NY Motor Show: Lotus New Era takes on the Big Apple

• US debut for the Evora S and IPS
• IndyCar Driver EJ Viso and Team Principal Jimmy Vasser

Lotus Advisory Council Member and automotive legend Bob Lutz opened the press conference for Group Lotus today (April 21st) at the New York Auto Show. Whilst Bob spoke about the future for Lotus, the focus remained firmly on the here and now and this was perfectly demonstrated by the American debut of the stunning new Evora S and the Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) – both models showcase the versatility of the multi-award winning Evora.



Bob Lutz was joined by Lotus’ Director of Sales, Guillaume Chabin who gave an overview on the current Lotus line-up followed by Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro and Lotus KVRT Team Principal Jimmy Vasser and IndyCar driver EJ Viso.

But for Lotus it’s the cars that are always the stars and alongside the famous faces on the stand sat the limited edition RGB Exige and a member of the future Lotus family, the iconic Esprit, arguably the most eagerly anticipated of the new Lotus range.

Lotus will be at the New York Auto Show until May 1st so fans of the unique British automotive manufacturer have a few days to get up close to a selection of some of the most enjoyable, high-performance, lightweight sportscars on the market.

And now some more details about those all important stars of the show……

About the Evora S: Like the standard Evora, the Evora S has a 3.5 litre V6 engine and produces seamless performance. The supercharged Evora S has 350 PS (345 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lbft) of torque, courtesy of a supercharger which gives acceleration of 4.8 seconds to 100 km/h (4.6 seconds to 60 mph) and a maximum speed of 277 km/h (172 mph).

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 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.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “It’s the next level of Evora experience. The Evora S communicates even more with you, with extra power and control the car responds even more to your direction. It’s an instinctual car, the experience is pure.”

About the Evora IPS: The IPS version of the Evora allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. The driver also has the option of selecting ‘sport’ mode which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience allowing the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We expect it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. It’s been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and we’ve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience.”

About the RGB Exige: The limited edition RGB Exige also featured on the stand, named in honour of one of Lotus’ most prominent old boys, former Director of Vehicle Engineering Roger George Becker. In celebration of his 44 years of service, which included doubling for Roger Moore’s James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, Lotus created a special edition of the Exige and Elise which both benefit from some Becker-inspired modifications. For the technically minded out there, the RGB Exige uses the range topping 260 PS (257 hp) supercharged and an intercooled 1.8l engine which allows this lightweight sportscar a 0-60 mp/h in around four seconds and an impressive aerodynamic downforce figure of 92.5 lbs (42 kg) at 100 mph (160 km/h).

The Exige RGB is available in four colours, Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey and each one is identified by a numbered interior plaque, Roger Becker’s signature on the side of the bodywork and special monochrome Lotus nose badge.

About the Esprit: The new Esprit will be powered by a 5.0 litre V8 pressure charged engine delivering up to 620 PS. The Esprit retains exceptional performance through it’s unique lightweight design making it the ultimate expression of Lotus supercar ownership. It is the supercar that will redefine ride and handling, performance, comfort and exclusivity.

The styling of the Esprit echos the performance with strong lines throughout the sleek low body. The symmetry through the mass and proportion of the Esprit give it an intense look, it’s the perfect example of the new Lotus DNA in action.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “Not only does the Esprit look incredible but it will have the performance to match. We’ve stuck to the Lotus core values of performance through lightweight and teamed them with future technology and exceptional engineering to ensure that the Esprit will be the leader of the pack. The design is aggressive, you have to see it to appreciate how low and wide the proportions are but it still retains a level of dignity, of class and most of all exclusivity. I’m very proud of this car.”

Lotus vs Lotus - Proton says Tony’s demands are unreasonable

Settlement offer includes returning Team Lotus name to Group Lotus but does not prevent Tony from using it in F1, subject to terms

While 1Malaysia Racing Team (1MRT) boss Tony Fernandez told AFP that the GBP6 million offer Group Lotus made for the Team Lotus name was too small, the other side says that it is fair compensation for the purchase price of Team Lotus Ventures, the company that allegedly had the rights to the name.

In a statement, Group Lotus parent company, Proton Holdings Berhad said that for all intents and purposes, 1MRT cannot now demand for Group Lotus to compensate them for a problem, which they got themselves into.



“1MRT entered into a relationship with Team Lotus Ventures with full prior knowledge that Group Lotus are already in a long standing legal dispute with Team Lotus Ventures.

Group Lotus and Proton have always held the view that this matter should be resolved as soon as possible in the interests of Formula 1 and the fans. Thus, we remain open to reasonable and justified proposals.

According to Proton, in November 2010, 1MRT proposed a settlement of between GBP22mil to GBP37mil which included the purchase of the Team Lotus name (purportedly for GBP5mil) and other indirect costs that they have incurred such as development of a new brand, loss of income from produced merchandise, loss of sponsorship etc.

“We agreed to only consider paying for the Team Lotus name subject to due diligence being conducted and not be made responsible for the indirect costs which could have been avoided by 1MRT

“Our proposed settlement sum was to settle only the purchase price, allegedly GBP 5million for the "Team Lotus" name, subject to due diligence and confirmation from 1MRT and other related parties including Team Lotus Ventures and David Hunt.

“Once settlement is agreed by both parties, the "Team Lotus" name shall unequivocally vest with Group Lotus.

“From our perspective, this is fair as 1MRT could have continued to use the "Lotus Racing" and not incur additional charges allegedly in excess of GBP30 million for the establishment of a new team.

“PROTON and Group Lotus cannot be made liable for their commercial misadventure.

Earlier in the week Fernandez told AFP that he has rejected the out of court settlement worth GBP6 million offered by Group Lotus.

“It was six million pounds for an out-of-court settlement. Of course I would like to end it but the proposal by Proton would have bankrupted the company. We could not accept it,” the AirAsia chief told AFP, adding that 250 jobs and huge investments by shareholders are at stake.

Fernandez had bought the rights to Team Lotus from David Hunt, brother of former F1 World Champion James who had bought the defunct team some 13 years ago.

The decision to purchase the team came on the tail of Proton’s decision to terminate the licensing agreement with Fernandez.

Proton had cited multiple breach of contract and refusal to cooperate as the reason for terminating the licensing agreement.

Midlands Police gets Lotus Evora patrol car

British Midlands Police received a special two-week loaner earlier this week, a Lotus Evora complete with police colours and flashing lights.


The two-week trial will allow a team of officers who will patrol a patch covering 450 miles of highways in the West Midlands. Complete with its police livery, badges and flashing lights, the white supercar will be used on major routes including the M5, M6 and M42 motorways and the M6 toll road.


Blogger Bigdogdotcom has a complete list of other Proton cars which have entered police service in teh UK. Lotus is, as most people know, is wholly owned by Proton
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We have a full gallery of Proton cars running police badges in teh UK after the jump

Via Daily Mail

F1: Lotus to unveil gold-black livery tomorrow

The iconic black and gold livery that will be used by Lotus-Renault GO next year will be unveiled at Autosport International in Birmingham tomorrow.


Top BBC F1 pundit David Croft will be hosting the press unveil at the Lotus stand where representatives from Lotus Motorsport and the various race series will present the Lotus Motorsport offering and detail some of the exciting things to come. 

Alongside the famous race cars on display will be the extraordinary Type 125, the F1 inspired customer race car from Lotus. There will be an exciting announcement around this car as it makes its European debut. 

For those race fans who aren’t able to make the trip to the NEC, Lotus Motorsport has found the perfect solution – from 9am on Thursday onwards enthusiasts can log on to www.lotuscars.com/motorsport for a series of exclusive interviews with the stars of the stand and unique content covering the extensive Lotus Motorsport programmes. 

PRESS RELEASE

Lotus Rocks Autosport International

Iconic black and gold F1 livery set to make it’s public debut as the Lotus Motorsport family is unveiled at Autosport International in Birmingham

This Thursday (13^th January 2011) at 2pm, the NEC in Birmingham will play host to the much anticipated unveiling of Lotus’ motorsport line up including F1, GP2/GP3, IndyCar, GT2/GT4 and much more besides.  

Lotus Renault GP driver Vitaly Petrov will be in attendance alongside F1 legend Jean Alesi as the cover is lifted for the first time on the new 2011 Lotus Renault GP black and gold F1 car livery .

Top BBC F1 pundit David Croft will be hosting the press unveil at the Lotus stand where representatives from Lotus Motorsport and the various race series will present the Lotus Motorsport offering and detail some of the exciting things to come. 

Lotus Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro said: “I’m pretty sure everyone will be excited to see the new F1 livery up close at the NEC, but in addition to F1, the show will be the first time so many of our race cars will be united in one location. The event will provide the perfect opportunity for fans of the Lotus marque to come and have a look at the exciting developments we have made in the past year. We’re also delighted to bring our IndyCar to the show especially as we will be celebrating the 100^th Indy 500 race with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year. 

“From F1, the pinnacle of open wheel racing, to the Lotus Academy, where the general public can learn to race like a pro, we’re confident that there’s something to appeal to every race fan.” 

Alongside the famous race cars on display will be the extraordinary Type 125, the F1 inspired customer race car from Lotus. There will be an exciting announcement around this car as it makes its European debut. 

For those race fans who aren’t able to make the trip to the NEC, Lotus Motorsport has found the perfect solution – from 9am on Thursday onwards enthusiasts can log on to www.lotuscars.com/motorsport for a series of exclusive interviews with the stars of the stand and unique content covering the extensive Lotus Motorsport programmes. 

2010 Top 5 concept cars: Lotus Esprit

The Lotus marquee has been in the doldrums for the best part of the last 20 years.

While it continues to be the standard bearer for lightweight sports cars, the Elise and its derivatives are track day specials by most drivers.

The five Lotus concept cars shown at the Paris Motor Show is the company’s best hope for survival and the Esprit was the most beautiful of them all.

The elegant proportions, aggressive lines and altogether modern look interpret the Lotus ideals very well.

While purists will say that the Esprit is not immediately identifiable as a Lotus, it is a matter of time before the gorgeous and coherent new design language becomes the identity of Hethel.

BREAKING NEWS: Clive Chapman sides with Group Lotus

• Clive Chapman endorses Group Lotus F1 effort and rejects Team Lotus
• Controversy over use of the name will make its way through British courts in January

Clive with Proton MD Datuk Syed Zainal
at the preview of Lotus future models in Paris in October

Even at the Paris Motor Show, Clive Chapman had already shown that he has a special place for Group Lotus and Lotus Cars in his heart, after all, the company is the one that is keeping his father's legacy alive through thick and thin.



Despite Lotus Group making losses for more than a decade, Proton has never forsaken the company and continued to support the British auto/engineering group because they believed that the Lotus name is a very valuable asset.

The recent turnaround plan is probably the most ambitious ever taken by the British icon and it has the best chance of transforming Lotus from a cult track car manufacturer into a full-blossom of global sportscar maker.

Group Lotus needed the Formula One presence to create awareness and interest in their new range of cars and struck a deal with front-runner Renault and this has set the stage for a return of the Black and Gold Lotus livery

Clive Chapman said last week that the heritage of his father's racing team belongs to Group Lotus, which earlier this month announced a merger with the Renault F1 team.

"The Chapman family is looking forward to continuing to give its support to Group Lotus, which is the ongoing Lotus entity created by Colin and Hazel Chapman," a statement from Clive Chapman read. "After all, the Lotus marque is the responsibility of Group Lotus."


"During 2010, the Chapman Family...made it clear to those involved that it would prefer that the Team Lotus name should not be used in Formula 1," said Clive in a statement.

Team Lotus, which is owned by Air Asia budget airline boss Tony Fernandes is pursuing legal recourse for the use of the name and the case involving the ongoing dispute with Lotus Ventures will enter the British High Court in January.

Lotus Ventures used to belong to David Hunt, brother of late former F1 Champion James Hunt and they claim that the company owns the rights to the name 'Team Lotus' in Formula One. Fernandes bought the company from Hunt towards the third quarter of 2010 as part of his strategy to retain the Lotus name.

Changing the team Lotus name is not a simple case of filing the paperwork because if the council of F1 team owners do not endorse the name change it would mean that Team Lotus would enter Formula One as a new team and this would mean losing whatever TV rights money that have accumulated during the 2010 season.

The extended dispute will also likely scare sponsors of Team Lotus, which relies primarily on Malaysian money to operate.

MEGA GALLERY: Lotus goes on a Mediterranean holiday

And it sent back lots of pictures of the Elise, Elan, Elite and Esprit sunbathing.

Wish you were here..signed Elite

They are nice pictures of sexy models enjoying a bit of san sun and surf but that's about all we can say for the moment.

The Esprit is the first model to hit production and it should be out sometime next year or 2012 the latest, to see POSTCARDS of the models in the sun click on the link below



ELISE POSTCARDS

ELAN POSTCARDS

ELITE POSTCARDS

ESPRIT POSTCARDS

FORMULA 1: Lotus-Renault confirms Vitaly Petrov

2010 rookie driver Vitaly Petrov has been confirmed for the second seat in the Lotus-Renault team, joining Robert Kubica .

Lotus Renault GP chairman, Gerard Lopez said that Petrov showed promise on several occasions and this convinced the team that he has the potential to deliver results for 2011.

Lopez also said that they are establishing strong links in Russia  and working on the prospect of turning them into successful ventures in the next two seasons.

Russia is a major automotive market and both Lotus and Renault could do well to tap the cash rich consumers in there.

Petrov said rule changes for the 2011 season will mean new challenges, everyone will have to get used to the new tyres, moveable rear wings and KERS.

"So there are some things to adapt to, but they should improve the show and make for better racing. I've already seen the new car in the wind tunnel and it looks very promising. I also love our new colours and can't wait to get back in the car and go racing.

Petrov has to prove himself with consistent results and he believes he has the speed  but needs to cut down on the number of mistakes.

During the off-season, Petrov is spending time with his family while working on his fitness regime before returning to the factory for seat-fitting in the new car.

GALLERY LOTUS RENAULT CONFIRMS VITALY PETROV

PRESS RELEASE


Vitaly Petrov completes Lotus Renault GP driver line-up for 2011 and 2012

Lotus Renault GP is delighted to announce that Vitaly Petrov will complete its driver line-up for the 2011 and 2012 Formula 1 seasons. He will partner Robert Kubica next year.

Gérard Lopez, Chairman of Lotus Renault GP, commented: "We're delighted to have Vitaly on board for another two years. Last season, he showed on several occasions that he clearly has the potential to deliver. It was just a matter of putting everything together during the same weekend, race after race, and this will be his target for 2011. Also, thanks to Vitaly and the team, Russia is opening up to Formula 1. Over the past few months, we've established close links with this country and with some of its strongest companies. We're looking forward to building on this special relationship and turning it into a very successful adventure over the next two seasons."

Eric Boullier, Lotus Renault GP Team Principal, commented: "We are very pleased to confirm that Vitaly will be staying with us for 2011 and 2012, in order that both he and the team can build on a promising 2010 campaign. The entire team has been working flat out over the past months to improve our competitiveness, and a stable driver line-up is essential to achieving our targets. Robert Kubica provides a remarkable benchmark for both speed and consistency, and we are certain that Vitaly will move closer to this level of performance next year."

Vitaly Petrov commented: "I am very happy to continue with the team and proud to be representing Lotus Renault GP for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. I learned a lot about the sport, the circuits and the car this year. That will help me improve even more in the future. I am very excited about working with this great team once more, and I'm confident that I will deliver. In many ways, 2010 was about learning. 2011 will be about performing. Today, I feel I am ready to rise to this challenge."

Q&A with Vitaly Petrov

Vitaly, how does it feel to be confirmed at Lotus Renault GP?
It feels great. I learned so much this year and I know that I can come back stronger in 2011. I'm extremely proud to be part of this team and I'm determined to repay the faith they have shown in me.

Looking back on your rookie season, what did you enjoy the most?
There were a lot of special moments. The race in Shanghai is something that I will always remember when I overtook Schumacher and Webber to score my first points. Then, the first time I made Q3 in Turkey was an important step for me. And, of course, the race in Hungary was probably my best weekend when everything came together for me.

How has your life change since you became an F1 driver?
There's a lot more travelling and not a lot of time for myself, but I will never complain because I love what I'm doing. I still feel like a boy at Christmas every time I get in the car. Life is not as easy as people think, of course, and there's a lot more to F1 than driving the car, but it's an amazing experience and I know I'm lucky to be one of just 24 drivers on the grid.

Do you feel at home at Lotus Renault GP?
Yes, definitely. Previous drivers have always said that there is a special atmosphere here and I have to say I agree with them. The team is very warm, friendly and open, and I get on really well with the guys.

Can you feel the growing support for F1 from Russia?
Definitely. I get more support from my country every week. In fact, recently one of the major lifestyle magazines included me in their top ten most attractive single men of Russia! You can feel that the sport is becoming more popular and soon we will have our own Grand Prix, which will create more interest. Even our prime minister, Mr Putin, got a taste of F1 when he tried a Renault F1 car earlier this year.

What will be the main challenges of 2011?
There are quite a few changes that we have to adapt to as a team: new tyres, moveable rear wings and KERS, which I've never used before. There's even a new race in India. So there are some things to adapt to, but they should improve the show and make for better racing. I've already seen the new car in the wind tunnel and it looks very promising. I also love our new colours and can't wait to get back in the car and go racing.

What do you hope to achieve in your second season?
My objective is to continue improving as a driver and to become more consistent. There were times this year when I made mistakes and lost points, and I know this is where I can improve. I think I showed that I have the speed, but I need to be consistent over the whole weekend and get the maximum from every session.

What is your plan over the next couple of months before testing begins in February?
I was thinking about spending a few days in Maranello this winter, but I have been told it probably wasn't the best idea... Seriously, after a busy year I'm taking the time to go back home and see my family and friends. It's also the time to recharge my batteries so that I can come back fresh next year. I'm already working hard on my fitness and doing lots of training to be ready for the start of the season. Then, in January, I will be at the factory to see my engineers and for my seat-fit in the new car.

Lotus City Car to hit the streets in 2013- this hints at Proton Emas production date

Lotus boss, Dany Bahar said that the compact purpose-designed hybrid will be a production reality in two-years time.

Bahar also hinted that the platform could be sourced through parent company Proton's links to the Renault-Nissan alliance. Word has it that the platform of choice is Nissan's V-Platform, which now holds up the all-new new Nissan March compact car.

For Malaysians, this means that the Proton Emas would also make it to production round about the same time.

The Proton Emas/ Lotus City Car concept is part of Proton's Global City Car project and it is designed with hybrid technology in mind.

Lotus powerplant layout with three-cylinder engine

Proton's Range Extender EV with rotary engine

Although report out of Europe indicate that Lotus is working on a hybrid power plant with a three-cylinder gasoline engine according to sources in Malaysia, the on-board gasoline power source would be an extremely compact rotary engine displacing less than one litre but with a piston-engine equivalent of 1,200cc.

the compact rotary power plant makes good sense because it takes up very little space and if it functions as a range extender motor then it is also efficient because it would just run at a pre-determined speed, just like a mobile generator.

While details are not yet clear, proton recently took part in the Brighton-London run in an range-extender EV, using a rotary engine power source mounted on their Exora MPV platform. It won best in class beating the Opel Ampera, which is the Euro-equivalent of the Chevrolet Volt.

Details of the Lotus City Car as released at the Paris Motor Show in October indicate that it would have total vehicle weight of less than 1400 kg [3,086 lbs] and 240 Nm [177 lb-ft] of torque.

The City Car concept is said to complete the 0 - 50 km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds and the 0 - 100 km/h [62 mph] in 9 seconds, when operating as an EV under battery power. The top speed is pegged at 170 km/h, [105mph] with a charge sustaining top speed of 120 km/h [63 mph].


GALLERY