RE: Lotus 'Circuit Car'
Sunday 12th June 2005
none
none
Lotus 'Circuit Car'
Supercharged VVTL-i motor debuts in Track Special
none
The new Lotus "Circuit Car" was announced yesterday by Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, CEO of Group Lotus, to Lotus Club International members at the annual Lotus Club International Gala Dinner held at Norwich City Football Club.
The catchily named car is based on the Lotus Elise Aluminium chassis, and weighing in at approximately 600kg, the single-seater car (with an option of two seats) has been designed and engineered Track Day and Club Racing only.
Only 100 models of the car will be produced each year.
none
The bodywork combines low weight materials with extensively researched aerodynamics to ensure the body both looks the part and helps with performance and roadholding.
Power is courtesy of a (much rumoured) supercharged VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing with Lift -- intelligent) engine, and is estimated to achieve the 0-100mph sprint in a rapid nineseconds.
An entry-level naturally-aspirated VVTL-i engine will also be available, powering the car from 0-62 mph in under 4 seconds.
Clive Dopson, Managing Director of Lotus Cars, explained where the model fits in the range, "The introduction of this new model plays a key role in developing and enhancing the presence of Lotus Cars on the track, whilst providing the driver of today with a pure circuit car which thrives on the essential values of the Lotus brand. In addition, it will be yet another example of a high quality product to be built at our world class production facilities at Hethel."
The Lotus "Circuit Car" is due to go into production at the Group Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, in December.
Full specifications and price will be announced closer to the production date.
The one question every Lotus fan will be asking, though, is whether that supercharged motor has a place in any forthcoming road cars.
Discussion
Has a nice look to it; Elise Mark II front end grafted on to a LMP2 type mid/rear section.
The most likely competitors would be the Radicals and possibly JP1 car. Price likely to be between 30-40k?? depending on spec - that's my guess anyway.
Some might need to invest in a Jo Brand sized stocking (
) come Christmas time!
The most likely competitors would be the Radicals and possibly JP1 car. Price likely to be between 30-40k?? depending on spec - that's my guess anyway.
Some might need to invest in a Jo Brand sized stocking (
) come Christmas time!And about time too! Lotus have been out of this market for far too long and the series of bloated vehicles leaving Hethel recently has seriously dented their track day credibility.
Pleasing to see they have significantly reduced weight (600Kg claimed). My only concern is the price at which this car will be offered. I reckon you are looking at a £39k starting price and there will be plenty of ex-340R owners that remember the 'issues' in buying a limited run, track day special from Lotus.
Looks good though and I'm sure it is quick.
Rob
www.elises.co.uk
Pleasing to see they have significantly reduced weight (600Kg claimed). My only concern is the price at which this car will be offered. I reckon you are looking at a £39k starting price and there will be plenty of ex-340R owners that remember the 'issues' in buying a limited run, track day special from Lotus.
Looks good though and I'm sure it is quick.
Rob
www.elises.co.uk
Stick a windscreen on it, another seat, a hood for when it rains, a couple of doors to ease access, maybe a tiny boot for the odd weekend away, keep it under 700kg, sell it for under 20k....... and you have the Elise circa 1996. WAKE UP ITS 2005 LOTUS
As it stands its just the Renault Spider cross bred with the 111R, with lots of bits removed yet the price will I bet be higher than an Elise.
So the first feeling is whats the point? its only there to steal market share from other small volume manufacturers, its not breaking new ground at all. If you want to hill climb, or sprint, or go on the circuit in a Lotus then use an Elise - exactly what they were pushing nearly a decade ago
Someone try and convince me this is where Lotus should be going - its not going to be easy!
As it stands its just the Renault Spider cross bred with the 111R, with lots of bits removed yet the price will I bet be higher than an Elise.
So the first feeling is whats the point? its only there to steal market share from other small volume manufacturers, its not breaking new ground at all. If you want to hill climb, or sprint, or go on the circuit in a Lotus then use an Elise - exactly what they were pushing nearly a decade ago
Someone try and convince me this is where Lotus should be going - its not going to be easy!
M100 said:
Someone try and convince me this is where Lotus should be going - its not going to be easy!
good god man are you blind?
makes the elise look like a GT theres no reason on earth this should cost more than an elise. yes its limited run but look whats gonna get left off in both weight and cost. most of the body shell looks similar so they've got the molds, same chassis. i agree if it comes in £40k forget it *anyone* can build a stripped out track special for that money with £20k of profit. nearer 20, 0-100 sub 10... yes thats the way lotus should go...
Very nice! Could fill a niche between the Elise and the extreme track day specials like the Radical and Wetfield XTR2.
Sub-£30K and road usable (enough ground clearance for the speed humps) and I'd be very interested indeed.
Maybe I'm being too much of a traditionalist, but that 2-tone paint scheme is begging for the red-over-white Gold Leaf colours to me.
Elise Sprint, anyone?
Sub-£30K and road usable (enough ground clearance for the speed humps) and I'd be very interested indeed.
Maybe I'm being too much of a traditionalist, but that 2-tone paint scheme is begging for the red-over-white Gold Leaf colours to me.
Elise Sprint, anyone?
M100 said:
Stick a windscreen on it, another seat, a hood for when it rains, a couple of doors to ease access, maybe a tiny boot for the odd weekend away, keep it under 700kg, sell it for under 20k....... and you have the Elise circa 1996. WAKE UP ITS 2005 LOTUS
As it stands its just the Renault Spider cross bred with the 111R, with lots of bits removed yet the price will I bet be higher than an Elise.
So the first feeling is whats the point? its only there to steal market share from other small volume manufacturers, its not breaking new ground at all. If you want to hill climb, or sprint, or go on the circuit in a Lotus then use an Elise - exactly what they were pushing nearly a decade ago
Someone try and convince me this is where Lotus should be going - its not going to be easy!
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. As thomas the tank engine often fondly remarks, 'Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud!'
mg_dot said:
S2 Exige with the roof cut off and made to look like a 340R, not very creative.
Price will be "interesting" as there'll only be a very limited number.
And to you - who cares, it's awesome. Sorry folks, I'm not trying to be provocative and everyone deserves their opinion. I just really fancy the look of the thing. Makes a radical look... not radical. Not even 'rad'. What the hell am I on about?... Distinct possiblity I might be raving mad... also the possibility that I have my first semester uni exams on tuesday...
"Stick a windscreen on it, another seat, a hood for when it rains, a couple of doors to ease access, maybe a tiny boot for the odd weekend away, keep it under 700kg, sell it for under 20k....... and you have the Elise circa 1996. WAKE UP ITS 2005 LOTUS
As it stands its just the Renault Spider cross bred with the 111R, with lots of bits removed yet the price will I bet be higher than an Elise.
So the first feeling is whats the point? its only there to steal market share from other small volume manufacturers, its not breaking new ground at all. If you want to hill climb, or sprint, or go on the circuit in a Lotus then use an Elise - exactly what they were pushing nearly a decade ago
Someone try and convince me this is where Lotus should be going - its not going to be easy!"
ok here goes.........
1-This a good step for lotus the track day scene has become big business an one of the reasons the elise has been such a big hit is that its a good fun road/track car, an for a road car is fairly quick around a circuit certainly at its price point.
2-The exige, 340r etc just tuned the bias more towards track an they have done good business for lotus
3-Its good for the brand to be seen at the cutting edge and involved in track/ motorsport events ppl who buy lotus cars tend to buy into the whole motorsport history, racing associtions tied into the mark, so projects like the olympic bike, an track specials like the 340r simply uphold the brands long tradition of innovation an doing things differently
4-Its gonna make the company money an not really interfere with other ongoing projects as well as tap into a growing market.
5-you get to drive a lotus built race car whats not to like...
6-Does it matter if its based around the elise chassis, this was a pretty sophiscated piece of kit in 96 an i dont see anyone else with anything as good now almost 10 years on, the elise chassis teck was very innovative for its time and its testament to lotus how far ahead of the game they were that its still a very good package today
7-prices for the non supercharged car i've heard are gonna be around 25k, if this is right then its going to be competive with other similar cars on a price point
As it stands its just the Renault Spider cross bred with the 111R, with lots of bits removed yet the price will I bet be higher than an Elise.
So the first feeling is whats the point? its only there to steal market share from other small volume manufacturers, its not breaking new ground at all. If you want to hill climb, or sprint, or go on the circuit in a Lotus then use an Elise - exactly what they were pushing nearly a decade ago
Someone try and convince me this is where Lotus should be going - its not going to be easy!"
ok here goes.........
1-This a good step for lotus the track day scene has become big business an one of the reasons the elise has been such a big hit is that its a good fun road/track car, an for a road car is fairly quick around a circuit certainly at its price point.
2-The exige, 340r etc just tuned the bias more towards track an they have done good business for lotus
3-Its good for the brand to be seen at the cutting edge and involved in track/ motorsport events ppl who buy lotus cars tend to buy into the whole motorsport history, racing associtions tied into the mark, so projects like the olympic bike, an track specials like the 340r simply uphold the brands long tradition of innovation an doing things differently
4-Its gonna make the company money an not really interfere with other ongoing projects as well as tap into a growing market.
5-you get to drive a lotus built race car whats not to like...
6-Does it matter if its based around the elise chassis, this was a pretty sophiscated piece of kit in 96 an i dont see anyone else with anything as good now almost 10 years on, the elise chassis teck was very innovative for its time and its testament to lotus how far ahead of the game they were that its still a very good package today
7-prices for the non supercharged car i've heard are gonna be around 25k, if this is right then its going to be competive with other similar cars on a price point
I assume it'll be the same one as in the 240R, in which case I believe that's the 1.8VVTi-L out of the Celica T-sport, but with a blower added.
Why they didn't go for the Honda K20A is beyond me - everyone knows it fits, it delivers similar specific power to the VVTi-L but more torque, and with a much stronger mid-range. Very linear delivery for a VTEC, too!
Why they didn't go for the Honda K20A is beyond me - everyone knows it fits, it delivers similar specific power to the VVTi-L but more torque, and with a much stronger mid-range. Very linear delivery for a VTEC, too!
Lotus' 'glory days' have always involved a lightweight stripped-out track car, a better-appointed roadster and coupe, a mid-engined sports car and a 2+2 GT.
In the late '60s it was the Seven, the Elan, the Europa and the +2
In the '80s it was the Elan, the Esprit and the Excel
I see this as a replacement for the 340R. The Elise and Exige take the classic place of the original Elan.
What we need is for the Exige to become supercharged-only to take the place of the Esprit, and a 2+2 GT car wouldn't go amiss somewhere down the line.
Or ditch the Exige idea and give us a new Esprit.
Either way, Lotus are running the risk of producing everything off the back of the Elise. This one's good, but they seriously need some more models.
In the late '60s it was the Seven, the Elan, the Europa and the +2
In the '80s it was the Elan, the Esprit and the Excel
I see this as a replacement for the 340R. The Elise and Exige take the classic place of the original Elan.
What we need is for the Exige to become supercharged-only to take the place of the Esprit, and a 2+2 GT car wouldn't go amiss somewhere down the line.
Or ditch the Exige idea and give us a new Esprit.
Either way, Lotus are running the risk of producing everything off the back of the Elise. This one's good, but they seriously need some more models.
The chances of Lotus selling this on the cheap (it ought to be sub 20k for the basic version) are IMHO nil and at anything more than 20k you'd probably be better off buying an Elise (even a new chassis) and building one yourself with a Honda road lump or bike engine.
Go on Lotus, really shock me and make it 15k for the basic and 20k for the supercharged one - then I will be(slightly) impressed.
Nearly a decade on from the Elise where is the progress? They've dumped the Esprit, got the lard arse S2, lost the K series, putting out "lightweight" road cars at close to 1000kg with most production heading to the US where they are getting screwed by the exchange rate.
The solution - the timeframes are very low because I seriously don't think Lotus can p1ss about any more before Proton runs out of money.
Short term (less than 6 months) give us a basic Elise for as cheap as you can.
Medium term (1-2 years) give us a fixed head coupe in the 30-40k bracket (NOT THE EXIGE) that looks as good as the M250, is innovative, maybe even reliable (based on the 111R powertrain?) but opens the brand up to a wider audience who want a car they can get into without ripping their trousers/putting their backs out/flashing their knickers.
Long term (2-3 years) based on the platform above give us an Esprit replacement at around 60-80k or even 100k if it is truly exceptional. Based around a similar platform give us a 4 seat model.
Of course what we will get instead is more Elise special edition paint jobs, dodgy limited editions like this thing above and a heavy underpowered Esprit (if we are lucky)
....and another thing I forgot. It looks from the artists impressions from the sidewall height and where the body extends to, that there is virtually zero ground clearance. Hope the bits near the ground are cheap and bolt on because most hill climbs aren't billiard tables.
Go on Lotus, really shock me and make it 15k for the basic and 20k for the supercharged one - then I will be(slightly) impressed.
Nearly a decade on from the Elise where is the progress? They've dumped the Esprit, got the lard arse S2, lost the K series, putting out "lightweight" road cars at close to 1000kg with most production heading to the US where they are getting screwed by the exchange rate.
The solution - the timeframes are very low because I seriously don't think Lotus can p1ss about any more before Proton runs out of money.
Short term (less than 6 months) give us a basic Elise for as cheap as you can.
Medium term (1-2 years) give us a fixed head coupe in the 30-40k bracket (NOT THE EXIGE) that looks as good as the M250, is innovative, maybe even reliable (based on the 111R powertrain?) but opens the brand up to a wider audience who want a car they can get into without ripping their trousers/putting their backs out/flashing their knickers.
Long term (2-3 years) based on the platform above give us an Esprit replacement at around 60-80k or even 100k if it is truly exceptional. Based around a similar platform give us a 4 seat model.
Of course what we will get instead is more Elise special edition paint jobs, dodgy limited editions like this thing above and a heavy underpowered Esprit (if we are lucky)
....and another thing I forgot. It looks from the artists impressions from the sidewall height and where the body extends to, that there is virtually zero ground clearance. Hope the bits near the ground are cheap and bolt on because most hill climbs aren't billiard tables.
we are getting a new esprit its been confirmed for 2006 towards the end of the year (i rekon 2007 more like) its being built in erm malaysia..... power will be at the very least 350 bhp an target weight is 1300 or there abouts so it should be quick
the 2 + 2 i think is dead in the water as the rear seats were jus too small to be any use at all, i think a 2 seater gt is in the works though theres been a lot of pictures in various mags over the past 6 months so thats a real possibilty
an a s3 elise will prolly surface around 2008 or so, as i believe the excemption lotus got from having to follow every type aproval law in the us runs out at 2009, so things are bubbling along at hethal. Proton are pretty restriced in there domestic market i agree an i think they have already run out of cash at least as far as giving any to lotus goes.
the 2 + 2 i think is dead in the water as the rear seats were jus too small to be any use at all, i think a 2 seater gt is in the works though theres been a lot of pictures in various mags over the past 6 months so thats a real possibilty
an a s3 elise will prolly surface around 2008 or so, as i believe the excemption lotus got from having to follow every type aproval law in the us runs out at 2009, so things are bubbling along at hethal. Proton are pretty restriced in there domestic market i agree an i think they have already run out of cash at least as far as giving any to lotus goes.
havoc said:
I assume it'll be the same one as in the 240R, in which case I believe that's the 1.8VVTi-L out of the Celica T-sport, but with a blower added.
Why they didn't go for the Honda K20A is beyond me - everyone knows it fits, it delivers similar specific power to the VVTi-L but more torque, and with a much stronger mid-range. Very linear delivery for a VTEC, too!
And quicker than the Toyota engine too
Still, I do feel the need for a supercharger on mine LOL
Gassing Station | General Lotus Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff