2010 Lotus RGB Special Edition

Recently made a special edition Lotus Exige and Elise on the RGB is marked with the initials, the name of Roger Becker, Director of Lotus Engineering Vehicles. Both limited edition models are offered in four colours: Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow and Carbon Grey. The cars also carry Roger Becker’s signature on the side of the bodywork, a numbered interior plaque and a monochrome Lotus badge on the nose.

The both are Elise SC RGB and Exige S RGB special editions come with both Sports and Touring packs as standard. The Elise, with a supercharged 1.8-litre engine developing 217bhp, should do 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds according to the manufacturer. With an intercooler and an extra 40bhp the Exige should get the 0-60mph time down to about four seconds.

The Lotus RGB Special Edition models will go on sale in September. Are you one of waiter this edition?

2010 Lotus Evora Carbon Concept

The Lotus Evora Carbon Concept car retains the same class leading handling and high tech aluminium bonded and extruded chassis of the production car. The striking white concept car is finished in an advanced water based pearlesent paint that contrasts with the exquisitely finished weave on the carbon fibre panels. The head turning looks of the Lotus Evora Carbon Concept car provide a more purposeful, planted stance with the car looking lower and more aggressive. This styling direction is continued with a structural carbon fibre roof.

The Lotus Evora Carbon Concept car emphasises Lotus’ motorsport pedigree, utilising beautiful high quality materials with exposed carbon fibre and plush alcantara. high tech materials that offer a good synergy with the Lotus brand image, expressing our motorsport heritage and history of stylish sports cars for which Lotus are renowned. It’s has diamond cut forged 19″ alloy wheels front and rear, shod with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres (235/35 wide front and 285/30 wide rear).

The bespoke interior uses swathes of sumptuous grey alcantara to cover the footwell, dashboard and roof. The contemporary interior of the Lotus Evora Carbon Concept car combines the lustre of the carbon panels with perforated leather and matt alcantara.

2011 Lotus Elise

Lotus tried to maintain the leading position of its kind to introduce some changes and improvements. This is proved by making its debut at the 80th Geneva International Motorshow , the 2011 model year Lotus Elise. This car was able to produce supercar performance with city car economy.

Of the body offers an interesting mix of styles, dramatic and functional. But still maintain the character and style of two-seat sports car Lotus typical. The new Lotus Elise body has a fresh sculptured front, including a new bumper, front clam. At the rear of the car the new engine has been encased by a distinctive “twin-spine” engine cover whilst lower down a more aggressive diffuser is tightly wrapped by an elegant new bumper design that now includes the rear licence plate. The rear boot is now opened from the cockpit rather than via a separate key operation. The high quality feel of the Lotus Elise is continued throughout the car with the Lotus Elise graphic incorporated into the new side LED direction indicators, like those on the Lotus Evora.

While changes to the engine, this new engine is 200cc smaller than the outgoing Lotus Elise S model and produces similar power (136 PS, 100 kW, 134 hp at 6800 rpm) with maximum torque of 160 Nm, 118 lbft at 4400 rpm, but offers a significant improvement to fuel economy of over 23%, to 6.14 litres / 100km (46 mpg) and a reduction in CO2 emission by more than 13%. This provides the new Lotus Elise with the lowest CO2 per performance for any gasoline high performance sportscar in the world. This high technology engine is mated to a new 6-speed manual gearbox, providing closer and more performance orientated ratios than the outgoing 5 speed box.

2010 Lotus Exige S Type 72

Lotus makes Lotus Exige S Type 72, is a special edition cars to celebrate the victory F1 Type 72. Lotus Exige S Type 72 is made using black color and gold color scheme. The Lotus Type 72 Formula One car, which achieved 20 Grand Prix victories between 1970 and 1975.

Here are the great drivers championship-winning The Lotus Type 72 are :
Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson and Jacky Ickx and won three Formula One Constructors Championships (1970, 1972 and 1973) and two Drivers World Championships (the first being won by Jochen Rindt in 1970 and the second by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972).

Lotus Exige S Type 72 with Performance through light weight has long been a Lotus philosophy. The 935kg Exige S Type 72 sprints to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 145 mph, 233 km/h. The Exige S Type 72 also offers class leading fuel economy and emissions, with fuel economy of 6.5 litres/100 km (43.5 mpg) on the Extra Urban Cycle and CO2 emissions of 199 g/km.

The Exige S Type 72 is a powerful supercharged mid-engined sportscar that is equally at home on the racetrack or open road. The intercooled engine has VVTL-i technology ensuring impressive performance all the way to the rev limiter at 8500 rpm.

The Sport Pack comes as standard on the Exige S Type 72 which has a bespoke high quality interior, including black micro fibre ProBax sports seats with gold stitching. Each car comes with a special build plate commemorating one of the F1 car’s 20 Grand Prix victories. The exterior of the Exige S Type 72 features unique black and gold light weight wheels and is finished with hand-painted gold Type 72 and Exige S logos, (the Sport Pack also includes a T45 steel main roll hoop, Lotus Traction Control, twin oil coolers and an adjustable front anti-roll bar).

2009 Lotus F1 Racing Takes Model to the Windtunnel

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 – Just one month after confirmation of its entry into the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, Lotus F1 Racing is headed to the windtunnel with the first scale model Formula 1 car. Yet undesignated model is the product of the latest collaboration between Lotus F1 Racing Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne and the team’s technical partners, and represents an important step in preparing the team for next season.

The beginning of each windtunnel testing is an important step in the development of a Formula 1 car is new, but very interesting for us as we continue to prepare for our first season. It has become very busy since our entry is justified by the FIA. We have worked on entries for a few months, so we already have the team aspect of the infrastructure in place, financial, manufacturing and top management. After our entry was confirmed in mid-September, we were able to accelerate the recruitment and development process of our car and this really where we are now.

Our input is only possible thanks to funding from the private sector of Malaysia, so the Lotus F1 Racing Team Malaysia will be through and through. In addition we have the valuable support from the Malaysian government through the initiative 1Malaysia, so we will basically fly the flag at the Malaysian Formula 1. I am working with our team chief Tony Fernandes about our plans and everyday I’m spending time in Malaysia interviewing potential candidates for technical roles. The team is also in the process of hiring Malaysia for other positions, including administration, marketing and PR.

The long-term vision is to create a center of technical excellence at the Sepang circuit that we begin to plan together with Tony Fernandes and his associates. Of course this takes time, so we chose to base the UK beginning in the RTN in Hingham facility from where we will run the F1 operation as we build our Malaysia facility. In the end, the team will be headquartered in Malaysia, but we’ll save a small British base that will give us advantages when we ran the logistics in Europe.

We have worked with to develop Fondtech aerodynamics, and also with specialist Xtrac gearbox. We have an engine supply agreement in place with Cosworth and we also had the support of technical teams and composites in Malaysia that will play an integral role in the development of this car.

2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260

Lotus Cars Ltd, has unveiled the MY 2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260. A direct development of the 2008 Exige Cup Car, this year’s car uses advanced light weight components and carbon fibre body material, to reduce the overall weight by 38 kg to a total mass less than 900 kg. Maximum power output of 257 hp (260 PS), remains the same as the 2008 car, but with careful attention to weight reduction detail, the 2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 provides a more agile and dynamic track focused drive and is more than capable of taming Europe’s most challenging race circuits.

Unusually for such a focused track and road machine, the 2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 is fully homologated for road use in Europe and key markets in Asia – a must have for many race competition programmes where a road legal car has to be entered. The Lotus Exige Cup 260 is also eligible to compete in the newly announced 2009 Lotus Cup Europe race series organized and run by LoTRDC. The Lotus Exige Cup 260 exploits the Lotus philosophy of using weight reduction to increase performance and reduce emissions.

Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus commented, “Lotus is now recognised globally as one of the leaders in the green automotive revolution. Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus is attributed as saying “Adding power makes you faster on the straights; adding lightness makes you faster everywhere” and this statement is more relevant today than it ever has been, as decreasing weight increases the car’s performance and most importantly efficiency.”

2010 Lotus Fuel Cell Taxi Concept

This taxi concept is a prototype vehicle developed by Lotus with zero emissions fuel cell hybrid system. London Mayor, Boris Johnson, wants all the city’s taxis to have zero emissions by 2020 and Lotus, along with the other project partners, is aiming to get an initial fleet of 20 such vehicles on the road for the Olympics in 2012.

Under the bonnet lies an enormous 154-litre tank filled with hydrogen. The fuel cell itself is located in the transmission tunnel where the gearbox would normally be, while the battery packs are mounted underneath the centre of the car, face down, so they’re easy to access for tinkering purposes. Finally, the electric motor sits on a new sub frame in between the rear wheels.

Flexible Lotus Fuel Cell Taxi Concept’s interior space as there would normally be, so passengers, luggage and wheelchairs can fit in just as easily. There’s a small LCD screen on the dash that displays the fuel cell’s vitals and tells you when it’s ready to start.

LTI, the manufacturer of the London taxi and a partner in the project, doesn’t quote an acceleration figure, but the instant torque from the electric motor, combined with the fuel cell’s power, shaves around three or four seconds off the 0-62mph time. You’re still looking at about 15 seconds, but that’s enough to smoke rival cabbies at the lights. The fuel cell produces 30kW (40bhp), while the electric motor kicks out 55kW (74bhp) on average and has a 100kW (134bhp) peak.

Filling up with hydrogen is no more difficult or lengthy than usual, but the snag, for the moment, is a complete lack of filling stations that supply it. That will change though, as London is scheduled to have six operational hydrogen fuel forecourts by the time the first fleet of fuel cell cabs goes live in 2012 and more will undoubtedly follow.

2011 Lotus Evora S

2011 Lotus Evora S with a 350 PS 3.5l V6 engine. It has little different from standard Evora. It’s the next level of Evora experience. It communicates with you better, the suspension setting has been fine tuned for added power and control so it responds even more to direction. It’s an instinctual car, the experience is pure. The Evora S, set to be unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

The Evora S comes with a sport pack as standard featuring a ‘sport’ button which allows the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve. The sport button also raises the instantaneous rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control settings resulting in a total experience change.

The external emotion of the Lotus Evora S has been improved with a completely new active exhaust which means that at the push of a button the car sounds just as dramatic as it feels.

Lotus Evora S Technical Specification

Engine: Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I
Transmission: 6 speed manual
Chassis: Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure
Steering: Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension

• Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension
• Bilstein high performance gas dampers
• Eibach coaxial coil springs

Fuel consumption (Standard wheel option)

• urban: 14.5 l/100km
• extra urban: 7.4 l/100km
• combined: 10.0l/100km
• CO2 Emissions: 235 g/km

Fuel consumption (19/20″ wheel option)

• urban: 14.6 I/100km
• extra urban: 7.6 I/100km
• combined: 10.2 I/100km
• CO2 Emissions: 239 g/km

Max power: 350 PS / 257.5 kW @ 7000 rpm
Max torque: 400 Nm / 295 lb ft @ 4500 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.6s
0-100 km/h: 4.8s
Maximum speed: 172mph
Vehicle mass (unladen): 1437kg

2010 Lotus Elite Concept

Lotus Elite Concept hopes will bring a sense of dignified grace in appearance, movement, stylish and elegant. It’s compact yet chic body is elegance incarnate.

It is offers the very latest technological innovations Lotus. The slick retractable hard top version and the optional use of hybrid technology with KERS are typical examples of Lotus tailoring technology to deliver perfect performance.

Lotus Elite Concept Specification

* Layout: 2 2 seater, front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive
* Dimensions

• Length: 4.60m
• Width: 1.90m
• Height: 1.32m

* Engine

• Type: Petrol, hybrid optional
• Hybrid technology: Hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS
• Cylinder: V8
• Capacity: 5.0 litre
• Power: 620 PS
• Torque: 720 Nm
• Rev limit: 8,500 rpm

* Performance

• 0-100 km/h: 3.5 to 3.7 seconds
• Top speed: 315 km/h

* CO2 Emissions: 215 g/km (using optional hybrid)
* Weight: 1,650 kg
* Seats: 2 2
* Transmission: Full Hybrid transmission
* Drive: RWD
* Start of production: Early 2014
* Enters the market: Spring 2014
* Price indication: ca. £115,000

My Top 10 Concept Cars of 2010

In less than two weeks, 2010 will draw to a close. So what better time to look back at the real stars of this year’s motor shows: the concept cars! Enter into a world where considerations like practicality and profitability fall by the wayside and the world’s designers and engineers show us their true potential. Let’s count down...my Top 10 Concept Cars of 2010!

10. Kia POP

Kia’s POP small electric vehicle study is a designer’s wet dream: a one piece glass windscreen and roof, scissor doors and an interior that looks more like a space capsule than a car. It also offers further proof that the South Korean company has evolved from a budget buyer’s first choice into a proper, world class automaker.

9. Citroen Lacoste

Again and again, Citroen has proved that it can do concept cars like no other automaker. Alas, with so many other awesome concepts this year, the Lacoste never made it further up our list than here. Still, this beach buggy for the 21^st century has some standout features like its funky LED dashboard, semi-open design and plastic-clad body.

8. Renault DeZir

Renault has never been so cool. In a perfect world, this electric two-seater would be the French automaker’s Audi R8. In reality, it’s just another fantastic shoulda-been from France’s dullest automaker (Renault Sport models notwithstanding).

7. Mercedes Benz BIOME

The BIOME is pure flight of fancy. Designed to be seeded in an orchard and grown like a cob of corn (no, really), the BIOME emits nothing but oxygen and marketing hyperbole. Am I the only one who thinks this looks a bit like the 2001 SEL from Spaceballs?

6. Peugeot EX1

Part car, part motorcycle: Peugeot’s eccentrically electric two-seat, three wheeler packs 250 kW / 340 hp between its narrow front wheels. This isn’t Peugeot’s first three wheel concept (remember 2005’s 20 Cup and 2009’s RD?) and is unlikely to be the last. Tres magnifique!

5. Lotus Elise

2010 has been a great year for Lotus concept cars, what with the Aston Martin Rapide rivalling Esterne and the relaunch of two classic nameplates in Esprit and Elan. Still, this teaser for the next-generation Elise is my favourite. 2013 can’t come too soon.

4. New Lancia Stratos

A fabulous one-off that’s drivable to boot, the new Stratos is underpinned by the same (if tweaked) 510 hp V8 that powers Ferrari’s 430 Scuderia. Designed and built by Italian design house Pininfarina, the new Statos recalls the much loved HF rally and road cars of the 1970s. Here’s hoping Pininfarina secures the licence to put this schoolboy’s wet dream into limited production.

3. Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

If there’s one 2010 concept car that divided opinion like no other, it’s Lamborghini’s Sesto Elemento. Between its stealth fighter styling, cacophony of oddly shaped intakes and outtakes and the de-saturated grey and red colour scheme, this was one of the wildest concepts to come out this year. Still, there’s no arguing with its 570 hp V10. We’ll take two.

2. Audi Quattro Concept

Raise your hand if you weren’t utterly enraptured by the rebirth of Audi’s ur-Quattro of the 1980s? No one? I thought as much. With its lightweight body, historically accurate 5-cylinder engine and 911-rivalling performance, what’s not to like? And the styling is to die for. The 1980s never looked so good.

1. Jaguar C-X75

And so here it is, my #1. 2010 had a lot of great concept cars, but none so much as Jaguar’s fabulous C-X75. Here is a gas / electric hybrid with 780 hp with a body fashioned out of texalium and vapour-blasted aluminium. This car is so cutting edge you have to wear gloves. It’s the perfect mix of exotic materials, futuristic technologies and pure styling jizz, and the top dog in our top ten.

So there you have My Top 10. What? You don't agree? Does putting a Kia on this list outrage your sensibilities? Are you disappointed that there are no American cars on the list? Is Jaguar's C-X75 and poorly conceived attempt to elevate the brand beyond its upper-class retiree roots? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

New Photo Gallery of Lotus' Future Sports Car Lineup

You may have to ask a second time for their name and you probably need to take more than a couple of looks to tell them apart, but that doesn't mean we're not impressed by the next generation of Lotus sports cars.

Unveiled for the first time as concept studies at the Paris Motor Show in October, with the North American debut taking place at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the new Elise, Esprit, Elite, Elan are a wild bunch. And while we don't have anything new to add about the four sports coupes, Lotus has unleashed a beautiful photo gallery shot in Hollywood, which you can enjoy in high-resolution quality right after the jump.