Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Lotus opens new on-site test track]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/lotus-opens-new-on-site-test-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/lotus-opens-new-on-site-test-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/lotus-opens-new-on-site-test-track/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lotus Hethel circuit
Lotus Hethel circuit - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are a great many things that Lotus does well. The company's own sports cars are some of the best-handling machines money can buy, and Lotus also performs magic on other automakers' chassis on a consultational basis. Turns out, it lays out some pretty serious race tracks, too.

The Top Gear test track, for one, was designed by Lotus. And now the Hethel-based automaker has built its own on-site test track.

Not unlike the Nürburgring, the 2.2-mile circuit is split into two loops: the 1.3-mile north loop with two long straights connected by a hairpin, and the 0.8-mile south loop, packed with curves and elevation changes named after famous racing drivers who've piloted for Lotus. There's also a skid pad near the center, and a pit lane complex with 12 two-car garages.

The kicker, though, is that the circuit is fully FIA-certified, meaning that it's capable of hosting a wide variety of races on premises, from GT racing to F1 test sessions. The facility's proximity to the Snetterton circuit, however, might limit those prospects. Check out the layout and shots of the track in the high-res image gallery.

Lotus opens new on-site test track originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuithethelhethel circuitlotuslotus circuitracing circuittest trackThu, 23 Jun 2011 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19973689/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/23/lotus-opens-new-on-site-test-track/19973689/article-detail.xml 19973689 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/web-lotus-track_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/web-lotus-track.jpg <![CDATA[Take a virtual lap of the Lotus test track on Google street view]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/02/take-a-virtual-lap-of-the-lotus-test-track-on-google-street-view/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/02/take-a-virtual-lap-of-the-lotus-test-track-on-google-street-view/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/02/take-a-virtual-lap-of-the-lotus-test-track-on-google-street-view/#commentsFiled under: ,



For car buffs one of the more interesting aspects of Google Maps has been checking out the high resolution satellite imagery of race tracks and manufacturer test tracks around the world. Aside from the engineers who work at those facilities and selected outsiders like the media, the proving grounds are typically tightly guarded places and regular people can't just wander in.

Ever since Google augmented maps with the street view function several years ago, users have have been exploring and finding all kinds of neat places they've never visited or sometimes just checking out their own neighborhoods to see if they got caught on camera. Recently Lotus invited one of the street view camera cars inside its headquarters at Hethel near Norwich in south east England.

The results are now visible on Google maps when you go to the home on Lotus on Potash Ln and start zooming in. When you zoom all the way down, you can take a virtual drive through the front gate, past the factory and engineering buildings and right out onto the track. The street view car circulates the track with a Lotus Evora, a 2-eleven and a methanol fuel experimental Exige 265e. You can get directly to Lotus via http://3.ly/LotusCarFactoryGoogleStreetView

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Take a virtual lap of the Lotus test track on Google street view

Take a virtual lap of the Lotus test track on Google street view originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle mapsgoogle maps street v...google maps street viewgoogle streetgoogle street viewgoogle street viewsgoogle streetviewGoogleMapsGoogleMapsStreetV...GoogleMapsStreetViewGoogleStreetGoogleStreetViewGoogleStreetViewshethelLotuslotus headquarterslotus test trackLotusHeadquartersLotusTestTrackNorfolkWed, 02 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19261557/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/02/take-a-virtual-lap-of-the-lotus-test-track-on-google-street-view/19261557/article-detail.xml 19261557 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/lotus-track-view_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/lotus-track-view.jpg <![CDATA[Celebrating four decades of Hethel-built Loti: Limited-edition Lotus Elise S]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/24/celebrating-four-decades-of-hethel-built-loti-limited-edition-l/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/24/celebrating-four-decades-of-hethel-built-loti-limited-edition-l/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/24/celebrating-four-decades-of-hethel-built-loti-limited-edition-l/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click the image above for more shots of the 40th Anniversary Lotus Elise.

To commemorate 40 years of dutiful production at the Lotus plant in Hethel, our favorite purveyors of minimalist motoring will be offering 50 lucky customers the chance to pick up a celebratory Elise in a limited edition hue. The 40th Anniversary Elise S comes bathed in Burnt Orange paint, with a color-matched hardtop, rear diffuser, center console, air intakes and brake calipers. The matte-black wheels get some similar highlights, while the leather seats have orange contrasting stitching. Of the 50 vehicles built, 15 will go to Germany, ten are off to Switzerland, France and Belgium each get five, while Italy gets six and a few other countries get to fight over the remaining nine. The regional breakdown deserved note, as each country gets its own flag stuck on the front fender, but Lotus seems to be leaving out the one country in which its attempting to celebrate: the UK.

All the details are in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary

Continue reading Celebrating four decades of Hethel-built Loti: Limited-edition Lotus Elise S

Celebrating four decades of Hethel-built Loti: Limited-edition Lotus Elise S originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>40th anniversary lotus elise s40thAnniversaryLotusEliseSeliseelise sEliseShethellotusSat, 24 Nov 2007 08:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1046782/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/11/24/celebrating-four-decades-of-hethel-built-loti-limited-edition-l/1046782/article-detail.xml 1046782 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/11/elise_s_40th_1280_01_450_op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/11/elise_s_40th_1280_01_450_op.jpg <![CDATA[Lotus 40th anniversary party at Hethel on Sept. 23!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/lotus-40th-anniversary-party-at-hethel-on-sept-23/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/lotus-40th-anniversary-party-at-hethel-on-sept-23/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/lotus-40th-anniversary-party-at-hethel-on-sept-23/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click image for a gallery of the Lotus Esprit S1

Lotus has been building cars at its current factory location in Hethel near Norfolk, England since 1967 and its throwing a party to celebrate. If you're a fan of Colin Chapman's creations and their successors and you're in the vicinity of Hethel on September 23, you should swing by the plant.

The factory floor, some of the special engineering test facilities, and the test track will all be open to visitors that day. Examples of all the cars built at Hethel over the past four decades including the long-running Esprit, the Elise, the Elan and others will all be on display. As with any good birthday party, all the attendees get a goody bag with some Lotus stuff to take home. The press release with all the details is after the jump, and we've provided a high-res gallery of the classic Esprit S1 for your enjoyment.

[Source: Lotus]

Gallery: Lotus Esprit S1

Continue reading Lotus 40th anniversary party at Hethel on Sept. 23!

Lotus 40th anniversary party at Hethel on Sept. 23! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hethellotus birthday partyLotusBirthdayPartyWed, 12 Sep 2007 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/986688/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/09/12/lotus-40th-anniversary-party-at-hethel-on-sept-23/986688/article-detail.xml 986688 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/lotusesprits1_profile450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/lotusesprits1_profile450.jpg <![CDATA[Spy Shots: 2009 Lotus Esprit will be wicked, and this way it comes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/20/something-wicked-this-way-comes-2009-lotus-esprit/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/20/something-wicked-this-way-comes-2009-lotus-esprit/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/20/something-wicked-this-way-comes-2009-lotus-esprit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Lotus Esprit, a car severely missed by a huge number of auto fans, is slated after numerous delays to return from the dead in 2009, perhaps at the Geneva Motor Show. Until then, the Dutch seem to be first in getting details on and spy shots of this most English of cars. Last year it was said that Esprit would have a "much more compact" footprint than than the Gallardo or F430, have an aluminum or composite skin, and be produced at a rate of 2,500 per year.

The latest info is that the engine will be a 4.8-liter V8 from BMW producing in excess of 400 bhp -- possibly with the help of some forced breathing apparatus. This time around, there will be a convertible version to go with the coupe, and word is that the car will sell for 70,000 British pounds. Whenever it arrives, it will find there aren't many chairs left in the affordable sports car arena, what with every month bringing a new entrant. Still, we only have two words for the new Esprit: bring it. For more spy shots of the zebra-striped car testing in Holland, go here.

The Stroopwafels are on us next time, Sam!

[Source: Autogespot]

Spy Shots: 2009 Lotus Esprit will be wicked, and this way it comes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>englandesprithethellotussports carsSportsCarssupercarsFri, 20 Jul 2007 16:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/945280/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/07/20/something-wicked-this-way-comes-2009-lotus-esprit/945280/article-detail.xml 945280 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/07/lotus_esprit_2009_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/07/lotus_esprit_2009.jpg <![CDATA[Done deal! Lotus will build the Tesla Roadster in Hethel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/29/done-deal-lotus-will-build-the-tesla-roadster-in-hethel/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/29/done-deal-lotus-will-build-the-tesla-roadster-in-hethel/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/29/done-deal-lotus-will-build-the-tesla-roadster-in-hethel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

tesla Roadster

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]

Done deal! Lotus will build the Tesla Roadster in Hethel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Jul 2006 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>group lotusGroupLotushethellotuslotus carslotus groupLotusCarsLotusGroupteslatesla motorstesla roadsterTeslaMotorsTeslaRoadsterSat, 29 Jul 2006 22:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/648414/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/07/29/done-deal-lotus-will-build-the-tesla-roadster-in-hethel/648414/article-detail.xml 648414 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/07/tesla_profile_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/07/tesla_profile.jpg -1 2