Lotus has just revealed to the press their new Lotus Circuit Car prototype. The Lotus Circuit Car is based on the same aluminium chassis that the Lotus Elise has and weighs 650kg. It is a single seater by default, with a second seat being optional. The entire car was designed and built in eleven weeks.
Pushing that 650kg worth of engineering around will be a Toyota 1.8 intercooled supercharged VVTL-i engine. This 2ZZ-GE engine has a Roots-type Eaton M62 blower that blows through an intercooler to boost power output to 243hp at 8000rpm and max torque of 236Nm at 7000rpm. An N/A version is also available making 190hp at 8000rpm and 181Nm torque at 7000rpm.
The car has a 6-speed close-ratio gearbox linked to an open slip differential with traction control. A Lotus with traction control? Hmmm…
Power to weight ratio is 373hp per tonne. Not as spectacular as the Ariel Atom 2 but it’s still something. To bring the car to a stop, it’s equipped with a track-tuned 4-channel ABS system with twin-piston AP Racing aluminium alloy brakes at the front and Brembo single-piston cast-iron ventilated and cross-drilled brakes at the back.
The car has no windshield, and the is body designed for minimal drag. This means minimal openings whatsoever around the body for air intakes and etcetra.
Full Specifications from Lotus Press Release:
Engine
Supercharged – 240:
· 2ZZ-GE Supercharged engine, developed by Lotus Engineering
· Capacity: 1,796 cm3
· Max Power 243 hp (181 kW) @ 8000 rpm (DIN 70020)
· Max Torque: 174 lb ft (236 Nm) @ 7000 rpm (DIN 70020)
Option – 190:
· 2ZZ-GE, 4 cylinder, dohc 4 valves per cylinder with variable valve timing and lift
· Capacity: 1,796 cm3
· Max power: 190 hp (141 kW) @ 7800 rpm (DIN 70020) Integral ducts to provide engine air feed and
cooling
· Max Torque: 138 lb ft (181 Nm) @ 6800 rpm (DIN 70020)Transmission
· C64 Gearbox, all aluminium lightweight construction
· 6-speed
· Close ratio
· Constant mesh helical gears
· Open differential
· Limited Slip differential (optional)Chassis
· Lotus designed lightweight structure of epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions and lightweight steel
rear subframeBodywork
· Lightweight composite body shell
· Bolt on exterior body panels for ease of service and repair
· Integral ducts to provide engine air feed and coolingAerodynamics
· Flat bottom with front aero splitter and rear diffuser
· Aerodynamically designed body shape with minimal drag and frontal area
· Single plane rear wing, high downforce, carbon composite, dual element rear wing (optional)Suspension
· Fully independent suspension utilising unequal length wishbones
· Coaxial mono-tube gas damper
· Eibach coil springs at each corner
· Front anti roll-bar
· Bilstein dampers
· Ohlins 2-way adjustable dampers (optional)Braking System
· F&R Cross drilled disc brakes
· AP racing front brake calipers
· Brembo rear brake calipers
· ABSWheels
· 8 x Y spoke Cast wheels
· 7 – Twin spoke Lightweight Forged Wheels (optional)
· Lotus Sport 5-spoke Lightweight Forged Wheels (optional)Tyres
· Yokohama Advan AO48
· Yokohama A006 racing wet tyres (optional)
· Yokohama A005 racing slick tyres (optional) Passenger seat and safety equipment
· Yokohama A005 racing slick tyres – Hillclimb Spec (optional)Electrical System
· Lotus T4 engine management system – with Drive-by-wire throttle control
· Lightweight dry cell batteryInterior
· Nardi Steering Wheel
· Single Sports Seat
· Passenger seat and harness (optional)
· 6-point harnesses (optional)Options
A variety of options will be available including:
SPORTS PACK:
· Optional dynamics improvement package
TRACK PACK:
· Passenger seat and safety equipment
SVA PACK:
· Offering parts required to convert the Lotus Circuit Car to meet UK Single Vehicle Approval.
RACE PACKS
· Options packages to tailor the car for entry into race series of the FIA and MSA regulations.
STANDALONE OPTIONSA variety of options to tailor your vehicle to you, including:
· Limited Slip differential
· Traction control
· Race exhaust (105db)
· Racing tyres and wheel options
· Protective cover
Production versions are due to be launched in mid-2006. The final name of the car has not been announced yet. “Circuit Car” is just a codename. This will be a pure hardcore track car. Prices are not confirmed but the 190hp N/A version is expected to cost about 25,000 pounds in the UK. The car will be manufactured in Hethel Norfolk.
Thanks to Zongtwi for the alert!
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hmm, it looks like a big go-cart with body panels.
lots of pics about the circuit car on this page
http://www.gglotus.org/gghotnews/hotnews.htm#circ…
The headlamp if its a bit more aerodynamic to fit its outlook and without the rollcage, that would look perfect… if you'd ask me, a big intercooler at the front completes the outlook, minus the rollcage of course… hehe…
Paul, thanks for your details information. Good job!
safety harnesses are optional.. waay cool
i can't help the feeling i am looking at a pokemon faced car! :P
if lotus can get toyota engine, why can't proton fits toyota engine also in its car?
if can't or don't want mass market, maybe upon order?
Toyota agreed to the engine deal partly because they dont see Lotus as a direct competitor to their cars. the same thing goes in F1, you dont see Ferrari or Mercedes supplying their engines to any other front running teams. or maybe its because Toyota have invested too much on the engine to let it go to waste. in the UK, only two Toyota cars are offered with that particular engine- Celica 1.8 T-Sport and the Corolla hatch 1.8 T-Sport. both cars arent doing too good in the market, so..
on the same note, Proton also have spent a fortune in the development of the Campro engines. the ones offered in the Gen2 is not up to world's standard, but later incarnations of it, maybe ones that have Cam Profiling might proove to be good. Porsche's VarioCam(developed with help from Lotus) had good reviews
sorry, i meant Porsche's VarioCam Plus, not the normal VarioCam
OoooOOOooo…I love this one. I want oneeee!!!!