Well, we knew that Lotus personnel had been working with the folks from Tesla Motors on their sexy electric roadster, and today we received a bit of interesting related news. According to a report on EDP24.com (the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press website), Group Lotus' involvement with the Tesla Roadster project is now very much official: the Roadster will be built by Lotus at its Hethel facility.
The move is part of Lotus honcho Mike Kimberley's ongoing plan to increase the company's involvement in outside design and engineering projects. It comes on the heels of Lotus' new deal with Nanjng Automotive to aid in the development of new MG vehicles.
We'll bring you more info on the Tesla/Lotus deal when the companies issue formal announcements in the coming days.
[Source: EDP24]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
vitaminbmeister @ Jul 30th 2006 12:07AM
Now I really want one, I wonder if they match Toyota and slap a 10 year warranty on all those batteries, I highly doubt it. But lets hope all goes good with this car, we all know what li-ion batteries can do to a laptop, cough cough, Dell
Kelvin @ Jul 30th 2006 4:18AM
Hooray!!!
It was pretty obvious that the Tesla Roadster was a development of the Lotus M250 project. I'm so glad to see that it wasn't scrapped. It's fantastic to see such an inovative company making headway again. I've allways been a Lotus fan I've seen the demise of the British Car industry and the loss of so many renowned marques Lotus keeps slogging through it all and just keeps comming up with superb British creative flair and inovation.
GhostDoggy @ Jul 30th 2006 7:22AM
I guess Lotus wasn't working on anything to replace the aged Esprit. Bummer.
Swede @ Jul 30th 2006 7:27AM
Fantastic!!! Bloody marvelous!!!
Finally some people who really get it!
Fun to drive, great to look at and clean to the environment. This car is part of the future of motoring and it's happening today! I am huge fan of Lotus as well and they are really doing well with thinking of lightweight materials and efficient engines which all helps our environment. Lotus has always been going their own way and have been hugely succesful with small, light cars with excellent enginering. Lotus Elan, Elise, Exige and now together with Tesla this awesome car!
Frankly, it's the only way to go! All cars with a few exeptions are all getting heavier and therefore takes more energy to move. Tesla, Lotus, Jaguar, Audi and Aston Martin are all using aluminium to huge extent and it's greatly beneficial in handling, fuel-usage and reuseable materials.
It's great when people really go out of their way to do something great for our planet and change the way we are doing things. Sorry a big gas V8(or worse a V10) on big rig is never going to change the world to the better... GO better efficient engines, hybrids, cleaner diesels, lighter cars and now great batteries with electrical engines!
Now it's up to the users of the electrical cars to demand the use of clean electricity from sun, wind and water.
Good on Ya guys!
Swede @ Jul 30th 2006 7:33AM
The new Exige S have better performance in every respect than any Esprit... The New Europa looks kind of cool too!
TC @ Jul 30th 2006 9:17AM
The only problem is that such a vehicle would garner some pretty powerful enemies in the fuel industry - anyone want to bet on a mysterious decommisioning/plant fire/poor reviews in the not so far future? Best of luck to Tesla though, and Lotus' involvement can only be a good thing.
Spike @ Jul 30th 2006 10:18AM
I'm looking forward to the seeing this car on the road... I think it's an idea whose time has arrived... But am I the only one that finds it ironic that the British of all people are the ones who are tasked with building an electric car? What could possibly go wrong?!
TC @ Jul 30th 2006 11:28AM
Spike:
I'm not aware of any British Electric Car disasters? I suppose Japan could build it if you wanted all out reliability, but if you want it to handle like liquid heaven only Lotus or Porsche fit the bill.
Richard Warren @ Jul 30th 2006 4:08PM
Being built in the country known the world over for royalty, here he comes now, presenting, Lucas, "Prince of Darkness"
Actually I wish them well and hope it's a sucess,nice car.
gkz @ Jul 30th 2006 11:40PM
strongly resembles a miniaturized f430 in profile... which is fine by me
James @ Jul 31st 2006 10:21AM
This deal would be sweeter if Lotus were allowed to market the technology in Europe in a Lotus badged car. Not willing to undermine Tesla's brand or achievements, but if they can concentrate on developing the technology I reckon an electric Lotus sportscar will be much more successful in the European market.
Put my name down, I'm going to see what's in my piggy bank...
Pork Rind @ Jul 31st 2006 10:55AM
#2: It's not M250 based. It actually uses the Elise chassis with different bodywork.
Pork Rind @ Jul 31st 2006 10:57AM
#3: The Esprit replacement is set to be unveiled next year. It's already undergoing testing in mule form using hacked up previous-generation Esprit bodywork. It uses the BMW V8 out of the last gen M5.
lalaland @ Jul 31st 2006 12:40PM
Let me get this straight. The Tesla sales and marketing executives are based in Silicon Valley, which is one of the most overpriced areas in the world in which to work or hire people. And the cars are being built in England, which has a currency trading at a ridiculous $1.89 per pound. Talk about ignoring cost efficiencies.
Sabre @ Aug 1st 2006 1:43AM
To Pork Rind (post #12): you're close, it's not exactly an Elise chassis, but shares some elements of it. Read the second blog entry on Tesla's web site for more.
To lalaland (post #14): Silicon Valley is where the money is (and where the founders live), and Lotus is one of the few companies willing to manufacture low-volume cars for others. You can bet that Tesla's second model won't be built so far from its customers, but you have to start somewhere.
lotus @ Oct 5th 2006 8:15AM
good decision.
Lee Taylor @ Dec 19th 2006 11:46AM
I can see it now! Hundreds of kids and drunks will be getting knocked down 5 years from now because nobody can hear the car coming!!! Narr really its a great technological advance, it's just a shame that we've reached an automotive peak in our life times and now we will have to start all over again! Am aware formula 1 will be using different idea's such as this to power their cars. I love motor racing, but how on earth is it still legal when one formula 1 car alone can use 300-400 litres of fuel in one weekend! surely were just wasting it all! But no one seems to realise this planet has always suffered from change, we cant stop it! next time someone tells me to buy a hybrid ill point them in the right direction to the FIA head office and ask them to explain why they allow hundreds of different kinds of motor racing when i cant buy a simple car with a 3 litre engine?