Archive for Lotus

British-based sports car maker Lotus, is rumored to resurrect the Esprit sports car, which was first produced back in 1976 and starred in the 1977 Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me along side Roger Moore. Apparently, the new Esprit would go head to head with the Audi R8.

If there is any truth behind the rumor, expect the new model to feature a Toyota-sourced mid-mounted V8 motivator. The Esprit would also be bigger, both in terms of length and width, than the recently launched Lotus Evora.

F3 team Litespeed will be participating in the Formula One along with a few other new teams like Campos Racing, Lola, Prodrive (future Aston Martin) and USGPE for the 2010 season. But get this – they will be calling themselves Team Lotus.

The team founded by ex-Lotus employees Nino Judge and Steve Kenchington wants to use the Lotus brand name to help the team secure a place on the grid. They say they’ve licensed it, but the real Lotus has come out with a statement today saying they have nothing to do with the team and may take action to protect its brand name. It could be that Litespeed is only still in negotiations to license the name and Lotus is not too happy about them going around announcing it without confirmation.

“Team Lotus” will use Cosworth engines and a chassis designed by a team led by former Toyota and Renault technical director Mike Gascoyne. They will be leasing the RTN factory in Hingham near the real Lotus.

Ecotricity is a British-based wind energy company and to help promote the usage of electric vehicles in the U.K, the company initiated the development process to produce an all electric Lotus Exige about seven months ago. The car which is now in its final stage of development is able to accelerate to the 100 km/h point in about 4 second all the way to a top speed of 225 km/h.

Ecotricity, which has an ultimate goal of seeing only electric cars in the U.K, assembled six highly trained engineers to work on the project. Collectively, all six engineers have worked on the development of the De Lorean, Jaguar XJR15, Corvette ZR1, Lotus Elan as well as the legendary McLaren F1 super car. Ecotricity also encourages electric vehicles to be recharged via its wind power turbine farms, but also revealed that the electric Exige can be recharged via a house hold power outlet.

The modified Lotus Exige now features a 90mm extended chassis, Brushless electric motors from America, a 96 lithium-ion polymer battery pack from Korea and LED turn indicators. The project, which thus far is worth GBP 200,000, will go into its testing stage in a couple weeks. Ecotricity also revealed that by using electric vehicles in a large scale, U.K can cut down oil usage by 25 million tonnes, and total emissions output in the country can be reduced by 12%.

Proton-owned and British-based sports car maker Lotus has launched the Lotus Evora Launch Edition at the Geneva Motor Show. The Launch Edition is sort of a “market testing” variant where only 450 unit will be produced at first, and deliveries in Europe will start by May this year. The 2+2 sports car is offered in two body colour options including Ardent Red and British Racing Green and buyers can also opt for other colours as well, with a bump on the price tag.

This mid-engined lightweight sports car receives power from a 3.5 liter V6 that is good for 276HP an 342Nm of torque which enables to Evora to hit the 100 km/h in just over 5 seconds, and can deliver 260 km/h in terms of top speed. With that power, the Evora consumes a reasonable 8.7 liters for every 100 kilometers traveled (based on Official European Combined Cycle), and releases 205 grams of harmful emissions per kilometer. Other fuel consumption figures include; Official European Urban Cycle figures of 12.4 liters per 100 kilometers and 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers for the Official European Extra Urban Cycle.

On the inside, the Evora (my fingers are somehow trying to type Exora) is generously finished in leather with a driver focused instrumentation, a dash with tactile details such as flush-mounted controls that glow with blue LED haloes and a stylized speedometer and rev counter. Other features among others, include; Bi-Xenon headlights, an Alpine Imprint audio system, a reversing camera as well as electric powerfold mirrors.

Lotus also revealed that it plans to produce a 2-seater, a convertible and a variant with an automatic transmission in the future. The Evora comes with a 3-year or 100,000-kilometer whole vehicle warranty with an 8 years chassis perforation warranty for E.U markets. Continue reading to view an image gallery.

Click here to read the rest of Geneva 2009: Lotus Evora Launch Edition

Proton-owned British-based sports car maker Lotus has launched the 2010 Lotus Exige S at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. Design wise, the Exige S received a face lift with a slightly re-styled front end that includes a larger center air intake for the radiator, and two larger side air intakes for the oil cooler. Over at the back, Lotus has added a large rear wing which was actually seen in the Lotus Exige GT3 Concept.

Lotus revealed that due to the aerodynamic improvements, the Exige accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.77 seconds while producing only 199 grams of emissions per kilometer. Based on the European Extra Urban Cycle calculation, its fuel consumption is figured at 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers, while a combined fuel consumption figure is rated at 8.5 liters.

Other features and accessories available include an instrument panel which includes a high-res LCD screen, a touring package that offers, among others, auxiliary lights, full leather interior, a cup holder as well as iPod connectivity and lastly a track-friendly sports package that includes adjustable front anti-rollbar, traction control, Bilstein dampers and so on.

For hardcore drivers, there is a performance package that provides performance brakes (308 mm front cross-drilled and vented discs with AP Racing four piston calipers with up-rated front and rear brake pads), variable slip traction control, launch control, a roof scoop, up-rated clutch plate and cover and an improved engine output of up to 240HP and 230Nm of torque. Continue reading to view more images.

Click here to read the rest of Geneva 2009: The new Lotus Exige S Facelift

Thanks to Lotus, we now know Toyota’s 3.5 liter V6 can be forced inducted to a nice 350hp and 400Nm of torque without any modifications, as a source in Lotus discovered during the development of an upcoming “Evora SC” and revealed to Autocar UK. The Lotus Evora SC will make at least that amount of power, and will drop 0 to 100km/h acceleration time to below 5 seconds. The Lotus Evora is expected to do in in approximately 5.5 seconds. The Evora SC’s supercharger will be fitted between the V6 engine’s two cylinder banks, so it won’t intrude into rear visibility like the supercharged Elise does. If the Evora goes for £45,000, the supercharged Evora is expected to retail for between 55,000 and £60,000.

The Lotus Sport 2-Eleven GT4 Supersport race car is a race-prepped Lotus 2-Eleven designed in compliance with the rules of the European SRO GT4 Supersports category.

The standard car’s supercharged engine has been upped from 255 PS to 270 PS and a marginal increase of torque from 242Nm to 247Nm, which Lotus says is thanks to “improved induction and exhaust systems, a high ratio supercharger drive system for increased levels of boost, and a remapped ECU” but with those kind of improvements I reckon it’s just thanks to the free-er flowing intake and exhaust.

The engine is mated to an LSD-equipped 6-speed sequential transmission with a centrally-mounted push/pull lever for quick gearshifts and also a gear selection display. The transmission and engine are tightly integrated, allowing automatic downshift-blipping for rev matching and flat upshifts.

HANS and FIA-approved carbon fiber Lotus Sport seats are installed matched with a Schroth 6-point race harness. Fuel is stored in a 70 litre FIA approved bag tank, and the car also has a plumbed-in fire extinguisher system. The suspension has been uprated with stiffer springs and race dampers from Ohlins that are 2-way adjustable. The rear suspension has new race-spec rear toe links.

Other equipment includes a full rollcage and for aerodynamics – a rigid tonneau cover, a carbon fibre rear wing and rear diffuser and a front splitter. As a result, 80kg of downforce is generated at speeds of 160km/h.

Only 10 units of the race car will be produced, priced at £78,255 (RM420,025 at current exchange rates) and the first cars will be delivered in March 2009. Some of the car’s specs can also be retrofitted to existing Lotus 2-Elevens.

Energy-efficient vehicle design specialists Oaktec have been working on Honda’s IMA hybrid system for motorsports usage since 2004 and has recently signed on Lotus Engineering to be a part of a project funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency to develop a stage rally and circuit race version of the Honda Civic Hybrid.

No specs have been released on what upgrades have been made to the Civic Hybrid to make it motorsports-worthy, but Lotus says the Civic Hybrid’s CVT transmission allows the car to be driven in full power constantly, making performance very accessible.

The motorsports Civic Hybrid developed by Oaktec and Lotus will be raced for the first time at the Dunlop Max Sport Cup at the Rockingham circuit on the 28th of September 2008 so perhaps we will learn more about the car after the race. What we know now is that the electric motor has been revised for more power and there is now an upgraded control system to allow for more aggressive brake energy regeneration.

Lotus Engineering is currently developing an engine concept called the OMNIVORE together with the Queen’s University Belfast and Jaguar Cars Ltd. The OMNIVORE research engine features a variable compression ratio, direct injection and a two-stroke operating cycle. It will run on a mix of petrol and alcohol.

Group Lotus plc CEO Mike Kimberly says alcohols possess superior combustion characteristics to gasoline, and taking full advantage of the benefits of bio alcohols will ensure a larger amount of fuel burned will comprise of renewable fuels.

More details will likely come later when an actual working concept is ready.

Electric cars or hybrid cars running on fully electric mode can pose a risk to pedestrians as there could be some people, especially those with hearing impairments or the blind, who are not aware of an approaching vehicle because they are just so silent. In fact, there was a bill in the US recently to require a minimum level of sound for vehicles sold in the US.

As an engineering consulting company and component designer/supplier, Lotus is tackling this issue with its new “Safe and Sound” Hybrid demo car. Lotus used a Toyota Prius as a demonstrator vehicle and applied its new Sound Synthesis system to it. The new technology combines Active Road Noise Cancellation, Engine Order Cancellation and Sound Synthesis.

A road speed signal is obtained from the vehicle and a waterproof speaker is positioned near the radiator to emit a realistic sound based on the throttle and speed of the car, projected towards the front of the car. The sound was designed to be instantly recognisable by the human brain, allowing it taking into account pitch and frequency and process it to enable us to identify vehicle speed and distance. The synthesized sound automatically stops if the hybrid car’s combustion engine kicks in.

The sound can be configured to sound like various types of engines. For example, you could drive a fully electric Tesla Roadster and enjoy the lovely rumbling sound of a flat-6 or a V8. Look after the jump for a video of the new technology.

Click here to read the rest of Lotus Sound Synthesis technology can give electric cars the rumble of a V8

Click for hi-res photo

Proton brought in the Lotus EVE Hybrid for its Proton Technology Week this weekend, and all journalists got to see was Pak Lah driving it really slowly, parking it, turning off the engine and getting out of the car. That last part was the most important though as it meant the car was left empty for a photo session.

As a recap on what the Lotus EVE Hybrid is, you can read the linked post but here is a brief summary on what makes it a hybrid. The EVE Hybrid combines a 110hp 1.6 liter Proton Campro engine with a 30kW (40hp) electric motor. Instead of the 4-speed auto typically found in a GEN2, the EVE gets a CVT transmission.

The car is claimed to be able to only consume 4.6 liters per 100km. City driving should be a breeze with a massive 233Nm (equivalent to a 2.4 liter engine) at a low 1,500rpm thanks to the boost from the electric motor. Horsepower is up to a combined peak of 141hp, and 0 to 100km/h takes 9 seconds. The electric motor is powered by a 144V battery in the boot.

Look after the jump for more photos and a video of the EVE Hybrid.

Click here to read the rest of Lotus EVE Hybrid at the Proton Technology Week

I had expected to see a blue 200 DARPA Urban Challenge Lotus Elise covered with sensor equipment but the autonomous Lotus Elise that is on display at the Proton Technology week had a different coat of paint and less equipment. It also had its top off.

The car guides itself around with a combination of laser measurements sensors, high accuracy GPS, and radar. It actually doesn’t work as well than it should have here in Malaysia because alot of the sensor equipment had to be removed because they were classified as sensitive equipment and was not allowed to be exported out of the US.

The vehicle followed a path very slowly around a little “track” formed with cones. After awhile it stopped and seemed to require some reprogramming, which allowed us to see what lied under its bonnet at the rear. The Lotus engineers plugged in a Dell notebook and did some magic and the car was able to self-drive again soon after.

Have a look at what’s under the Elise’s hood after the jump, together with a video of the car on the cone track.

Click here to read the rest of A Lotus Elise that drives itself!

Click for high resolution photo

Lotus has unveiled its highly secretive Project Eagle car, now officially christened the Lotus Evora at the 2008 British International Motor Show.

The 2+2 mid-engined sports car weighs just 1,350 kg and is powered by a Toyota 3.5 liter V6 Dual VVT-i engine with a Lotus T6e ECU putting out 280 PS at 6,400rpm and 342Nm of torque at 4,700rpm. It’s 0 to 100km/h time is measured at under 5 seconds. For those who are environmentally conscious, CO2 emissions are measured at just under 225 g/km and the car achieves more than 30 mpg on a combined cycle. This is mated to a 6-speed manual, but the ratios are tuned for a more relaxing GT-like drive. A close ratio gearbox is still under development.

Braking is via AP Racing 4-pot calipers for both front (350mm disc) and rear (332mm disc), hiding behind large 18 inch wheels at the front and 19 inch wheels at the rear wrapped with Yokohama rubber in 225/40ZR18 and 255/35ZR19 sizes respectively.

Its chassis is based on the Lotus Versatile Vehicle Architecture, which was showcased quite some time ago as the base for the Lotus APX Concept MPV. In this incarnation the VVA platform measures 2,575mm long in wheelbase, and the car itself measures 3242mm long and 1223mm tall with a track of 1565mm at the front and 1557mm at the rear. The body has a drag coefficient of 0.33 cD.

The Evora’s composite roof is used as a stressed structural member to help the vehicle achieve a chassis stiffness of 26,000 Nm per degree. The suspension uses Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs with dual path top mounts.

The Evora will be priced between £45k to a little over £50k. For those that think this is the Europa all over again, one key difference between the Evora and the Europe is probably the fact that the Evora is based on a new platform and is larger. But then again, the car is somewhat marketed at a similiar market, so only time will tell how the Evora will do. The car is actually not complete yet – there is still another 6 months of R&D to go but these photos and spec figures are pretty much what the production version will be.

Continue reading for more photos…

Click here to read the rest of Lotus Evora: official name for the Project Eagle 2+2

Group Lotus CEO Mike Kimberly calls the above car the biggest milestone that Lotus has achieved since the original Lotus Elise 13 years ago. This milestone car is currently known by its codename Project Eagle, and is a 2+2 sports car powered by a 280 PS Toyota 3.5 liter Dual VVT-i V6. 0 to 100km/h acceleration time is expected to be under 5 seconds.

No other photos have been officially offered other than the one above (though you will find leaked images after the jump), but the Lotus press release is generous with details of the interior which is said to feature a cockpit-like seating position, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, aluminium inserts, edge-lit switches and flush-mounted controls on the dashboard which glow with blue LED halos.

The standard 2+2 configuration can also be changed to a 2-seater configuration, with the rear space used for luggage. Space for the rear two seats will be enhanced by providing foot-room for the rear passengers under the front seats.

An Alpine-developed in-car entertainment and navigation system will be offered featuring a 7 inch touch screen LCD to interface with audio, removable hard drive-based satnav, Bluetooth handsfree and an optional reverse camera. The Alpine audio system will feature a technology called IMPRINT which can cancel out imbalances in the sound caused by it being reflected off different cabin surfaces such as window glass which creates echoes and carpets which suppress mid-range frequencies.

Look after the jump for more photos.

Click here to read the rest of Preview details of Lotus Project Eagle car

Lotus Engineering has won two green vehicle projects from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board. The first project involves working as part of the Zero Emission London Taxi Commercialisation consortium to develop a fuel cell taxi system including the electric drivetrain, fuel cell engine and hydrogen storage system. The system will then be assembled into two taxis for full vehicle testing.

The other project is a collaboration with Jaguar Cars Ltd, MIRA Ltd and Caparo Vehicle Technologies called the Limo-Green project. It will use a Jaguar (probably the XJ?) as a basis to develop a large luxury hybrid sedan using an advanced electric motor combined with a small battery pack and something which Lotus calls an “Auxiliary Power Unit“, which is probably in reality a small gasoline engine.