Toyota pulled off a smart move – though controversial – by collaborating with BMW on the development of the GR Supra. Not only did that keep development cost down, but it managed to revive one of Toyota’s most iconic nameplates.

Admittedly, the GR Supra may not be true to its roots (it’s based on the BMW Z4), but it has no doubt injected excitement into the Toyota brand.

• READ MORE: Toyota GR Supra Review

What if Toyota does the same with the long missed MR2 midship sports car? Talks of reviving the Supra’s little brother aren’t just hearsay, as a previous interview with Masayuki Kai, Assistant Chief Engineer on the Supra project revealed that the automotive giant was looking at reviving one of two iconic Toyota nameplates: Celica or MR2.

And if it’s our guess, we’re going to say the MR2 is the one more likely to make a comeback. That’s because one car maker couldn’t be more suitable for Toyota to partner with on the new MR2 project – Lotus.

The British manufacturer is no stranger to Toyota, with it already sourcing engines from Toyota for its Elise, Exige and Evora models for some time now. What’s more, Lotus is an expert in mid-engine sports cars, with its entire line-up adopting the midship format.

There’s an unused design that Toyota could work with right away, too. Back in 2010, Lotus revealed the Elise Concept (pictured), but it never made it to commercialisation due to the company’s financial hardship at the time. It was powered by a 2.0-litre supercharged engine developing 320 hp. With just 1,095kg to haul, the concept was capable of a 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.3 seconds, en route to a top speed of 270 km/h.

A Toyota-Lotus joint venture for the next-gen MR2? Let’s just hope it becomes a reality.

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The Evija is Lotus’ first all-electric hypercar. First premiered at the London Motor Show earlier this year, the striking two-seater EV is tasked with re-establishing Lotus as a leader of engineering and design. With the new pictures released today, we take a closer look at one of the most beautiful cars ever created by Lotus.

Said to be the most powerful and dynamically accomplished road car Lotus has ever built, the Evija (pronounced ‘E-vi-ya’) is a bold statement of intent from the majority Chinese owned British brand and is a hypercar built ‘For The Driver’.

With a target output of 1,492kW from its electrified powertrain and 0-100km/h in less than 3.0 seconds, the Evija will also be the world’s most powerful series production road car when it hits the road in a few years. It is expected to have a top speed of over 320km/h.

At the heart of the Evija is an ultra-advanced all-electric powertrain. It has been developed by technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering, famed for success in motorsport, from Formula One to electrifying the first four seasons of Formula E.

The battery pack is mid-mounted immediately behind the two seats and supplies energy directly to four powerful e-motors. This highly efficient system is said to be the lightest, most energy dense, electric power package ever fitted to a road car. With a target weight of just 1,680 kg, thanks to its ultra-lightweight carbon fibre monocoque, it will be the lightest pure electric hypercar ever to go into series production.

Engineered for precise and sustained performance, the Evija has five driving modes – Range, City, Tour, Sport and Track. In efficiency-focused range mode, the 70 kWh battery pack that powers the Evija is claimed to offer up to 400km of emission-free driving, on the test bench at least.

Replenishing though a fast charging port, the battery will achieve 80 per cent charge in just 12 minutes, and 100 per cent in 18 minutes. 

The Lotus Evija will be designed, engineered and produced in the UK, with only 130 slatted to be built.

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The Lotus Evija hypercar has made its world debut at an exclusive event in London. Billed as the world’s first all-electric British hypercar, striking two-seater EV tasked with re-establishing Lotus as a leader of engineering and design.

Said to be the most powerful and dynamically accomplished road car Lotus has ever built, the Evija (pronounced ‘E-vi-ya’) is a bold statement of intent from the majority Chinese owned British brand and is a hypercar built ‘For The Driver’.

With a target output of 1,492kW from its electrified powertrain and 0-100km/h in less than 3.0 seconds, the Evija will also be the world’s most powerful series production road car when it hits the road in a few years. It is expected to have a top speed of over 320km/h.

At the heart of the Evija is an ultra-advanced all-electric powertrain. It has been developed by technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering, famed for success in motorsport, from Formula One to electrifying the first four seasons of Formula E.

The battery pack is mid-mounted immediately behind the two seats and supplies energy directly to four powerful e-motors. This highly efficient system is said to be the lightest, most energy dense, electric power package ever fitted to a road car. With a target weight of just 1,680 kg, thanks to its ultra-lightweight carbon fibre monocoque, it will be the lightest pure electric hypercar ever to go into series production.

Engineered for precise and sustained performance, the Evija has five driving modes – Range, City, Tour, Sport and Track.

Russell Carr, Design Director of Lotus Cars said: “The Evija is beyond anything Lotus has even done… beyond anything I’ve ever done. We have created something beautiful, something new, dramatic and unique.”

The car will be designed, engineered and produced in the UK, with only 130 slatted to be built.

The Lotus Evija in Detail

At first known only by its Lotus Type number – Type 130 – the car has been christened the Lotus Evija. As a name, it is derived from variations of Eve, and means ‘the first in existence’ or ‘the living one’.

As the first all-electric British hypercar, the Evija continues that story of innovation. It also signals the start of an exciting new chapter for Lotus under the stewardship of Geely, the fastest growing automotive group in the world.

Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham said: “Evija is the perfect name for our new car because it is the first all-new car to come from Lotus as part of the wider Geely family. With Geely’s support we are set to create an incredible range of new cars which are true to the Lotus name and DNA.”

Exterior inspired by Nature

The most striking element of the Lotus Evija is its exterior. From every angle the full carbon fibre bodywork is stretched taut, appearing shrink-wrapped over the mechanical components. Crouching low to the ground, with a ride height of just 105 mm, the pronounced muscular haunches envelop the teardrop cabin that sinks between them.

Taking inspiration from the aeronautics industry, the exterior is a perfectly proportioned blend of fluid forms and crisp lines, typified by the gently curved but sharp leading edge of the bonnet, which is reminiscent of many classic Lotus road and race cars.

Cues for the Evija’s surface language was also taken from nature. Russell Carr, Design Director, Lotus Cars, commented: “During the initial design stage we spent many hours studying images of geological forms – rocks that had been carved by nature over the centuries. We believe we’ve captured these beautiful, intriguing and elemental lines within the Evija.”

Lotus says the exterior design is exceptionally efficient on every level, the most obvious being the Venturi tunnel which pierces each rear quarter. Inspired by Le Mans race cars, they optimise air flow by directing it through the bodyshell.

Aside from creating a breath-taking presence, this design concept – known as ‘porosity’ – aids the delivery of high-energy air flow to the rear of the car. This in turn counteracts the low pressure behind the car to reduce drag. Furthermore, the Venturi effect inside the tunnels pulls air through the rear wheel arch louvres, maintaining air quality in the diffuser.

When viewed from the rear of the car, each tunnel is edged with a red LED to create a striking ribbon-style light signature. The result is a stunning visual effect that is said to be akin to the afterburners on a fighter jet, especially when seen at night. As an extra detail, an LED hidden within each tunnel illuminates its interior.

The directional indicators are incorporated into the corners of the ribbon, while the reversing light is provided by the illuminated ‘T’ of the ‘LOTUS’ wordmark above the integrated charging flap.

Another key feature of the Evija’s sophisticated aerodynamic system is the bi-plane front splitter. Designed in three sections, the larger central area provides air to cool the battery pack – mid-mounted behind the two seats – while the air channelled through the two smaller outer sections cools the front e-axle. Lotus aficionados may notice a respectful nod to the iconic Type 72 Formula 1 car, with its square front central section and two side wings.

Magnesium wheels provide optimum lightness and strength, and are sized 20 and 21 inches at the front and rear respectively. They are shod with Pirelli Trofeo R tyres, developed specifically to achieve ultimate performance. To deal with the Evija’s extreme performance, the car is equipped with a forged aluminium AP Racing braking system with carbon ceramic discs front and rear.

Active Aerodynamics

The Evija is the first Lotus road car to ever feature a full carbon fibre chassis. Moulded as a single piece for exceptional strength, rigidity and safety, the full length of the underside is sculpted to optimise downforce. It includes an integrated air diffuser which extends from under the B-pillars to the rear.

Active aerodynamics are deployed in the form of a rear spoiler, which elevates from its resting position flush to the upper bodywork, and an F1-style Drag Reduction System (DRS). Both are deployed automatically in Track mode, though can be deployed manually in other modes.

The absence of traditional door mirrors plays a part in reducing drag. Cameras integrated into the front wings are electronically deployed on unlock, while another camera built into the roof provides a central view. Images are displayed on three interior screens.

Pure EV Powertrain

With target figures of 2,000 PS (1,492kW) of power and 1,700 Nm of torque, the Lotus Evija is the world’s most powerful production road car. Key to that exceptional power output is the 2,000 kW lithium-ion battery, supplied with its management system by Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) as part of a joint venture with Lotus to collaborate on advanced propulsion technologies.

The battery pack is mounted centrally behind the passenger compartment, and its cover is visible through the glass rear screen. Lotus says this positioning delivers significant advantages in terms of styling, aerodynamics, packaging, weight distribution, occupant comfort and dynamic handling. It also supports fast and convenient servicing and maintenance. Furthermore, the set-up has been designed so that in the future alternative battery packs – for example, to optimise track performance – can be easily installed.

Power is fed from the battery pack to a bespoke in-line axial arrangement of two high-power density e-motors. These feature integrated silicon carbide inverters and epicyclic transmission on each axle of the four-wheel drive powertrain.

Four exceptionally compact, extremely light and highly efficient single-speed, helical gear ground planetary gearboxes transfer power to each driveshaft.

Charging the Evija

The battery has the ability to accept an 800kW charge. Although charging units capable of delivering this are not yet commercially available, when they are, it will be possible to fully replenish the battery in just nine minutes.

Using existing charging technology – such as a 350kW unit, which is currently the most powerful available – the Evija’s charge time will be 12 mins to 80% and 18 mins to 100%. The car’s range is 250 miles (400 km) on the WLTP Combined Cycle.

The CCS2 charging socket is hidden behind a vented flap at the rear of the car. In the same location is a small plaque, reminding customers of the Britishness of the Evija.

Motorsport Inspired Interior

Inspired by the technical precision of race car engineering, the dominant characteristic of the cabin is the ‘floating wing’ dashboard which can be glimpsed from outside through the windscreen.

Access to the cabin is through the two dihedral doors (a first for Lotus). Handle-free to preserve the sculpted exterior, they’re operated via the key fob.

Visible carbon fibre surfaces enhance the sense of light weight, while a thin metal band – engraved with the words ‘For The Drivers’ – runs centrally through the squab of both seats.

The Evija is the first Lotus to provide drivers with a full suite of digital connected infotainment, which will benefit from over-the-air software updates. A powerful on-board modem enables communication to the cloud, and the driver can interact with that data through a Lotus smartphone app. The app will enable drivers to monitor their Evija from anywhere in the world, for example, to check the battery charge status and driving range. It will also support remote use of air-con, to heat or cool the cabin ahead of the next drive.

The Evija’s infotainment system includes a chronograph to allow the driver to record their lap times. Connection to the cloud means they can view their performance while at the track and recall previous sessions through the app.

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Well, it’s that time of the year again and the team here at ForceGT would like to wish everyone a safe and happy festive season and a very Happy New Year!

We thank you for your support and look forward to bringing you more of what we all love in 2019 – cars!

And to help spread the Christmas cheers, we have borrowed Lotus Car’s 302kW Evora sleigh.

Built by the engineering elves at Lotus, the ‘DriftmasEvora’ sees a festive delivery with a difference – a generous amount of carbon fibre, a little welding and lots of burning rubber.

Filmed on site at its Hethel home in Norfolk, the video sees Lotus strap a Christmas tree onto the ‘boot’ of its Evora GT410 Sport. Using closed roads, and with “an understanding security guard”, the two-minute video sees the sports car burning lots of rubber through Lotus’ entire facility, and includes cameos from two of the marque’s most famous cars (and a bike). Extra points for those who can spot and name them!

The team at ForceGT will be taking a well-earned break for the next few days and we look forward to seeing you when we are back!

Happy Holidays!

The post Happy festive season and a very Happy New Year! appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Lotus has wheeled out another Exige-based limited edition, this time called the Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25. The name is a tribute to one of its most successful and influential Formula 1 cars of all time – the single seat Type 25 that dominated the 1963 season.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “We are proud to have named this unique Lotus Exige Cup 430 in honour of the Lotus Type 25, a car which left an indelible mark on the development of motorsport. It was revolutionary when introduced and the first car to win Lotus a Constructor’s World Championship, the first of seven. It is a perfect example of Lotus’ design philosophy – light, yet incredibly strong and peerless on the racetrack. That same ethos, our company DNA, is found in the Exige Cup 430 Type 25, which is lighter than its predecessors and even more powerful. Combined with a class-leading balance in handling and agility, it’s our ultimate point-to-point two-seater sports car.”

Based on the Exige Cup 430 which was unveiled last year, the two-seat Exige Type 25 is powered by a 3.5-litre supercharged and charged cooled V6 producing 321kW and 440Nm, enabling it to blitz from 0-100km/h in just 3.3 seconds before hitting a top end of 290km/h.

Lotus says the Exige Cup 430 Type 25 is one of the fastest ever road cars to lap the Hethel circuit, covering the 2.2 miles in just 1 min 24.8 seconds.

Every Exige Cup 430 Type 25’s unique livery is appropriately finished in metallic Lotus Racing Green, or Old English White, with subtle but sharp contrasting pinstripes on the front splitter, front access panel, new and unique bargeboards, roof panel and rear wing, as well as unique decals on each rear buttress.

The carbon front splitter with trailing lip helps separate and speed airflow under the car and the inclusion of new air curtain elements into the front clam panel efficiently moves air though to the front wheel cavities to help reduce turbulence and drag generated by the front wheels. The front louvers reduce the pressure within the front wheel arches, increasing downforce. At the rear, large cut-out sections behind the rear wheels also reduce wheel arch pressure, boosting downforce. Coupled with the high-set rear wing and rear diffuser, these elements work in harmony to generate up to 220 kg of downforce.

Available as standard with a six-speed manual transmission, the Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 also includes a variable traction control function, linked directly to the ECU. The six-position rotary switch is located on the steering column, and only active with ESP switched to off, with five pre-set traction levels as well as “off”, displayed via the instrument cluster.

The car features Nitron three-way adjustable dampers (tuning rebound, as well as low-speed and high-speed compression) and Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, as standard.

It rolls on ultra-lightweight, fully machined, forged aluminium wheels in black sun rims wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (215/45 ZR17 front and 285/30 ZR18 rear) behind which hide a set of four-piston AP racing brakes

Its lightweight titanium exhaust system is 10kg lighter than the standard car’s stainless steel exhaust.

Just 25 of the Type 25 will be produced, each accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity signed by Jean-Marc Gales along with a matching plaque detailing its number in the limited production run.

Owners have the option of collecting their Type 25 from Lotus’ Hethel factory as well as guided tours of the company’s vehicle production facility and the Classic Team Lotus facility.

Lotus also throws in a hardback copy of Jim Clark: Tribute to a Champion by Eric Dymock signed by Clive Chapman (Director and son of Lotus founder, Colin Chapman) and Bob Dance, a principal mechanic for Jim Clark during his Formula 1 race career.

The original Type 25 won seven out of the ten championship races in 1963, with seven pole positions and six fastest laps, and recorded the first Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships for the Lotus team.

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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.

The flagship is powered by the same 3.5-litre V6 supercharged engine sourced from Toyota, but tweaked to produce 430hp (320kW), 24hp or 19kW more than the standard Evora.

Like Lotus’ other offerings, the Evora GT430 is underpinned by the company’s renown lightweight engineering, weighing in at a new benchmark weight of just 1,258 kg. The combination of high power output and light weight allows the GT430 to dispatch 0 to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds, en route to a top speed of 305 km/h.

There is heavy focus on aerodynamics, evident by large front apertures, carbon fibre splitter, air blades and louvers positioned on top of each front wheel arch. At the rear, aero ducts behind each wheel reduce pressure in the wheel arch, and a large rear diffuser provides a sharp visual finish. Both are crowned by the large, profiled carbon wing. The aero panels on the GT430 is claimed to generate up to 250kg of downforce.

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.

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) is designed to give better traction, and faster exit speeds, when cornering.

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.

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.

A range of driving modes can be selected, this includes ‘Drive‘, ‘Sport’, ‘Race’ and ‘Off’ settings. New to the Evora GT430 is the 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.

Like the exterior, the GT430’s interior is carbon-fibre intensive, with 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.

The Lotus Evora GT430 is limited to just 60 editions worldwide and is available for order now.

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Lotus has unveiled the significantly updated 2017 Lotus Elise range ahead of its European launch in April 2017, including the new and even lighter Sprint edition.

Featuring a host of weight-saving items as standard and the revised styling from the Elise range, the Sprint hits the scale at just 798kg (dry weight) – 41kg lighter than the standard model. According to Lotus, every single one of the Sprint’s lightweight components can also be specified on the regular Elise Sport and Elise Sport 220 variants.

Integrating a new front and rear aesthetic with Lotus’ established design language, the 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 is said to broaden 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 sits above the Elise Sport models, and below the top of the range Elise Cup 250 in the Elise lineup.

Its 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 (0-97km/h) 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 124kW / tonne (Elise Sprint) and 189kW hp / tonne (Elise Sprint 220).

Lotus engineers have also tuned the new Elise’s sound track, with the 1.8-litre supercharged Elise claiming to be 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.

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.

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 and a new in-car entertainment system, including optional iPod connectivity and Bluetooth functionality.

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 99kW/160 Nm of torque and 160kW/250 Nm of torque respectively. 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 userselectable ESP driving modes – Drive / Sport / Off.

The car retains its extruded and bonded aluminium chassis 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.

A new version of the Elise’s most popular model, the Cup 250, will be released in May 2017 in Europe. Also, incorporating all the Elise range updates, the Elise Cup 250 model is a massive 23 kg lighter than its predecessor, with lightweight options including a Carbon Aero pack, front access panel, roll hoop cover and engine cover to take this to 40 kg.

Australian on sale date to be confirmed.

The post Updated 2017 Lotus Elise range unveiled, incl. new Elise Sprint appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Lotus is celebrating fifty years of taking grounds at the Hethel Test Facility in Norfolk, England with a special edition Exige 350.

The Exige is already a light car but the anniversary edition is even lighter thanks to a pair of carbon fibre sport seats, lightweight alloy wheels, a revised “front access panel” and weight-saving lithium-ion battery.

The lightweight program sheds 26kg off the standard car’s mass, tipping the scale at just 1,098kg.

Powered by the same turbocharged 258kW / 400Nm 3.5-litre V6 engine in the standard Exige, the special edition sprints from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds, 0.2 second quicker than the regular version. Top speed remains the same at 274km/h.

This weight loss allows the lighter car to lap the Hethel test track in 1:29, two seconds faster than the larger, more powerful Evora 400.

Visually, the special edition Exige scores unique anniversary badges and a striking red on black paintwork.

The post Lotus Exige 350 special edition commemorates 50 years at Hethel appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Lotus could potentially have a new owner as its parent, Malaysian carmaker Proton looks for a suitor.

According to Automotive News Europe, DRB-Hicom which owns both companies, is looking to sell part of its stake in the loss making Proton, and has approached almost 20 carmakers to express its interest in selling a stake.

PSA Group, Renault and Suzuki, amongst others, are reportedly investigating the deal. It appears the companies are primarily interested in Proton’s two factories in Malaysia that are running under capacity. The new owner would gain an immediate hub for exporting vehicles to the Southeast Asian market.

It isn’t clear whether DRB-Hicom intends to sell Proton together with Lotus, sell it separately or retain the British sports carmaker.

It comes at a time when Lotus finally makes its first profit after 20 years of losses and is currently embarking on a reformation period, with plans to launch a series of new models as well as a SUV by 2020.

The post Lotus could get new owner as Proton up for sale appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Lotus has unleashed its latest track-only racer, dubbed the Elise Race 250.

Based on the Elise Cup 250, the model packs the same 1.8-litre supercharged petrol engine as its road going sibling, delivering 181kW and 250Nm of torque and married to a six-speed manual transmission.

The similarities however, end there, as the Elise Race 250 scores Nitron adjustable dampers, uprated brake pads, FIA approved carbon fibre race seat with six-point racing harness, a polycarbonate rear windscreen and a removable steering wheel.

It also gains a full aerodynamic body kit consists of a front splitter, a rear diffuser, side sill extensions and a rear wing capable of generating an additional 66kg of downforce at 161 km/h, and 155kg at its maximum velocity of 248km/h.

The standard Elise Cup is already a light car by modern standards, but the Elise Race goes one further. Its new lithium-ion battery is said to have saved 10kg compared to a standard battery, while the carbon fibre race seats shave another 6kg.

Lotus also offers an optional Carbon Aero Pack that replaces the front splitter, rear wing, rear diffuser and side sill extensions with lightweight carbon components that save another 10kg. All up, the Elise Race 250 tips the scale at less than 900kg – around 31kg lighter than the Elise Cup 250.

The model is said to be eligible for many of the world’s race series.

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