Precision, beauty and performance: The new Lotus Evora GT430


Following the successful introduction of the Lotus Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410 to global markets, Lotus has unveiled its most powerful road-going model ever – the Evora GT430.

A beautiful and pure combination of elegance and power, Lotus has lavished attention on hand-crafted carbon-fibre components to endow this fully homologated Evora with a level of precision engineering and design unseen before.

This focused evolution of the critically acclaimed Evora has resulted in a landmark model for the famous British manufacturer. Powered by a new development of the 3.5-litre V6 supercharged and charge cooled engine producing 430 hp, and benefitting from a significant hike in downforce, the rare breed Evora GT430 is a class apart from its competitors.

Underpinned by the company’s acknowledged eminence in lightweight engineering, and at a new benchmark weight of 1,258 kg (dry), the Lotus Evora GT430 is the manufacturer’s most powerful and accomplished road car to date. With such performance, and all the marque’s chassis expertise, the new Evora GT430 delivers tremendous real-world speed and handling unheard of in its class.

Given the car’s breath-taking design and phenomenal performance, the Evora GT430 is an instant classic. Just 60 editions of this supreme Evora will be hand built in Norfolk, England, for sale in select markets around the world and, following the popularity of Lotus’ recent limited run editions, it’s already in line to be a true collector’s car.

Marking the return of a famous Lotus badge, and acknowledging the Lotus Esprit V8 GT and the Esprit GT3 from the 1990s, this two-seater encapsulates the company’s approach to fast point-to-point sports cars. 0-60mph is dispatched in just 3.7 seconds and the car’s top speed is 190 mph (305 km/h).

With new and specifically designed body panels, featuring exposed carbon weave sections, front and rear, the Lotus GT430 generates up to 250 kg of downforce through advanced aerodynamics. Larger front apertures, a new carbon fibre splitter, air blades and louvers positioned on top of each front wheel arch clearly illustrate the supercar credentials of the Evora GT430 when viewed head on. At the rear, aero ducts behind each wheel reduce pressure in the wheel arch and offer visibility of the wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, and a large rear diffuser provides a sharp visual finish. Both are crowned by the large, profiled carbon wing.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “The Evora GT430 is a landmark car for Lotus. Lightweight engineering and class-leading handling, paired with Lotus’ aerodynamic expertise, define the Evora GT430 as a legendary Lotus. It’s a truly beautiful car, meticulously finished in hand-crafted carbon, and employing the latest aerodynamics and lightweight materials. This highly developed vehicle perfectly reflects Lotus’ attention to engineering and design. We expect the lucky owners to be blown away by its pure presence and staggering performance.”

Faster, lighter, sharper

Featuring unique bodywork and aerodynamic elements, as well as more power, the Evora GT430 further raises the bar for road-going sports cars. It delivers the balance and finesse for which the marque is famous, combined with blistering pace, supreme composure and agility at the highest speeds.

Every component of the Evora has been evaluated before inclusion to ensure that the car retains only the items essential for performance. Despite the addition of 9 kg increased specification components (lightweight carbon rear wing and larger wheels and tyres), overall dry weight is down by 26 kg, to 1,258 kg, compared to the already super light Evora Sport 410, making this the lightest road Evora to date.

In addition to the unique full carbon front and rear bumpers, which feature exposed visible weave sections, the car is comprehensibly equipped with high-gloss, visible carbon fibre components throughout, including a new front splitter, front access panel, roof panel and full width rear wing. Also at the rear is a beautifully detailed, one-piece carbon tailgate, incorporating a louvered section which, together with composite quarter panels, affords the car an unmistakable profile.

All Lotus cars are regarded as the finest handling sports cars on the market and the new Evora GT430 takes dynamic performance to the next level. Damping is provided by Lotus-tuned, Öhlins TTX two-way adjustable units, with 20 click-adjustment compression and rebound settings and saving 10kg in mass compared to the Evora Sport 410 set-up. New, ultra-lightweight, low-sideload Eibach springs provide an increase in spring rate and the car’s handling is improved further through the use of front and rear anti-roll bars.

Perfect for B-roads, but ballistically fast when needed, the new Evora GT430 can lap the famous Hethel test track in 1 minute 25.8 seconds – a record for an Evora. As fast as the famed Lotus 3-Eleven road car on the same circuit, the GT430’s performance envelope is derived from a combination of clever aero and dynamic developments as well as outright power. As a result, the car is manifest of Colin Chapman’s visionary quote: “Adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.”

A superb example of this is the removal of critical weight from beyond the front and rear axles of the Evora GT430, reducing the car’s polar moment of inertia, resulting in improved transient response, overall agility and driver feedback.

Retaining a 3.5-litre supercharged and charge-cooled V6, the car’s reconfigured engine produces 430 hp (436 PS) at 7,000 rpm and 440 Nm (325 lbft) of torque from 4,500 rpm. The increase in torque is facilitated through the introduction of an air-to-liquid gearbox cooler as standard, a feature which made its debut on the recently launched North American Evora 400. As standard, the Evora GT430 also features a titanium exhaust, cutting 10 kg from beyond the car’s rear axle and further amplifying the car’s aural presence.

Also fitted as standard, the Evora GT430’s six-speed manual gearbox features a low-inertia, single-mass flywheel, to help ensure swift changes, while a Torsen-type limited slip differential (LSD) gives better traction, and faster exit speeds, when cornering.

The substantial aerodynamic revisions introduce bodywork elements that boost the downforce of the Evora GT430, up to 250 kg at maximum speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and matching the Evora Sport 410’s maximum downforce of 64 kg at only 90 mph (145 km/h). Developed through motorsport applications, the aerodynamic modifications focus on the management of airflow over, under and around the car. The downforce generated makes its presence felt at even moderate speeds, allowing for higher cornering g-force and providing enhanced high-speed stability.

A new carbon fibre front splitter cleanly separates and speeds airflow under the car, and the two enlarged carbon fibre front ducts, with integrated air blades, efficiently move air though to the front wheel cavities, to help reduce turbulence and drag created by the wheels themselves. The lightweight curved rear edges of the front wheel arch panels channel air along the side of the car and the louvers positioned on top of each front wheel arch reduce pressure above the wheel.

The rear of the Evora GT430 has received the same attention to detail, with the deep, sculpted ducts behind each wheel that vent airflow as quickly as possible from the wheel arches, improving downforce. Dominating all of this is the large, high mounted aerodynamically efficient motorsport carbon wing.

To harness the increased downforce and power, mechanical grip is provided by 10 mm wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, with 245/35 R19 at the front and 295/30 R20 at the rear, on one inch wider 10.5J rear wheels. Ultra-lightweight forged aluminium wheels are standard, in either black or silver, with optional finishes available in gloss red or a gloss black machined rim design.

Dynamic stability modes (with ‘Drive‘, ‘Sport’, ‘Race’ and ‘Off’ settings) can be selected, which allow the driver enhanced vehicle control before the system intervenes. The Evora GT430 also includes a newly developed variable traction control function, linked directly to the ECU, which allows the amount of wheel slip to be set by the driver whilst in ‘Race / Off’ setting, with five pre-set traction levels (1%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% slip) and ‘Off’ displayed via the instrument cluster.
fast car requires substantial stopping power, and the Evora GT430 uses two-piece J-grooved and ventilated brake discs at the front, paired with AP Racing four-piston calipers all round, while the rear uses three-piece discs with lightweight aluminium centres saving 2 kg.

“Lotus is famous for using its technical expertise to develop the lightest engineering solutions,” explained Jean-Marc Gales. “Yes, it is hugely powerful but, the GT430 is not about brutal performance. It’s an intricate balance of power, finesse and road holding, no matter the speed, and is a true track-and-back sports car, supremely focused and immensely fast.”

The external theme of carbon continues into the car’s exquisitely crafted cabin, with visible-weave, handmade components as standard. These include Lotus’ beautifully detailed carbon race seats, new carbon door sills and a new lightweight carbon instrument binnacle cover with a new design of graphic on the instrument panel.

Newly-designed carbon-backed Sparco seats with a unique trim design can also be ordered, whilst customers looking for a more race focused cabin can specify an optional driver and passenger four-point harnesses and titanium rear frame.

The steering wheel, dashboard, door panels, transmission tunnel and centre console are all trimmed in a combination of black Alcantara® and perforated leather, with a full leather or full Alcantara® trim option available at no additional cost. All trim choices are complemented by contrast twin colour stitching, in red and white, and matt black interior panels.

An integrated touch-screen infotainment system can be specified, including iPod® connectivity and Bluetooth® functionality, satellite navigation and reversing camera.

Every new Lotus Evora GT430 customer can personalise their vehicle through the increasingly popular Lotus Exclusive programme. Developed by the Lotus Design team, roughly a third of all new Lotus cars now undergo some form of customisation. Conceived to inspire customers, it combines traditional British craftsmanship with the best of modern design, and allows owners to tailor vehicles to their personal taste.

The new, fully homologated, Lotus Evora GT430 is available in two seater configuration only and can be ordered now. A version of the Evora GT430 for the North American market will follow in spring 2018.

Weight reduction in detail

The headline net weight reduction of 26 kg versus the Evora Sport 410 is derived from the standard titanium exhaust (-10 kg), carbon body panels (-4.7 kg), lightweight interior components (-2.5 kg), Öhlins and Eibach adjustable spring and damper assembly (-10 kg) and lightweight rear brake discs (-2 kg). Additionally, careful attention to detail beneath the car’s surface has yielded significant benefits, further stripping out unnecessary mass; for instance, a thinner aluminium undertray (1.5 kg), the introduction of lightweight aluminium brackets (-1.3kg), lightweight polycarbonate backlight glass (-0.5 kg) and a re-profiled fluid fill system (-2.5 kg) all contribute towards the total weight reduction.

This total saving of 35 kg is offset by the addition of wider wheels and tyres (+5 kg) and the new curved profile rear wing (+4 kg).

To find out more about Lotus Evora range and the GT430 visit: http://www.lotuscars.com/evora-gt-430

Autocross #4 registration is now open (May 21, Marina)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2017 Golden Gate Lotus Club Autocross season.

The 4th event of the season is now open for registration via MotorsportsReg

Registration is limited to club members for the first week. Non-members will be able to register next week. The entry fee is $65 for GGLC members and $75 for non-members. First time autox’ers (first time at a GGLC event) are eligible for a $10 discount, so invite your friends along too.

This season we have 8 classes that you can participate in. Please read over the details on the club autocross page.

For Lotus Elise/Exige/Evora drivers, please use the classification tool to calculate your index points. For this season, 0-8 points will place you in the Mild class, 9-16 points will place you in the Moderate class, and over 17 or over points will place you in the Extreme class. For non-Lotus cars, please use the appropriate SCCA class.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this year’s events or any other autox topic.

You can like us on Facebook and check out our event videos (you might see yourself) on Youtube.

Colm

Autocross #2 registration is now open (May 21, Marina)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2017 Golden Gate Lotus Club Autocross season.

The 2nd event of the season is now open for registration for GGLC members at:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/2017-gglc-autocross-points-event-2-marina-airport-golden-gate-lotus-club-autox-943015

Registration is limited to club members for the first week. Non-members will be able to register next week. The entry fee is $65 for GGLC members and $75 for non-members. First time autox’ers (first time at a GGLC event) are eligible for a $10 discount, so invite your friends along too.

This season we have 8 classes that you can participate in. Please read over the details on the club autocross page.

For Lotus Elise/Exige/Evora drivers, please use the classification tool to calculate your index points. For this season, 0-8 points will place you in the Mild class, 9-16 points will place you in the Moderate class, and over 17 or over points will place you in the Extreme class. For non-Lotus cars, please use the appropriate SCCA class.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this year’s events or any other autox topic.

You can like us on Facebook and check out our event videos (you might see yourself) on Youtube.

Colm

Test drive an Evora 400

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To celebrate the launch of the world renowned Lotus Evora Sport 410 and the critically acclaimed Evora 400 in North America, Lotus Cars is pleased to announce the Lotus Cars USA Dealer Tour.

Throughout April and May, you’ll have the unique opportunity to experience a Lotus from the best possible position, the driving seat.

Taking place across the country, our Dealer Tour not only includes an unprecedented level of access to Lotus Cars, but also a number of activities* unique to each Dealer Partner including (but not limited to):

  • Evora test drives, demonstrations and track events.
  • Pre-owned Lotus cars inventory.
  • Exclusive Dealer Tour Offers.
  • Refreshments and entertainment for all the family.

*Please contact your local dealer for details of event activities.

Lotus Dealer Tour – coming to a town near you:

Lotus of Las Vegas – April 21st and 22nd

Lotus Motorcars of Long Island, NY – April 21st and 22nd

Lotus Chicago – April 27th and 28th

Auto Europe, Detroit, MI – April 28th and 29th

Lotus Nashville – May 5th and 6th

Star Motor Cars, Houston, TX – May 5th and 6th

Lotus of Atlanta – May 12th and 13th

Lotus of Indianapolis – May 12th and 13th

Lotus of Miami – May 12th and 13th

Park Place Limited, Seattle, WA – May 12th and 13th

Believe the hype – you’ve tried the rest, now try the best.

Reserve your place today.

Group Photo with Ross Restell

Lotus Evora Sport 410 GP Edition reaches the US

Continuing the runaway success of Lotus’ return to North America, the legendary British Sportscar maker has unveiled a unique Evora Sport 410 in one of the company’s most famous liveries, as order books open for the sensational sports car in the US and Canada.

Available in the new GP Edition colour scheme, as well as Lotus’ standard array of paint options, the new Lotus Evora Sport 410 for North America is the lightest and most focused iteration of the Evora, and joins the benchmark Evora 400 in the company’s line-up as a fully type approved model. It is also the fastest road-going Lotus ever sold in the US, clocking 0-60 mph in 3.9 secs and a top speed of 190 mph. A literal translation of Lotus’ simplify then add lightness manifesto, this new 2017 MY Federal version has undergone considerable development to meet the specific demands of the North American market, and minimising mass has remained a priority.

Lotus’ famous Lightweight Laboratory has revisited every aspect of the car, to find new weight savings and, as a result, the Lotus Evora Sport 410 is a substantial 132 lbs (60 kg) lighter than the already impressive Evora 400 for North America.

The new, hand-made, top-of-the-range model builds on the company’s considerable reputation, and follows the launch of the Evora 400 in the world’s largest sports car market last year. Upsetting the established order, the Evora 400 was lauded as one of the great sports cars of a generation and, it went on to seize silver in Road & Track’s celebrated 2017 Performance Car of the Year assessment.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “Last year we embarrassed rivals with a car that cost less but out-classed their best. This year the same rivals are in for a surprise. Less mass, reduced drag and greater downforce means the Evora Sport 410 is not only faster on the straight, but also when cornering. It is without equal, being both refined and intuitive, and again shows that we are making our best ever cars. The reaction to the Evora Sport 410 since its debut in Europe and Asia has been exceptional, and we know that our American and Canadian customers will really appreciate what this Lotus is capable of.”

The new car arrives in Federal markets as the company continues to see sales climb in the US, with the next six months of the market’s allocation already spoken for. Production of the Evora Sport 410 is limited to just 150 examples a year worldwide, and the 2017 MY car is available to order now, from any of the 48 Lotus dealers in the US and Canada.

About the 2017 MY Evora Sport 410

Tracing its lineage back to Colin Chapman’s founding beliefs, the formidable Lotus Evora Sport 410 is a study in pure, lightweight engineering and true to the company’s DNA.

The Federal Evora Sport 410 is the latest Lotus to undergo the company’s extensive development programme. Designed to be compliant with all regional emissions and safety considerations, it retains the same chassis configuration as European models and is engineered to ensure that none of the car’s inherent finesse is lost in translation.

Tipping the scales at just 3,020 lbs (1,370 kg), or 2,910 lbs (1,320 kg) with no fuel and lightweight options selected, the Evora Sport 410 for North America has set the benchmark through thorough attention to detail. Employing the latest generation of Lotus’ famous aluminium architecture, which provides high torsional rigidity at a reduced weight, the new Lotus receives a comprehensive array of carbon-fibre components as standard. Covering the car front to back, they include the front splitter, revised front access panel, roof section, tailgate, rear quarter panels, and rear diffuser – all hand-made specifically for the car.

In addition to boosting performance, reducing the car’s kerb weight has also lowered its centre of gravity – delivering gains in ride and handling. Less mass has allowed the recalibration of the suspension and a revised chassis setup, including improved wheel geometry and re-valved dampers. This has provided an increase in compression and rebound, while the effective rise in spring rate and a reduction in ride height by 5 mm provide better body and roll control. The result is sharper and more direct handling, providing the driver with a more intuitive feel, while primary and secondary ride remain impressive at any speed.

The mass adoption of carbon has not only focused on the technical, saving 31.5 lbs (14.3 kg), but also the aesthetic. Endowing the car with considerable visual drama, the new composite components provide a high level of engineered detail. The most striking is the louvered, one-piece carbon tailgate which, together with carbon rear quarter panels, help provide the car with a sleeker, fastback profile.

Significant time was allocated to developing the car’s aerodynamic performance. The design of the new carbon components, and the careful working and channeling of air over and under the sculptured bodywork, has resulted in a slightly lower drag coefficient and the generation up to 141 lbs (64 kg) in aerodynamic downforce – double that of the Evora 400. This in turn improves high-speed stability, delivering confidence to the driver as the Evora Sport 410 remains tractable at all speeds.

In addition to the extensive application of carbon fibre, which has saved 31.5 lbs (14.3 kg), further headline weight reductions include the introduction of a lithium-ion battery -23.8 lbs (-10.8 kg), ultra-lightweight forged wheels -15.9 lbs (-7.2 kg), and a host of incremental improvements such as a new lightweight windscreen surround -7.5 lbs (-3.4 kg); all of which contribute towards the massive 132 lbs (60 kg) overall weight reduction.

Utilising an integrated water-to-air charge cooler, the Evora Sport 410 is powered by a supercharged, 3.5-litre 6-cylinder engine, producing 400 hp at 7000 rpm and 301 lbft (410 Nm) of torque at 3500 rpm. The Evora Sport 410 comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, which features a low-inertia flywheel for rapid shifts, while a Torsen-type limited slip differential (LSD) provides greater traction, and faster exit speeds when cornering. The optional six-speed automatic transmission with dedicated ECU for ultra-fast changes allows sequential gear selection via lightweight aluminium paddles mounted to the steering wheel.

The Lotus Evora Sport 410 features user selectable ESP driving modes – Drive / Sport / Race / Off. Proportionally increasing throttle response, lowering traction thresholds and removing understeer recognition, it allows progressive degrees of driver control before the system intervenes. The selectable ESP driving modes also utilise an engine exhaust bypass valve at mid-to-high engine speeds, increasing throttle response in both ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings. This is enhanced by the optional, high-flow titanium exhaust silencer, saving a further 22 lbs (10 kg) in weight.

With such a large performance envelope, the Evora Sport 410 is equipped with bespoke, ultra-lightweight wheels, saving 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg), and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. The 10-spoke forged aluminium wheels cut un-sprung weight and have been produced specifically to work with the Sport 410, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are available as a dealer fit option.

The Evora Sport 410’s cabin has received the same attention to detail referencing the marque’s heritage, and subtle design cues include optional colour coded interior components. The Sport’s seats are trimmed with Alcantara® as standard, along with the steering wheel, lower dashboard, transmission tunnel and centre console. An integrated touch-screen entertainment system can also be specified, including iPod® connectivity and Bluetooth® functionality.

About the Evora Sport 410 GP Edition

Developed by Lotus Exclusive, the bespoke Evora Sport 410 GP Edition has been created in honour of Team Lotus’ iconic F1 colour scheme raced between 1972 and 1986. From the famous Lotus 72 though to the beautiful Lotus 79 and the blisteringly fast Lotus 98T – some of the greatest drivers have competed in the famous black and gold.

Lotus F1 cars wearing the iconic livery won five Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships and 35 Grand Prix, driven by some of the greatest drivers in F1 history, including Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna.

The Evora Sport 410 GP Edition will be limited to an exclusive run of five vehicles and has been designed to illustrate what can be achieved through the Lotus Exclusive programme.

Over 400 dedicated team members hand build every Lotus at the company’s headquarters in Hethel, its home for the last 50 years. The Lotus Exclusive programme, combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design, inspires customers to spend time tailoring the character of their Lotus with a comprehensive array of options. Since its introduction this has proved increasingly popular, with 25% of all new cars undergoing some form of personalisation.

Availability and Price

The Lotus Evora Sport 410 is limited to a global production run of 150 vehicles per year, and the Evora Sport 410 for the North American market is available to order now at a MSRP excluding taxes of $104,200. The MSRP of the Lotus Evora Sport 410 GP Edition is $110,000.

Autocross Event 1 registration is open

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2017 Golden Gate Lotus Club Autocross season.

Today is April fools day, but this isn’t a joke 🙂 I hope everybody has been working on their cars over the winter and are ready to start racing again!

The 1st event of the season is now open for registration for GGLC members at MotorsportsReg

Registration is limited to club members for the first week. Non-members will be able to register next week. The entry fee is $65 for GGLC members and $75 for non-members. First time autox’ers (first time at a GGLC event) are eligible for a $10 discount, so invite your friends along too.

This season we have 8 classes that you can participate in. Please read over the details on the club autocross page.

For Lotus Elise/Exige/Evora drivers, please use the classification tool to calculate your index points. For this season, 0-8 points will place you in the Mild class, 9-16 points will place you in the Moderate class, and over 17 or over points will place you in the Extreme class. For non-Lotus cars, please use the appropriate SCCA class.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this year’s events or any other autox topic.

You can like us on Facebook and check out our event videos (you might see yourself) on our Youtube channel.

Colm

2017 British Racing Group West Coast Lotus Meet Registration is now open

The 2017 British Racing Group West Coast Lotus Meet registration is now open!

We are dedicating our amazing 4 days of Lotusing to the memory of Roger Becker.

The 2017 British Racing Group WCLM will be headquartered at boutique Hotel Corque in quaint Solvang, California. Discounted rates have been negotiated for WCLM attendees. Each room includes private parking and nearby trailer parking is available as well.

For the latest news and updates about the 2017 British Racing Group West Coast Lotus Meet please visit our website at http://www.westcoastlotusmeet.com or our facepook page.

Registration
Registration 2017 Lotus Garage West Coast Lotus Meet is now open! Register today and take advantage of the discounted Early Bird fees.

Registration is per person and gives access to all WCLM events except the optional track day. This includes the opening reception, lunches, group drives, autocross, funkana, main banquet, wine tasting reception, museum fees, etc… The WCLM registration fee does not include hotel. All attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodations. The Hotel Corque, Solvang, California is the official headquarters for the 2017 WCLM and we have negotiated attractive room rates for attendees.

Click here to register via MotorsportReg

Discounted Registration fee for Lotus club members – GGLC, LCOSC, CLNW, ELCC, SNLCC, LOCO, LOOP, LCCBC, Lotus Ltd, etc. Register by June 21 for the Early-Bird discount.

BRG-WCLM Sponsors
The 2017 BRG-WCLM would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. These include:

The lightest Elise ever – the new Lotus Elise Sprint

Evolved, energised and even lighter, a significant update for the legendary Lotus Elise has been unveiled ahead of its arrival in showrooms this spring.

Pride of place in the latest Elise line-up is the new Sprint edition, capturing the spirit of Lotus by offering the latest in efficient engineering to deliver a car that sets the standard at under 800 kg. Featuring a host of weight-saving items as standard, as well as the Elise’s distinctive new styling, the new Lotus remains true to the company’s founding principles. Benefitting the range as a whole, all new Elise editions receive the car’s new look and new interior options, and every single one of the Sprint’s lightweight components can be specified on the standard Elise Sport and the Elise Sport 220 variants.

In the biggest weight cut to the car since the introduction of the first-generation Elise, Lotus has returned to its roots by employing the same intense engineering strategy as used on its most recent models. The Sprint edition of the Lotus Elise has removed 41 kg from the previous model, to reach a benchmark dry weight of just 798 kg.

Focusing on driver involvement, to provide an immersive experience, the new Elise reaffirms the company’s leading position in automotive engineering. A benchmark in purity and balance, the Elise is a favourite amongst drivers and enthusiasts, and to date nearly 33,000 examples have been hand built at Lotus’ famous Hethel factory. Distilled from the very essence of the company’s heritage, the Elise carries Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s vision of efficient engineering into the future and arrives as the company continues its return to form with its strongest ever line-up of vehicles.

Integrating a new front and rear aesthetic with Lotus’ established design language, this latest Elise also receives a wide range of cabin enhancements – including the lightweight open-gate gear select mechanism first introduced on the Lotus Exige Sport 350. The Sprint is available in both the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated and 1.8-litre supercharged versions. Delivering an exciting mid-point in the range, it broadens the car’s appeal by including lightweight and carbon components as standard.

Speaking of the new car Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc. said, “Once again, the Elise continues to redefine what is possible in terms of adding lightness to a sports car. Whilst other manufacturers try to keep pace with Lotus’ weight reduction achievements, we’ve raised the bar beyond their reach. An agile, lightweight sports car does not weigh just over a tonne. It should weigh substantially less and, it is a fantastic achievement from Lotus in ensuring that the fully type approved new Elise now dips below the 800 kg barrier.”

Jean-Marc Gales continued, “Enhanced by less weight, the Elise now provides even more driving purity, greater agility and higher all-round performance. As we say at Hethel: less weight equals more Lotus.”

The Sprint and the spirit of Lotus

Ensuring that this latest Elise remains true to the company’s DNA, the return for the Sprint badge – as used on historic models including the Elan – is designed to provide a highly attractive super-lightweight option sitting above the respective Elise Sport models, and below the top of the range Elise Cup 250.

The Sprint’s standard lightweight components include a Lithium-Ion battery, saving 9 kg, Lotus’ beautifully detailed carbon race seats, 6 kg, new lightweight forged alloy wheels, 5 kg, while the carbon access panel, roll hoop cover and engine cover, and polycarbonate rear screen save 6 kg. Collectively they cut an impressive 26 kg, compared to the previous Sport and Sport 220 models, and together with the improvements made to the whole Elise range bring the weight of the new Elise Sprint down to just 798 kg (dry). This includes new, optional two-piece brake discs, saving 4 kg, which will be available from May this year and optional carbon sill covers (-0.8 kg). This reduction in weight translates into quicker acceleration (with 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds and 4.1 seconds for the Elise Sprint and Elise Sprint 220 respectively), harder cornering and a power to weight ratio of up to 168 hp / tonne (Elise Sprint) and 257 hp / tonne (Elise Sprint 220).

Unlike some manufacturers, Lotus understands the importance of engine note, and Hethel’s acoustic engineers have spent time altering the aural appeal of the more powerful Elise Sport 220 and Elise Sprint 220 models. Providing the perfect soundtrack at any speed, the new exhaust makes the 1.8-litre supercharged Elise the best-sounding 4-cylinder car on the market.

External design touches for the Sprint range include a matt black transom panel, black wheels which come with custom contrasting metal spun rims, distinctive yet subtle side stripes on the bodywork and unique side and rear badging.

Other highlights comprise bodywork keyed colour inserts for the sports seats, transmission console and HVAC surround, along with Sprint badge stitching. The Sprint’s detailing continues inside with an array of optional Alcantara® trim panels on the doors, sills, seats and vents surrounds, all with contrasting stitching.

Less mass means more Lotus

As well as a new Elise Sprint edition, the whole of the new Elise line-up benefits from a range of improvements, which includes a 10 kg mass reduction thanks to a number of new components. Changes to the body including a redesigned lightweight front clam panel, with wider radiator apertures and mesh pattern grille provide a more aggressive aspect and 8.7 kg less weight. The new design of rear transom panel now has two rear light clusters, rather than four, with reversing and fog lights now mounted inboard so reducing weight by 0.3 kg and visually enhancing the rear design.

Modifications front and back are more than skin deep and have allowed the careful balancing of aerodynamic downforce across the whole car. Rubber elements mounted on the flat underside and ahead of the front wheel, together with an additional diffuser vane at the rear, help modify airflow under the car reducing drag and increasing stability.

In addition to injecting some visual drama into the new Elise’s cabin, Lotus’ beautifully detailed open-gate manual gearbox also provides a much more positive and direct operation – giving more precise and quicker shifting. Both technically and aesthetically appealing, thanks to the exposed open-gate design, it further reduces weight with a net saving of 1 kg. An evolution of the design first used on the Exige Sport 350, but specifically optimised for the Elise, it perfectly matches the Lotus’ personality.

The cabin also benefits from a new centre console, as seen on the Exige and optional carbon sill covers which reduce weight by 0.8 kg and increase the door aperture by up to 10 mm, aiding ingress and egress. The Elise’s instrument panel has also received attention, with new graphics making it easier to read and a new in-car entertainment system, including iPod® connectivity and Bluetooth® functionality, can also be selected when ordering.

Options for the new car include Alcantara® trimmed steering wheel, vent-surrounds and sills. Further enhancement can be specified, including a new paintwork colour: “Electric Light Blue” joining the Lotus core colour range.

The new Elise Sport and Sprint are available in two engine options: the 1.6-litre or the supercharged 1.8-litre. Offering 134 hp / 160 Nm of torque and 217 hp / 250 Nm of torque respectively, they have been specifically tuned to suit the Elise and both help to deliver a benchmark power-to-weight ratio and class leading efficiency. Being so lightweight, emissions are extremely low with 149 g / km CO2 and 173 g / km CO2 for the 1.6 engine and 1.8 engines respectively.

Stopping power is provided by AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear-calipers – optional lightweight two-piece brake discs are also available. All cars benefit from user selectable ESP driving modes – Drive / Sport / Off.

Retaining the elements that have always kept the Elise ahead of rivals, the car is built around an extruded and bonded aluminium chassis which is both tremendously strong and torsionally stiff – weighing just 68 kg.

The new Elise also carries over the same suspension setup as before, with fully independent double wishbone suspension and a front anti-roll bar, coupled with Bilstein high-performance gas dampers and Eibach coaxial coil springs front and rear. Being lighter than the preceding model, the effective spring rate is marginally increased, retaining the compliant ride for which all Lotus cars are legendary.

Designed to continue the legacy of the Elise as Lotus’ most popular model ever, the new range car can be ordered today with deliveries starting from April 2017.

Lotus Exclusive

Every new Lotus Elise customer can personalise their vehicle through the Lotus Exclusive program. Developed by the Lotus Design team, it combines traditional British craftsmanship with the best of modern design. Conceived to inspire customers, allowing them to tailor vehicles to their personal taste, it offers a comprehensive array of options and provides an alluring alternative to an off-the-peg sports car.

To find out more about Lotus Elise range visit: http://www.lotuscars.com/about-elise

Registration for Thunderhill 5-mile event (3 May 17) is now open

Come join the Golden Gate Lotus Club for this open track event at Thunderhill Raceway Park on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. All types of cars are welcome at our events. We typically have about 20 Lotus cars and the remainder is an array of different brands.

EV0G3471

Price is $200 for members and $220 for non-members. You can become a GGLC member for $25 when you register and take the member discount immediately. Register by April 21 and check the box to get the early bird discount of $20.

This event will be divided into 2 different groups on track and will switch every 30 minutes. Open Passing Group for experienced drivers with 15+ track days/racing experience or equivalent and Restricted Passing Group for drivers with 0-14 track days experience. Each group will get seven 30 minute sessions. Sign-up for whichever group is appropriate for your experience level. If you sign up for a particular group and decide at the track that you are not comfortable, then ask a GGLC official to switch groups. We can usually accommodate this.

Open wheeled cars will be allowed only in the Open Passing Group.

We have a limited number of openings for Beginner drivers (zero days experience) who will receive 1-on-1 coaching from an experienced driver. Beginner drivers will run in the Restricted Passing Group.

At this event we will run the 5-mile, 27 turn track in the standard counter clockwise direction.

Staying ahead of the 911

This is a May event. The weather should be perfect for a track day so it is suggested that you enter early to ensure a spot.

We will run the event run rain or shine. Cancellations before 4/23/2017 will receive a credit for a future track day which will be good for one year from the cancellation date. Cancellations after 4/23/2017 will receive a credit ONLY if the event sells out.

We will not conduct a tech inspection on your car. You are solely responsible for the safety of your car.

Open top cars MUST have a roll bar that attaches at four locations on the body/chassis. Decorative, or “Style Bars” are not allowed. Factory installed roll-over protection including pop-up bars are allowed. Drivers of open top cars must wear eye protection.

Passengers are allowed but must be at least 18 years old.

All cars must have numbers on both sides for Identification. Pick any number. Digits must be 6” tall minimum.

Click here to register using MotorsportReg.

Zenos Factory Tour

During our our trip to the UK as part of the 2016 GGLC UK Lotus Trip, we were able to get a tour of the Zenos factory in Wymondham. If you havent heard of it before, Zenos Cars was founded in 2012 by Ansar Ali and MarkEdwards who had both spent time at Lotus and Caterham. I was lucky enough to attend the US unveiling of the Zenos E10S and was very impressed with what I saw. It struck me as an equivalent of the Lotus 211 and had significantly better fit and finish than the average Caterham I have seen in the US. Zenos hates the term “kit car” and stresses that they build the whole car but the reality is that to sell in the US they have to follow the Caterham model and sell them as kits which essentially work with only one specific engine. There are a bunch of reviews on the web for folks who want more details of the cars themselv es but I wanted to talk about the factory tour itself.

We were lucky to have their Operations Director Matt Windel give us the tour and they were extremely open to having the 15 of use traipsing through the shop. There were a couple of things they asked us not to photographs but other than that we had full access.

Assembly station #1
We start off at Station 1 where they essentially build the base chassis by mating the various subframes. As you can see below, the chassis has an extruded central spine that has a rear subframe bolted and bonded to it. The spine leads to great rigidity in the chassis and is also used to carry both wiring and coolant similar to the side sills of the Elise.
Central Spine Extrusion

CF Floor pan held in place by a jig for curing
This is also the step where a jig is used to attach the carbon fiber floor pan which is the first part of the carbon “tub”. They use an innovative process to create panels from recycled carbon fiber and drinking straws to form a honeycomb like structure which had 90% the strength of virgin CF at around 10% the cost. This is what allows them to sell essentially a carbon tubbed car for ~$50,000.

Assembly Station #2
At Station 2 the cars receive the rest of their carbon tub along with the front suspension. The tub integrates side impact tubing which is hidden inside the body and leads to the clean looks of the car. I also like the very Lotus-like design where a single front bracket holds the radiator, lights and front bodywork. They have tried to minimize the part count in general which results in the same part often performing multiple functions. I also like that the front suspension is designed to be sacrificial and a simple shunt will not write-off the entire chassis.

Assembly Station #3 - Engine
Station 3 is all about engine installation. The Zenos uses variants of the Ford Ecoboost engines that range from 200 bhp all the way to 350bhp in the range topper. This guarantees that the engine parts will be very easy to find worldwide though they do use their own locked ECU which is less than ideal for the US market since it will make it harder to use the full range of Ecoboost aftermarket products.

Assembly station #4 - body and finishing
At Station 4 it really starts looking like a real car with the rest of the body going in as well as the installation of the adjustable inboard front shocks.
Inboard front suspension

100th Zenos
The car then goes through the alignment process and a final quality test before being readied for deliver. This beautiful custom painted E10R is the 100th Zenos produced and was to be delivered to the lucky owner the next day.

My thanks to the Zenos crew for talking the time to walk us through the factory floor and answer all our questions. The Zenos is a very impressive car and the closest you will come to a street legal 211 in the US. If this has piqued your interest you should head over to the Zenos Cars North America website and see what cars they have available.