lotus Archives | Page 3 of 6

Report: Lotus to overhaul Exige, Evora ahead of Esprit production

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Lotus

Lotus Exige Cup 260

2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s no secret that Lotus has monumental plans in the coming years, announcing no fewer than four new models at the 2010 Paris Motor Show that it says will gradually roll out over the next several years. But there’s no denying that the British firm’s current level of success was built on the excellence that is the Lotus Elise, Exige and, most recently, Evora.

That being the case, we’re hoping that a report from Autocar in the UK is accurate and that Lotus has plans to overhaul the Exige and give the Evora a heavily updated interior before the Esprit goes into production in late 2012. We certainly wouldn’t expect wholesale changes to either machine – engineering budgets are surely being diverted elsewhere – but a little something to keep its current models fresh in the eyes of consumers would go a long way towards bridging the gap between the present and the Ferrari-fighting future.

Gallery: 2010 Lotus Exige Cup 260

2010 Lotus Exige Cup 260

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Lotus to overhaul Exige, Evora ahead of Esprit production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Lotus to overhaul Exige, Evora ahead of Esprit production”

Lotus versus Lotus: Chapman’s son picks a side

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Lotus

Lotus GP

Lotus Renault F1 – Click above for high-res image gallery

We can quit wondering where the Chapman family stands on the whole Lotus F1 debacle. Colin Chapman’s son, Clive, has announced that he and the rest of his clan are firmly behind Group Lotus, which has just announced a merger with Renault F1. The two will campaign under the Lotus Renault GP Team next season. In a statement, Clive Chapman said that Group Lotus is the true successor of the racing team that Colin and Hazel Chapman created way back when. That sound? That’s Team Lotus quietly sobbing in the corner.

Team Lotus has laid claim to the rights to the Lotus racing name thanks to a deal with David Hunt. Hunt held the rights to the moniker and sold them to the race team that competed in the 2010 F1 season, so there’s a bit of a dustup over who exactly should be able to compete under the Lotus flag. While there appears to be no resolution on the horizon any time soon, at least we know where the Chapmans themselves stand.

[Source: Inside Line]

Lotus versus Lotus: Chapman’s son picks a side originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Lotus versus Lotus: Chapman’s son picks a side”

Lotus Renault GP, Virgin confirm drivers for 2011

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Lotus, Renault

Lotus Renault GP Drivers

Jerome d’Ambrosio (above left) and Vitaly Petrov (above right) the latest drivers to be confirmed for 2011

As we wind down the remaining days of the calendar year, the final few seats are closing for the 2011 Formula One World Championship after both Renault and Virgin have officially confirmed their rosters for next season.

After much speculation and a change of ownership, the Lotus Renault GP team has confirmed that rookie Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will stay with the team to drive alongside fellow incumbent Robert Kubica for another two years. The announcement comes several weeks after widely-publicized negotiations with Kimi Raikkonen broke down.

The Virgin team, which has likewise rebranded as Marussia Virgin Racing, has also confirmed its drivers for next season, with Timo Glock staying on and newcomer Jerome d’Ambrosio taking the second seat. The Belgian driver won the International Formula Master in 2007 and placed second in the GP2 Asia Series in 2008/09. After a year as a Renault reserve driver, d’Ambrosio will replace Lucas di Grassi.

Shortly after the announcement, di Grassi made headlines by winning Felipe Massa’s charity karting event in Brazil ahead of Massa, Williams veteran Rubens Barrichello and Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari. Did Virgin act too hastily? Only time will tell.

There are just six seats still unconfirmed at Force India, Toro Rosso and HRT, and the 2011 F1 season is scheduled to kick off on March 13 in Bahrain. Follow the jump for the official announcements from both teams.

[Sources: Renault, Virgin]

Continue reading Lotus Renault GP, Virgin confirm drivers for 2011

Lotus Renault GP, Virgin confirm drivers for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Lotus Renault GP, Virgin confirm drivers for 2011”

Pics Aplenty: Lotus releases slew of new images

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Lotus, Luxury

Lotus Elise concept

Lotus concept cars – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus set the motoring community abuzz when it showed up at the Paris Motor Show with a slew of concept cars. These vehicles show the direction Lotus is moving, and each is a polarizing example of a future filled with heavier yet more powerful Lotus sports cars.

The automaker recently brought its Elise, Esprit, Elan, and Elite concept vehicles out to the beach for a day of camera fun. There really isn’t much more we can say about these cars that we haven’t already said… that is, until someone gives us a few sets of keys (and a lesson in holding back ear-to-ear grins). So stop reading and click through the gallery below.

Gallery: Lotus Concept Cars

Lotus Elise Concept Lotus Elan Concept

[Source: Lotus]

Pics Aplenty: Lotus releases slew of new images originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Pics Aplenty: Lotus releases slew of new images”

Report: Lotus city car confirmed for 2013

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Lotus, Electric

Lotus City Car

Lotus unveiled a flurry of new concept models earlier this year at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Five brand-new concepts took center stage, but there was a sixth vehicle unveiled that got far less press – the Lotus City Car. According to CAR Magazine, Lotus head Dany Bahar says that the City Car will arrive in production form for an October 2013 launch date.

The City Car rides on a platform developed for a range-extended hybrid powertrain. A 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine powers electric drive motors, which are mated to a single-speed transmission. This means that around town, the Lotus City Car will be able to run solely on battery power, while the gasoline engine can kick on for needed assistance if necessary.

Lotus is planning to build three versions of the City Car; one for Asia, a European version and eventually a sportier model.

[Source: CAR Magazine]

Report: Lotus city car confirmed for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Lotus city car confirmed for 2013”

Report: Bob Lutz gives Lotus a 60% chance of success

Filed under: Lotus

Bob Lutz in front of reporters

If anyone knows about turning things around, it’s Bob Lutz. After all, he was a naval aviator, and those guys can pull some serious G forces. He’s also widely credited with keeping Chrysler alive for longer than it might have been otherwise. But what’s he up to these days?

Well for one thing he’s sitting on the senior advisory board for Lotus, giving Dany Bahar and company some guidance as they endeavor to usher the House that Colin Built into a new era. And an ambitious endeavor it is, rolling out five new models all at once while expanding its motorsports program tenfold and then some.

So what does Lutz think of Lotus’ chances? Well he’s optimistic, but cautiously so. Lutz reportedly gives the prospects at least a 60 percent chance to succeed, but importantly, he thinks it’s more viable than the company’s current path. According to Lutz, “It’s a risk. But I’m quite certain it stands a better chance than the Lotus status quo, which for sure would eventually lead this great brand into terminal decline.”

In other words, while there are no guarantees, it’s a good plan – not a perfect one – and it’ll take some good ol’ fashion elbow grease to make it work – something Lutz knows all about.

[Source: Autocar | Image: Stan Honda/AFP]

Report: Bob Lutz gives Lotus a 60% chance of success originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Bob Lutz gives Lotus a 60% chance of success”

Officially Official: Lotus Renault GP rolls up its sleeves

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus, Renault

Lotus Renault GP livery – Click above for high-res image

In the highly competitive environment that is Formula One racing, things can get a bit messy. Rivalries. Crashes. Underhanded maneuvers. Team orders. Scandals. But identity crises? This is a new one. But that’s just what we’re looking at with Lotus. Because you see as we head into the 2011 championship, two teams are on the docket that both claim the same name and plan to fly the same colors.

We’re talking about Lotus-Renault, a legendary pairing but one with a serious split-personality disorder. For the past several months Group Lotus and its Malaysian parent company Proton have been embroiled in a naming rights dispute with Tony Fernandes, owner of what’s until now been called the Lotus Racing team. After licensing the name from Proton (and having nothing to do with the engineering firm and automaker we know as Lotus), Fernandes decided he didn’t need Proton’s permission anymore and renamed his outfit Team Lotus, commensurately switching from Cosworth to Renault engines and pledging to bring back the iconic Lotus black and gold livery.

After a brief exchange in the press, negotiations between the two Lotus parties went behind closed doors. Then reports surfaced that Group Lotus (the automaker) was considering buying Renault out of its stake in its own F1 team, reports that have now been confirmed by official announcement. Renault (the French automaker) has sold its stake in its F1 team to its investment partner Genii Capital, which has in turn sold part to Group Lotus. Retaining Renault engines, the team is therefor being rebranded Lotus Renault GP, and has released the image above showing what their car could look like under the new livery next season.

Thing is, Fernandes’ Team Lotus is contracted to use those same engines, and was planning on resurrecting that same iconic livery. Neither seems eager to relent, but there can only be one Lotus-Renault team, so something’s got to give before the season kicks off in Bahrain on March 13, so stay tuned and check out the full press release after the jump.

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Officially Official: Lotus Renault GP rolls up its sleeves

Officially Official: Lotus Renault GP rolls up its sleeves originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Officially Official: Lotus Renault GP rolls up its sleeves”

Is the Lotus Europa set to be reborn as a Proton?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lotus, Rumormill

Lotus Europa

Lotus Europa – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Lotus Europa died so that the Evora could live. Now it seems that Lotus-owner Proton is looking to revive the Europa and stick the Proton badge on the bodywork. The resulting Proton-badged Europa would provide a relatively affordable sports car for the Malaysian market.

In fact, this very car has recently popped up in the form of the Proton Lekir Concept, which is essentially a tiger-badged Europa. If this conceptual car ever comes to fruition, we’ll be interested to see how the Malaysian market would respond to a Lotus they can truly call their own.

Gallery: Lotus Europa

[Source: PaulTan]

Is the Lotus Europa set to be reborn as a Proton? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Is the Lotus Europa set to be reborn as a Proton?”

Video: Dario Franchitti drives Jim Clark’s legendary ’65 Lotus at Indy

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Etc., Videos, Racing

Dario Franchitti drives Jim Clark's Lotus

Dario Franchitti drives Jim Clark’s legendary Lotus 38 – Click above to watch video after the jump

We’re sure that open-wheel hero Dario Franchitti has managed to realize quite a few of his four-wheeled dreams over the years, but he’s only just managed to top them all with a drive of Jim Clark’s legendary Lotus 38, a car that Clark piloted to victory in the 1965 Indy 500.

Franchitti, like Clark, was born in Scotland and the two share a love of going fast. Jim Clark’s Lotus 38, with its four-cam V8 pumping out around 500 horsepower, is a very different vehicle then the modern day IndyCar that Franchitti pilots for Chip Ganassi Racing. Regardless, the Lotus is a pure racing machine and a true piece of motorsports history, and it’s a treat to listen to Dario discuss his experience behind the wheel of the Lotus. His insight is important but his excitement is palpable – this is a rare opportunity and he appears to treat the opportunity with the appropriate level of respect and admiration for Clark and Lotus.

How’d this all come to pass? Dario Franchitti, working together with Road & Track, reached out to The Henry Ford Museum, Lotus Cars USA and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make this event happen. It’s all captured on the video after the jump, and it’s just the first in a series of events designed to celebrate the Indy 500. In the near future, we will get to see Bobby Rahal drive the 1912 winning National and Sam Posey hop behind the wheel of Roger Ward’s 1962 Leader Card Special.

For now however, it’s all about Franchitti in Clark’s Lotus 38 at the Brickyard. Stop reading and start watching (and listening!) by clicking past the jump.

[Sources: Road & Track, YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Dario Franchitti drives Jim Clark’s legendary ’65 Lotus at Indy

Video: Dario Franchitti drives Jim Clark’s legendary ’65 Lotus at Indy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Dario Franchitti drives Jim Clark’s legendary ’65 Lotus at Indy”

Dissecting the Lotus Metamorphosis: The Cars

Filed under: Lotus

Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus’ gave us an in-depth look at both what the company wishes to become and how the cars it builds will drive them there. In our previous installment we looked at the Lotus Group as a whole. Here we’ll break down the vehicles Lotus hopes will make it a global success and discuss the two cars that are conspicuously absent from Lotus’ next great renaissance. Follow the jump to find out what they are and how Lotus’ line-up is set to undergo a massive evolution.

Continue reading Dissecting the Lotus Metamorphosis: The Cars

Dissecting the Lotus Metamorphosis: The Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Dissecting the Lotus Metamorphosis: The Cars”