Lotus Elise Club Racer

Lotus has introduced a slightly lighter, slightly cheaper version of its Elise.



Aimed directly at track day enthusiasts, the Elise Club Racer sheds 24 kg (52 lbs) thanks mainly to the loss of sound insulation and the fitment of a special motorsport-derived battery. Tipping the scales at 852 kg (1,878 lb), it certainly follows the traditional Lotus ethos of minimising weight to maximise performance.

The Club Racer is based on the 134 bhp (100 kW / 136 PS) 1.6 Elise, meaning it enjoys CO2 emissions of just 149 g/km. In line with its circuit-orientated role, changes to the chassis include retuned suspension settings and an adjustable front anti-roll bar.



Additionally, the Dynamic Performance Management system - which, among other things, controls the electronic differential, cornering brake control and traction control - comes with a Sport setting, and it can also be turned off completely.



Lotus has priced the Elise Club Racer at £27,500 in the UK and €34,450 in the Eurozone (depending on local taxes). Buyers will be able to choose from Matt Black, Sky Blue, Carbon Grey, Ardent Red, Aspen White or Saffron Yellow paint finishes.



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Lotus Elise facelift

Team Lotus reveals T128

Team Lotus - not to be confused with the Lotus Renault GP Team - has unveiled its 2011 Formula 1 car.

Even if that naming clash is still to be dragged through the courts, thankfully the team has decided not to swap last season’s green and yellow colour scheme for a gold and black one. At least that means spectators will be able to tell the numerous Lotuses apart.



The big changes are under the paintjob, though. Gone are 2010’s Cosworth engines, replaced by motors from Renault which have been combined with gearboxes and hydraulics systems courtesy of Red Bull Technologies.

Together with more aggressive aerodynamics and revised suspension, the Norfolk-based team seems confident that the improved package will be good enough to let drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli score some points in 2011.



Mike Gascoyne, Chief Technical Officer, said: ‘I think that basically this car looks like a front-running car in every area. We said very clearly that we want to start challenging the established teams and I think that's very achievable.’ Fighting talk indeed.



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Two Lotus teams in F1?

2010 Lotus Sport Cars T127 Formula One

2010 Lotus Sport Cars T127 Formula One

Lotus has just unveiled its 2010 Formula 1 car, after 15 years one of the most successful names in Formula One returns to the grid with the launch of the Lotus T127. Backed by the Malaysian government, the new Lotus team will field two cars, driven by Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen. Lotus the T127 will be one of several cars using the latest Cosworth V8 this year.

2010 Lotus Sport Cars T127 Formula One

2010 Lotus Sport Cars T127 Formula One Racing is backed by the Malaysian Government - where Lotus owner Proton is based - securing the rights last year to the team's name and legendary green and yellow colours. Mike Gascoyne, technical chief for the T127, admitted the car was designed very quickly, the team revealing its car mere weeks ahead of the 2010 Bahrain F1 Grand Prix.

The Lotus T127 is powered by a Cosworth engine - another name returning to the sport cars after an extended absence - and will use an Xtrac transmission, in line with all 2010 teams, will be running on Bridgestone tyres.

2010 Lotus Sport Cars T127 Formula One

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

The British manufacturer, Lotus, prepares the launch of a limited edition model, inspired by Formula 1, the performance is sure to be nothing short of spectacular! That will be available for purchase for any enthusiasts that affords the huge price of 780,000 euros ( $1,000,000 ). The entry ticket will give the owner access to special track days and instruction from actual Formula 1 drivers in not just driving but also fitness.

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

Named Exos T125, the model has the looks of a Formula 1 car. The 2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125 is an exclusive ultra high performance F1™ inspired race-car complete with Cosworth 3.5 litre GP V8 engine, the same company that supplies engines for the Lotus Formula 1 squad and other teams.

Smith characterizes it as a detuned race engine; outputs are 640 hp at 9800 rpm and 332 lb-ft of torque at 7600 rpm linked to a six-speed semi automatic gearbox with paddle shift and  while the maximum revs will reach 10,300 rpms (Real F1 cars use 2.4-liter V-8 engines that can rev to a maximum of 18,000 rpm; no team discloses its engine’s power output.) A bespoke carbon composite with nomex and aluminium core chassis with carbon composite panels contribute to a super light weight of just 560kg resulting in a phenomenal power to weight ratio of nearly 1000 hp per tonne.

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

Lotus Exos T125 is also light as a feather, weighing just 650kg. Weighing a mere 1430lbs and being propelled by 640BHP V8 will thrill the driver. The 2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125 is a track day car and designed with real life operation in mind.

Unlike a Formula One car however, the Cosworth V8 is fitted with an alternator and starter motor. A support team is not needed, as the T125 can be started with a push of a button even in your garage. The Cosworth is designed to go 4500km (2800mi) between servicing. That's a lot of track miles and a lot of track days (10-12 track days, about 2 years worth).

Lotus means that the customer who purchases these sports cars all will arrange to join Exos cars owner's club, the club will periodically hold an activity and help buyer to provide it to drive ability. But this lotus Exos T125 sports carses will create in British Norfolk, the head of England market 10 car types will consign a customer in spring 2011, the rest car type will continuously consign in summer 2011.

2011 Lotus Sport Cars T125

Two Lotus teams in F1?

The 2011 Formula 1 season could see the bizarre sight of two Lotus-branded teams on the grid.



Group Lotus - the Proton-owned manufacturer of Lotus road cars - has just bought a stake in the former Renault F1 Team, also becoming title sponsor in the process. The move coincides with Renault selling its share in the outfit, although the French firm will continue to supply engines to the newly renamed Lotus Renault GP Team.

Lotus Renault GP Team - 2011 Livery

A black and gold livery has been revealed too, which harks back to the cigarette-sponsored Lotus F1 cars of the 1970s and 1980s. It might look striking, but why the team would want to give free subliminal advertising to a tobacco company is anyone’s guess.



Confusingly Lotus Racing, which competed for the first time during 2010 but is nothing to do with Group Lotus, has already announced a couple of significant changes for next season: not only will it be switching from Cosworth to Renault power, but it will also be painting its cars black and gold. What a coincidence.



To make matters even more complicated Lotus Racing has, according to the official FIA 2011 Formula 1 entry list, now rebranded itself as Team Lotus and intends to race under the Lotus Renault name.



However, Group Lotus is claiming that Lotus Racing / Team Lotus / Lotus Renault (take your pick) was only using the Lotus moniker under licence this year, but that licence has now been revoked.



Consequently Team Lotus and Group Lotus are now involved in an escalating battle for the right to continue using the name. But with neither side looking likely to back down, the dispute will probably end up being resolved by the UK High Court sometime in the new year.

2010 Lotus Sport Cars Elan Concept

2010 Lotus Sport Cars Elan Concept

At Paris Auto Show 2010 Lotus automaker manufacture has display six new models super car sport. One of the six models is the Lotus Elan Concept. 2010 Lotus Elan Concept Cars, a high performance sports car, is the beating heart of the new Lotus line-up and thanks to some clever innovations the Lotus Elan also has everyday usability too.

2010 Lotus Sport Cars Elan Concept

Elan is expected to go to production in summer of 2013 and will be available for purchase in fall of 2013. Like the Evora, the Lotus Elan features 2+2 seating, suggesting that the new Evora may not really have a long life at Lotus. Prices for the production Elan are estimated to start around $118,500 ( £75,000 ).

Lotus Elan Concept Power is provided by a mid-mounted 4.0-liter V6 engine with 450 PS (331 kW / 444 hp) and 465 Nm (343 lb-ft) of toque. It is backed up by a seven-speed DCT transmission, which enables the 1,295 kg (2,855 lb) car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph). If that fails to attract your attention, perhaps you’ll be interested in the hybrid variant which will have CO2 emissions as low as 199 g/km. With performance specs like that, there's a little double that Elan is supercar.

From a styling perspective, the Elan is built like an athlete with a muscular physique and perfect poise. It’s a thoroughbred, rigid with tension, ambitious and addictive, nothing but best in class will suffice for this car.

It’s not enough to simply provide performance and exceptional looks, innovation is also integral to the Elan’s appeal. In keeping with the rest of the new Lotus range, the Elan features optional hybrid technology with KERS.

2010 Lotus Sport Cars Elan Concept

Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “If there was ever a car to make you drive the long way home, it’s the Elan. Perfect for both road and track, the Elan not only ticks all the boxes, it creates new ones too.”

“The Elan will convert people to Lotus, I would challenge people not to become addicted to driving it. It will also go a long way towards dispelling the old misconceptions about this class, that in order to have high performance you must sacrifice usability – those days are gone.”

“Once you drive an Elan you won’t look back, it will give you things you didn’t even realise you were missing – that’s the essence of Lotus and the Elan perfectly captures that spirit.”

2010 Lotus Sport Cars Elan Concept

Lotus Presented the 1st Hybrid Car

The British manufacturer of sports cars Lotus presented the first hybrid — the City Car Concept.

Compact Car by Lotus

It's the three-door four-seater compact car (1400 kg). Under a cowl the engine in volume of 1,2 l is established, and also in the rear is located the electric motor, the battery is under passenger seats. The general power 220HP, the twisting moment is equal 240Nm. The cruising range on an electricity makes 60 km.

BMW Z4 Vs Lotus City Car

According to Lotus chief designer, Wolf Zimmerman, the company searches now for the partner for a batch production of model since 2014. Also he told that the British motor-car manufacturer wants to create alternative of model of Aston Martin Cygnet and BMW Z4 Coupe.

Paris 2010: Lotus Esprit Concept previews upcoming revival of a legend

Lotus is ready to make a big impact at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. It brought five concept vehicles to the show (more on the other four in short order), and one in particular has us salivating. Lotus plans to revive the much-loved Esprit for the 2013 model year. Before we see a production version of that car, the automaker is showcasing its Lotus Esprit Concept.

Taking cues from the old Esprit, the Esprit Concept plunks its engine amidship, though instead of honoring the turbocharged four-cylinders that powered the originals, the concept makes do with a meaty supercharged 5.0-liter V8. That V8 will look familiar to fans of the Lexus IS-F. The two-seater will produce 620 horsepower, accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and then blast onward to a 205-mile-per-hour top speed. The plan is to bring the production version to market in the spring of 2013 with a price tag around $175,000.

In addition to the massive, and massively exciting ,V8 power, the Lotus Esprit will also be offered with KERS as an option. KERS, or Kinetic Energy Recovery System, is a system used by Formula 1 cars to recover heat energy generated during braking. The energy is stored until the driver wants a powerful boost and with a push of a button propels the car with more force than two bottles of NOS... the big ones.

Paris 2010: Lotus Elise Concept evolves the sports car

There's no denying that Lotus had lost its way prior to the release of the much-loved Elise. The company that Colin built had strayed from its roots of lightweight sports cars and drifted towards the exotic realm... and it had drastic effects on the company's bottom line. Thankfully, the Elise and its hard-core cousin, the Exige, set the company back on the straight and narrow.

All of this begs the question, though: How do you update a modern classic like the Elise? Lotus' answer is currently being shown off at the Paris Motor Show. Here are the basics: 320 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine procured from Toyota, a six-speed manual and optional paddle-shifted automatic transmission, and a 2,409-pound curb weight. This supercharged model can hit 62 in 4.3 seconds. Price? $55,000.

For those keeping track of such things, which is to say nearly all of you, that is indeed heavier and more expensive than the current Elise... and that's not good. Fortunately, Lotus promises that there will be less expensive versions of the 2015 Elise available, presumably without the benefit of forced induction. There will also be both hard-and soft-top models on offer.

What all Elises will offer, though, is a more luxurious cabin and easier entry and exit. We're loving the look of the interior, with its pod-like binnacle of instruments, steering wheel with F1-style progressive shift lights and its digital rendering of race circuits for those venturing out the the track. As for the exterior, well, let's just say we're not quite on board yet with what Lotus designers have planned for the brand's future. Fortunately they have plenty of time to change our minds.

Paris 2010: Lotus debuts Eterne hybrid sedan concept

When we think of Lotus, the words "hybrid" and "sedan" aren't exactly the first words that come to mind. Now, though, Lotus is changing all that with the introduction of its Eterne concept, a four-door sedan with an optional hybrid powertrain. This may be a big step in a different direction for Lotus, but it's nothing new. The Eterne takes the same shape as the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide and Audi A7 Sportback.

Like the new Esprit concept, the Eterne is powered by a 620-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 sourced from Toyota. The optional hybrid drivetrain uses a Formula 1-style KERS energy recuperation system, and the Lotus sedan will be available in both rear- and all-wheel drive. Of course, this is still a Lotus, so good performance numbers are an absolute must, and we're told that the Eterne will run to 60 miles per hour in just 4.0 seconds on its way to a top speed of 196 mph.

While merely a concept at this point, Lotus says that the Eterne is slated for production in 2015 and that the sedan will cost around $190,000.

Paris 2010: Lotus Elan Concept stuns the crowds

We didn't see this one coming. Lotus' five-car concept explosion at the Paris Motor Show is one of the most welcome surprises sprung on us in recent memory... and the biggest surprise of all may be this Elan. Lotus says its new Elan is slated for a debut in 2013, which makes us wonder what the future may have in store for the current Evora. Pricing for the 2013 Elan is set at $118,500 (£75,000).

In any case, the Elan is powered by a 450-horsepower supercharged 4.0-liter V6 engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from Toyota, which offers enough gumption to scoot to 62 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 193 mph. Lotus also promises that a hybrid will be available using a Kinetic Energy Recovery System similar to those seen in Formula One a season ago.

Take a good look at the awesome cockpit of the 2013 Elan. Plenty of carbon fiber, plenty of high-tech goodies, even including a digital race track readout for track days. And could anything be better than that awesome flat-bottom and flat-top steering wheel? No, we didn't think so.

Weight comes in at 2,849 pounds and there is room for a driver and a passenger, but Lotus will also optionally deliver the Elan with two itty-bitty perches out back.

Paris 2010: Lotus shows off its new Grand Tourer, the Elite

Lotus continues its march towards global sportscar domination with the 2010 Paris Motor Show unveiling of the Lotus Elite. The Elite represents a step away from "lighter is better" because it is a hefty, four-passenger grand tourer – it weighs in at 3,600 pounds. One of the reasons it's so heavy? It has a retractable, folding hardtop. Don't let the weight throw you off though, this is a good looking, aggressively styled powerhouse. Under the hood sits a modified version of the 5.0-liter V8 out of a Lexus IS-F. The unit is then massaged to produce 611 horsepower which propels the car to a sub-four-second 0-60 time and a top speed of 195 miles per hour. The Elite will also be fitted with KERS for a quick boost of recovered energy.

The front mid-engine layout should help balance the Lotus Elite and make for an exciting driving experience. We expect this car to represent a slightly softer side for the automaker, but that's like saying we expect a bomb to hurt less than a missile. The entire Lotus lineup is poised in attack position, the Elite just happens to wear clothes from the Big and Tall store.

Lotus is aiming to bring this sporty road warrior to market sometime in the year 2014. If you invest your money wisely now, you just might be able to save the estimated $180,000 you'll need to put one in your driveway.

2015 Lotus Eterne

Of the five sports cars that Lotus displayed at the Paris Motor Show, the Eterne represents the biggest departure.

Setting aside collaborative projects such as the Lotus Carlton / Omega from the early 1990s, it’ll be the first four-door saloon that Lotus has produced. Nevertheless, the firm is convinced that there’s a market for it.



It’s also saying the Eterne is ‘… not an evolution of an existing two-door model, it's a deliberate and considered stand-alone creation’, although it looks suspiciously like a four-door version of the 2014 Lotus Elite. Both cars certainly use the same engine, a 5.0 litre V8 that will first appear in the 2013 Esprit.

At an estimated £120,000, the Eterne will undercut competitors such as the Aston Martin Rapide, but it will cost more than cars such as the Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte.

2015 Lotus Eterne Concept Specification
Layout	4 seats, front-engined
Engine	Petrol, 5.0 litre V8
Hybrid technology	Optional, incl. KERS
Power	611 bhp / 456 kW / 620 PS
Torque	720 Nm
0-62 mph (0-100 km/h)	4.0 seconds
Top speed	195 mph (315 km/h)
Weight	1,800 kg
Transmission	Full hybrid
Drive	Rear-wheel drive, optional all-wheel drive
Production starts	Early 2015
On sale	Spring 2015
Price	Around £120,000

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Five new Lotus sports cars

2013 Lotus Esprit

2013 Lotus Elan

2014 Lotus Elite

2015 Lotus Elise

2015 Lotus Elise

By the time the 2015 Elise arrives in the showrooms the current car will be nineteen years old, and so arguably overdue for replacement.

The next generation model revealed at the Paris Motor Show gains a bit of weight, but it also gets extra power to compensate. That comes courtesy of a four-cylinder 2.0 litre engine, which will be available with an optional start-stop system to improve fuel economy and cut down on emissions.

The styling is said to be ‘young, strong, confident [and] verging on ruthless’, but Lotus is also emphasising that the 2015 Elise will be more practical and much easier to get in and out of. Of course 2015 is a long way off, and so some of the design details included on the Paris concept are bound to change.



An estimated price of £35,000 puts it on a par with the top end of today’s Elise range. However, that’s still quite a jump from today’s entry-level 1.6, which in basic form costs nearer to £27,000. Clear evidence of the Lotus desire to shift upmarket then, but it could alienate some existing customers.

2015 Lotus Elise Concept Specification
Layout	2 seats, mid-engined
Engine	Petrol, 2.0 litre I4
Hybrid technology	Optional stop-start
Power	315 bhp / 235 kW / 320 PS
Torque	330 Nm
0-62 mph (0-100 km/h)	4.3 seconds
Top speed	167 mph (270 km/h)
Weight	1,095 kg
Transmission	6 Speed manual, optional DCT
Drive	Rear-wheel drive
Production starts	Early 2015
On sale	Spring 2015
Price	Around £35,000

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Five new Lotus sports cars

2013 Lotus Esprit

2013 Lotus Elan

2014 Lotus Elite

2015 Lotus Eterne

2014 Lotus Elite

The third new Lotus to arrive will be the Elite, in Spring 2014.

Like the two previous incarnations that wore the Elite badge, this version will also be front engined and have rear-wheel drive. But that’s just about where the similarities end.



Power will come from the same engine that the 2013 Esprit will be using, a 5.0 litre V8. Hybrid technology, including a gearbox with integrated electric motors and a Formula 1 style Kinetic Energy Recovery System, will be optional.

From a styling perspective, the Elite is perhaps the best looking of the sports car quintet that Lotus unveiled at Paris. A retractable roof is a key feature of the compact design which, at 4.60 metres in length, is about the same as a BMW 3 Series Coupe.



With a projected price of close to £115,000 though, the 3 Series won’t be the Elite’s competition. That job will go to more rarefied contenders, such as the Aston Martin DB9 and Bentley Continental GT Coupe.

2014 Lotus Elite Concept Specification
Layout	2+2 seats, front-engined
Engine	Petrol, 5.0 litre V8
Hybrid technology	Optional, incl. KERS
Power	611 bhp / 456 kW / 620 PS
Torque	720 Nm
0-62 mph (0-100 km/h)	3.5 to 3.7 seconds
Top speed	195 mph (315 km/h)
Weight	1,650 kg
Transmission	Full hybrid
Drive	Rear-wheel drive
Production starts	Early 2014
On sale	Spring 2014
Price	Around £115,000

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Five new Lotus sports cars

2013 Lotus Esprit

2013 Lotus Elan

2015 Lotus Elise

2015 Lotus Eterne

2013 Lotus Elan

The next new Lotus to arrive after the Esprit will be the Elan, which is scheduled to enter the market during the Autumn of 2013.

Power will come from a mid-mounted 4.0 litre V6 and, despite the packaging issues that such a layout presents, there will be a 2+2 seating configuration available.

With a price tag in the region of £75,000, there’s really only one car that the Elan will measured against: the Porsche 911.

2013 Lotus Elan Concept Specification
Layout	2 or 2+2 seats, mid-engined
Engine	Petrol, 4.0 litre V6
Hybrid technology	Optional, incl. KERS
Power	443 bhp / 330 kW / 450 PS
Torque	465 Nm
0-62 mph (0-100 km/h)	3.5 seconds
Top speed	192 mph (310 km/h)
Weight	1,295 kg
Transmission	7 Speed DCT
Drive	Rear-wheel drive
Production starts	Summer 2013
On sale	Autumn 2013
Price	Around £75,000

Related posts:

Five new Lotus sports cars

2013 Lotus Esprit

2014 Lotus Elite

2015 Lotus Elise

2015 Lotus Eterne