New Lotus 'circuit Car' Announced

[Mark H]

http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=10928

 

The new Lotus "Circuit Car" was announced yesterday by Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, CEO of Group Lotus, to Lotus Club International members at the annual Lotus Club International Gala Dinner held at Norwich City Football Club.

 

The catchily named car is based on the Lotus Elise Aluminium chassis, and weighing in at approximately 600kg, the single-seater car (with an option of two seats) has been designed and engineered Track Day and Club Racing only.

 

Only 100 models of the car will be produced each year.

 

 

 

The bodywork combines low weight materials with extensively researched aerodynamics to ensure the body both looks the part and helps with performance and roadholding.

 

Power is courtesty of a (much rumoured) supercharged VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing with Lift - intelligent) engine, and is estimated to achieve the 0 - 100 mph (160 km/h) sprint in a rapid 9.0 seconds.

 

An entry-level naturally-aspirated VVTL-i engine will also be available, powering the car from 0 - 62 mph in under 4 seconds.

 

Clive Dopson, Managing Director of Lotus Cars, explained where the model fits in the range, "The introduction of this new model plays a key role in developing and enhancing the presence of Lotus Cars on the track, whilst providing the driver of today with a pure circuit car which thrives on the essential values of the Lotus brand. In addition, it will be yet another example of a high quality product to be built at our world class production facilities at Hethel."

 

The Lotus "Circuit Car" is due to go into production at the Group Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, in December.

 

Full specifications and price will be announced closer to the production date.

 

The one question every Lotus fan will be asking though is whether that supercharged motor has a place in any forthcoming road cars.

 

[SOUPS]

i want that one

[Mark H]

http://www.autospectator.com/modules/news/...hp?storyid=1517

 

 

Lotus "Circuit Car"

The all new lightweight and high performance track day Lotus

The new Lotus "Circuit Car" was announced yesterday (Saturday, 11 June, 2005) by Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, CEO of Group Lotus, to privileged Lotus Club International members at the annual Lotus Club International Gala Dinner held at Norwich City Football Club.

 

Based on the Lotus Elise Aluminium chassis, and weighing in at approximately 600kg, the single-seater car (with an option of two seats) has been designed and engineered solely for Track Day and Club Racing.

 

 

 

The lightweight composite bodywork of the visually dramatic open-topped circuit car combines high downforce from cleverly engineered aerodynamics. Part of its phenomenal performance is from a supercharged VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing with Lift - intelligent) engine, and is estimated to achieve the 0 - 100 mph (160 km/h) sprint in a staggering 9.0 seconds. This exciting combination has allowed for a dynamic racing package producing higher performance to that of existing Elise-based products. An entry-level naturally-aspirated VVTL-i engine will also be available, powering the car from 0 - 62 mph in under 4 seconds.

 

Tony Shute, Head of Product Development at Lotus Cars, explains what makes the Lotus "Circuit Car" a leading high performance track car: "The new product has allowed Lotus to once again apply its key "performance through lightweight" philosophy. This is in order to achieve an innovative product for the track day and club racing Lotus enthusiast whilst staying true to the key design attributes of the Elise and Exige products. They are considered to be amongst the finest existing road and track day cars by thousands of owners around the world, and the "Circuit Car" will build on this formidable reputation, helping to further underline Lotus as the ultimate driver's choice."

 

 

The introduction of the new Lotus "Circuit Car" will generate additional exposure of the Lotus brand and provide Lotus with entry to further key market sectors, as Clive Dopson, Managing Director of Lotus Cars, explains "The introduction of this new model plays a key role in developing and enhancing the presence of Lotus Cars on the track, whilst providing the driver of today with a pure circuit car which thrives on the essential values of the Lotus brand. In addition, it will be yet another example of a high quality product to be built at our world class production facilities at Hethel." The Lotus "Circuit Car" is due to go into production at the Group Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, in December 2005, with scheduled volume of approximately 100 units per annum.

[jez_s]

You could have some fun in that!

[Mark H]

Official press release.

pr_download.pdf

[jez_s]

I take it that's the Toyota lump then, same as the 240R!

Wonder if they would develop it into an S2 340R type thing.

[Rich111s]

[bermudabob]

OK, I'm off to the bathroom..

[Mr G]

Tin opener job on Exige S2. It'll be good, but no radical. I'd like to have seen it more 'out there' like the 340R. It's in danger of looking so much like a chopped Exige as to look like a botch IMO.

[shortname]

No doors though.

[Tango190]

Big gob car bit like a Frogeye Martin R

 

 

 

This hopefully is a low level entry by Lotus Cars back into a statement of "were competetive" (bit pissed tonight)

 

i.e. is this the start of major motorsport from Lotus - F1 ?????

 

I live in hope

[Ladders]

Bit like the S1 sprint car they built!

 

Remember seeing it at Hayden (i think) in Salsbury when I was looking around years ago!

[Mark A]

I take it that's the Toyota lump then, same as the 240R!

Wonder if they would develop it into an S2 340R type thing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Not quite.