all-wheel-drive, four doors with rear suicide doors, a 500hp Volkswagen 6 liter W12 engine, carbon-ceramic matrix brakes and an all-aluminium construction.

Spyker follows Porsche’s footsteps - a sports car manufacturer releasing an SUV model that combines practicality with the sporty prestige of a sports car logo on it’s hood. Spyker also owns the Spyker F1 Team, previously known as Midland F1 Racing.

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Lotus Engineering displayed their Integrated Exhaust Manifold technology at the 2007 Geneva International Motor Show. Basically, it is an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head. A demonstration of this was shown as a cylinder head design for a small 3-cylinder engine, which I would say would benefit much from this technology. Integrating the exhaust manifold into the cylinder head brings numerous benefits which I will outline below.

An integrated exhaust manifold reduces parts count, which reduces costs throughout the development cycle. Other areas where this will reduce costs include the inventory, assembly and aftermarket parts supply areas. Less parts, less to stock.

Through the use of a cooling jacket design, heat is retained in the engine (which is cooled via the radiator system) rather than letting it radiate into the engine bay. This improves the performance of the air conditioning system, thus reducing it’s power consumption. A cooler engine bay also means cooler air into the air intake, which boosts performance. The engine also warms up more quickly. Coolant can also cool the engine more evenly, reducing engine block stress.

Engine durability improves, as thermal stresses usually occur at points where different materials meet. In an engine with a conventional exhaust system design, an aluminium cylinder head meeting a cast iron exhaust causes thermal stress.

The integrated exhaust manifold also allows the catalytic converter to be positioned very near the exhaust output, thus reducing the amount of exhaust heat lost in travelling from the cylinder to the catalyst. This improves catalyst performance, thus reducing emissions to an ultra-low level without incurring higher costs.

Lotus Engineering will have this on display at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, a Proton GEN2 equipped with Lotus Engineering’s EVE Hybrid technology. EVE, which stands for Efficient, Viable, Environmental, basically pairs Proton’s 1.6 liter Campro engine with a 30 kilowatt (40 horsepower) electric motor. The hybrid petrol-electric drivetrain drives the front wheels using a continuously variable transmission (CVT) gearbox.

The hybrid system also has a start-stop system for the gasoline engine to be shut off when unneeded. The engine restarts automatically when the brake pedal is released. The electric motor is positioned between the engine and the gearbox, and supports regenerative braking to recharge its 144V battery located in the GEN2’s boot.

The Proton GEN2 EVE Hybrid Concept has significantly lower emissions than it’s pure petrol sibling, with CO2 output only 134g/km from 172g/km. Average fuel economy rose from 6 liters per 100km to 4.6 liters per 100km. The combined output of the electric motor and the Campro 1.6 liter engine is 141hp, equivalent to a 1.8 to 2.0 liter engine in modern times, giving it a 0-100km/h time of 9 seconds and a top speed of 190km/h. Torque rises from the stock 148Nm at 4,000rpm to 233Nm at 1,500rpm.

Perhaps we can see this Lotus EVE Hybrid technology being implemented in our local Proton cars soon, or perhaps we will be able to use that CVT transmission to replace the current 4-speed auto of which ratio’s do not match the Campro’s torque curve at all. A CVT would be wonderful for keeping the Campro’s revs within it’s powerband, allowing for a more comfortable and stressless drive.

More photos after the jump, as well as Lotus Engineering’s full description of the Proton GEN2 EVE Hybrid car.

Related Posts:
Lotus EVE Hybrid at the Proton Technology Week

Click here to read the rest of Proton and Lotus Engineering develop Proton GEN2 EVE Hybrid Concept

Zero Air Pollution, or ZAP, is a US-based company that will be debuting a new vehicle, the ZAP-X, at the North American Dealers Association show next week. ZAP already has electric cars and trucks on sale in the US, so it is not new to the electric vehicle market. The ZAP-X will be using Lotus Engineering’s Versatile Vehicle Architecture. We saw the VVA’s potential sometime last year when Lotus showcased a vehicle called the Lotus APX or Aluminium Performance Crossover, which used the VVA chassis and was powered by a supercharged Lotus “Project NEF” 3.0 V6.

The ZAP-X will seat 7, and will most probably look alot like the APX, however instead of being powered by the V6, it will have in-wheel electric motors - four of them, and this will give about 635hp and a top speed of 250km/h. It looks like the Lotus APX did not go to waste after all. This is also not the first time Lotus has worked with electric vehicles, remember the Tesla Roadster?

Related Posts:
Lotus APX to be unveiled at Geneva 2006
Lotus APX - Aluminium Performance Crossover