The world’s oldest retailer of the lightweight English sports cars, Bell & Colvill Lotus are offering some very reasonable special edition of the automaker’s Elise model. The new Elise Black & White Editions are available in both the R or SC spec and offer quite a bit of kit for the money. The more sinister Lotus Sport Black version and comes with a trio of Phantom Black stripes running the length of the car, while the Aspen White version wears the same stripes in Ice White. One would think that the combination of choice would be white with black stripes or black with white stripes, but the black on black and white on white treatment sets these Elises further apart from the Lotus crowd.
The interior features a microfiber trimmed dash and similar treatment on the sport bucket seats and door skins. The value package also adds a set of black forged wheels wrapped in ultra sticky rubber while out back there is an all new diffuser. Other additions are traction control, air conditioning and a compulsory option for the Lotus Sport base paint. The retailer sells this package for about a $3,000 premium over a standard Elise R or SC, but I all the options were added individually, the sum would be closer to $8,200. Whether you choose Black or White, these dealer direct special edition Elises are a tremendous savings over buying the options one by one. Bell & Colvil are now taking orders.
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After the recent success of the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel at the Shanghai Motor Show, Youngman Auto, the lightweight English sports car builder’s Chinese partner has submitted a request that the concept go into production, at least for the Chinese market by the end of this year. The alternatively fueled Lotus made its debut at Geneva in 2008, and what set the car apart from normal flex fuel vehicles that can run on a blend of gasoline and ethanol, the Exige 270E adds methanol into the mix. It is no surprise that the Chinese are so interested in the Tri-Fuel, because back in 2007 China became the world’s largest producer and consumer of methanol. In 2008 nearly 1 Billion gallons of the alternative fuel was blended with gasoline in the panda loving country, and mixtures of methanol/gasoline are already available at many gas stations throughout the land.
Check out the diagrams after the jump to see how Tri-Fuel works.
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Lotus revealed the Evora sports car last year at the British Motor Show. Today in Geneva it added a new version to the line-up: the 2+2 version.
The Evora 2+2 is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 hp; add that to a weight of only 1350 kg and you will get a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5 seconds, while top speed goes up to 161 mph.
With the Evora 2+2, Lotus becomes the only maker in the world that has a production midengined 2+2.
Lotus will start Evora deliveries in May and prices for Germany for the 2+2 version starts at 63.500 euro (or $80,000 at the current rates).
Press release after the jump.
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The 2010MY Exige S made its world debut today at the Geneva Motor Show. The sportscar comes with a newly designed front end, a new rear wing and improved fuel economy.
The Exige S is being offered in a choice of three different packs: Touring, Sport and Performance. For the last one the power is raised to 239 hp at 8000 rpm courtesy of a Magnuson/Eaton M62 supercharger, new faster flowing injectors and higher torque clutch system and an upsized roof scoop to feed more air to the supercharger intercooler system.
The Exige S makes the 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 4.77 secs, but in the same time has a fuel economy of 33.2 mpg.
Press release after the jump.
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Lotus Sport revealed today the 2-Eleven GT4 Supersport race car that will compete in the European SRO GT4 Supersports category. It comes with a lightweight composite body, full rollcage, an advanced aerodynamic package, and increased power.
The four-cylinder engine is increased from the standard 255 hp and 179 lb-ft. engine to 270 hp and 182 lb-ft. The increases in power and torque have been gained through improved induction and exhaust systems, and with a high ratio supercharger drive system for increased levels of boost. To maximize the upgrades to the engine the engine management system has been remapped and optimized. The engine is mated to a six-speed racing sequential gearbox.
There no announced plans of getting this car on U.S. tracks yet.
Press release after the jump.
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Lotus unveiled details on the 2009 Exige Cup 260. For 2009 the sports car is offered with advanced light weight components and carbon fiber body material, to reduce the overall weight by 38 kg (84 lbs) to a total mass less than 900 kg (1980 lbs).
The supercharged and intercooled engine in the Exige Cup 260 has a maximum power output of 257 hp at 8000 rpm and a torque figure of 174 lbft at 6000 rpm. This means each pony in the car only has to carry around about 7.5 pound.
Lotus reduced the weight by adding new carbon-fiber panels, including the roof panel, dash top, tailgate, front and rear spoilers, seats and the side intake ducts. Also lightweight materials are used in the flywheel, rear subframe, battery and supercharger pipes, and the rear window glass has been replaced by a lightweight composite.
The 2009 Exige Cup 260 is street legal in Europe and Asia and is on sale now.
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Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, unless they’re imbedded in a Lotus. This weekend, to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the company will unveil a special edition Lotus Europa Diamond Edition valued at £150,000 (about $262,000).
The interior was upgraded using the finest quality leather for a superior quilted trim, and the one-of-a-kind gear knob and controls feature sparkling diamonds set in cool matt black metal. The diamond scheme is completed with a specially designed rev counter and speed dials that feature diamonds highlighted by hidden LED accent lighting.
A diamond paint job was accomplished by adding glass flakes to high gloss black paint. Tinted glass and black and silver wheels complete the monochrome diamond scheme on the outside.
For anyone getting the idea that all they have to do is steal the car to drive off with the £111,000 worth of diamonds, think again. Although the car has real diamonds, they will be fake when the car is on display.
Press release after the jump.
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Lotus today revealed the 2010 Evora at the British Motor Show. It will be hand crafted and built on a dedicated new assembly line within Lotus’s advanced manufacturing facility at Hethel in the east of England; capacity limitations will restrict production to approximately 2000 cars a year, ensuring the dynamic new sports car’s rarity and exclusivity.
Evora is powered by Toyota’s all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 DOHC, with dual VVT-i (‘intelligent’ variable valve timing). The engine delivers 280 PS at 6400 rpm, while boosting its maximum torque to 342 Nm at 4700 rpm (prototype figures). The 2GR-FE V6 engine is mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, again Toyota-sourced. A close-ratio version of this gearbox is also currently under development for the even more sport-focussed driver. The 0 to 60 mph sprint is made in less than 5 seconds.
Designed ‘in-house’ by Lotus Design, the sleek and athletic form uses fluid forms and crisp surfaces to communicate velocity, agility and sophistication. Low and wide with modern cab forward proportions, muscular rear haunches and function optimised hip air intakes this is clearly a serious mid engined sportscar that skilfully hides the practicality of its two plus two capability.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Lotus revealed today the first official information on the 2010 Project Eagle that will make its world debut at the British Motorshow on 22nd July at an 11:30 press conference. This is the time when Lotus will also reveal the official name of the car.
The Project Eagle is powered by a modified version of Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6, with dual VVT-i that produced 280 hp. It can hit a top speed of 160 mph; the 0-60 mph sprint from standstill is estimated at sub 5 seconds (prototype figures).
Styled in-house by Lotus Design, the Project Eagle’s sleek, sophisticated and attention-snaring lines brilliantly disguise its ability to accommodate passengers in the rear of the cabin, giving the car the external characteristics of a small, nimble sportscar whilst belying its internal space. As well as being sold in a 2+2 configuration, the car will also be available as a purely twoseater, the space in the rear being allocated to luggage storage.
Deliveries of Project Eagle will begin in Spring 2009, and with only 2000 of the hand crafted cars planned each year, this exclusive and unique car is creating a real stir with celebrity enthusiasts around the world.
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Lotus will unveil at the British Motor Show the Eco Elise technology demonstrator, a new project that project promotes a different perspective on “green”, one which does not revolve solely around tailpipe CO2.
The Eco Elise features sustainable materials, hemp, eco wool and sisal have been developed for body panels and trim and, combined with hi-tech water based paint solutions.
A green gear change display has been integrated into the dashboard to promote greener driving as well as a weight reduction programme, illustrating the holistic approach taken. The energy expended to manufacture the car has been evaluated, working to the 3R’s - Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.
The Eco Elise weighs 32 kg (70.5 lbs) less than the standard Elise S, which means that the efficient Elise S engine in the Eco Elise will give higher fuel economy figures and even better performance.
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