lotus


Lotus hires former Ferrari/Fiat racing chief Claudio Berro as new motorsport director

Do you remember back in 1996 when Michael Schumacher left Benetton for Ferrari? They didn't just get Schumi; along with him came master strategist Ross Brawn and designer extraordinaire Rory Byrne. Together, the wonder team built the Scuderia back into a championship-winning powerhouse. Well, we have a feeling there are some people in Maranello who may be getting acquainted with the flip side of that particular coin. Following the appointment of Dany Bahar – who left his position as Ferrari's senior vice president of marketing – ... Read more →

Lotus shopping Evora chassis to other automakers?

Back in the Nineties, shortly after Lotus introduced the original Elise, the company made it known that its new sportscar platform was designed to be easily adapted to different applications ...

Steward of the Seven, Graham Nearn, passes away at 76

Graham Nearn helped develop and sell the Lotus 7, creating Caterham Cars in 1959 as a retail outlet for the lightweight roadster. After having seen the car through its years of broadcasting fame ...

Tokyo 2009: Lotus Exige Stealth, complete with soft-touch paint

Lotus has unveiled the latest special edition of its maximum performance, minimum everything else Exige today at the Tokyo Motor Show. We took a moment to check out the Exige Stealth (known as the ...

To F1 and Beyond: Lotus reportedly considering Le Mans, GT and Indy teams

Arguably more than any other automaker in the world, Lotus is ripe for a return to racing. Its products are uniquely track focused. Its history is rife with motorsport heritage. And its new chief ...

Malaysian-backed Lotus F1 Racing gears up for 2010 22 days ago on Autoblog

It's been fifteen years since Lotus last competed in Formula One, but that dry spell is about to come to an end as the British engineering firm and sportscar maker is set to join the grid once again for next season as one of four new teams in the series. Preparations appear to be going ...

End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010 1 month ago on Autoblog

If you thought the series of driver changes in the middle of this ongoing Formula One season was something, it's nothing compared to the grand game of musical chairs expected to ensue as the season draws to a close. With BMW closing up shop, several new teams joining the grid and at least a ...

Lotus CEO says automaker will again take on Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati 1 month ago on Autoblog

When most people think of Lotus, a few different thoughts tend to enter their head. One is of little teeny Toyota-powered Elise/Exige track toys buzzing around a racetrack. Another is of an underwater submarine piloted by none other than James Bond (albeit Roger Moore). And then -- maybe -- some ...

Review: 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 offers even more power and lightness 1 month ago on Autoblog

Over its 61-year history, Lotus Cars has spent a considerable amount of time clawing its way back from the brink of insolvency. The company's most recent bout with financial disrepair came in the early Nineties after the front-wheel-drive Elan proved a commercial failure (surprise!) and the ...

Lotus back in F1, BMW Sauber gets new ownership 1 month ago on Autoblog

Two major announcements came hot on the heels of one another on Tuesday that seem set to shake up the always turbulent Formula 1 series even further in 2010. First, Team Lotus will indeed be back on the starting grid next year to contest the constructors championship with a duo of drivers. ...

Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Elise Club Racer and Exige Cup 260 give us that special feeling 1 month ago on Autoblog

Another show, another pair of special editions from Lotus. This time around it's the Elise Club Racer and the Exige Cup 260, two lightweight specials based on the company's core product range. We brought you details and photos of both a few weeks ago in the ramp-up to the show, but stopped by ...

Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer 1 month ago on Autoblog

Few automakers are as deeply rooted in motorsport as Lotus. So it comes as no surprise that, so soon after its release, the British sportscar-maker and engineering firm has already come out with a racing version of its new Evora. Tagged with the Type 124 label, the new sportscar is converted ...

Sneak peek at Jaguar's 'Limo-Green' series hybrid concept 1 month ago on Autoblog

For the past year, Jaguar, Lotus, Caparo Vehicle technologies and the MIRA proving ground have been working on a UK government-funded project dubbed Limo-Green. The goal of the project was to develop and build a series hybrid luxury sedan. Earlier this week, Jaguar showed off the car for the ...

Lotus announces first Evora race edition, Type 124 endurance car 1 month ago on Autoblog

It's only been a week since Lotus delivered the first production Evora to a customer, and now the sports car maker has unveiled the first race-ready version of its newest model. The new Type 124 Evora is built to FIA GT racing specs and will debut next year at the Nürburgring 24 Hour ...

Let us help you with that: Lotus develops off-the-shelf range extender engine 2 months ago on Autoblog

The Lotus ethos has always been about efficient performance. "Simplicate, and add lightness" is an oft-echoed mantra coined by founder Colin Chapman. While the company is most known for its sports cars and racing endeavors, it's got a history of engineering for hire, as well. Embracing a ...

REPORT: Proton could take the reins from BMW Sauber, return Lotus to F1 2 months ago on Autoblog

When BMW announced several weeks ago that it would be withdrawing from Formula One at the end of the 2009 season, the automaker left open the fate of the operations it bought from Peter Sauber. Since then, reports have indicated that the automaker has been evaluating possible buyers for the ...

Dany Bahar appointed as new Lotus CEO 2 months ago on Autoblog

It was rumored yesterday and it's fact today: Ferrari's former senior veep for brand management, Dany Bahar has become Lotus' new CEO. Before taking on the task of road car, after sales, F1 marketing and merchandising for Ferrari SpA, Bahar headed up the Corporate Projects Business team for ...

Für Elise: New Lotus Club Racer model a lyrical composition of thrift with swift 2 months ago on Autoblog

Guess what? Yet another special edition of the Lotus Elise is scheduled to make a grand entrance at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. This one, called the Elise Club Racer, is based on the 134-horsepower Elise S, and we don't think it's headed to America at this time. Pity, since the ...

Ferrari brand guru Dany Bahar poached as new Lotus CEO? 2 months ago on Autoblog

Ferrari has announced some changes in senior management, including the appointment of Sebastiano Rio as its new industrial director. But the real news that has people talking is the departure of Dany Bahar. After years as Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz's right hand, Bahar moved to Ferrari ...

Harder Core: 2010 Lotus Exige Cup 260 2 months ago on Autoblog

The Lotus Elise/Exige twins are quickly becoming the Porsche 911s of Britain. Or are they British Mustangs? In other words, totally fantastic sports cars with so many special variations that only the idiot savants among us can keep up and keep track. Case in point: meet the new for 2010 Lotus ...

Monterey 2009: Concept and Show Car roundup at Pebble Beach 2 months ago on Autoblog

The Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is usually packed with new and nearly-new concept cars from a who's who list of international automakers. Although the best-of-the-best were still represented, this year's display was a little different. Rather than just showing recent ...

Lotus Evora called UK's best drivers car by Autocar 2 months ago on Autoblog

The gang at Autocar have singled out the new Lotus Evora as the best drivers car in the U.K. for 2009. The award came following an evaluation that included the 2010 Nissan GT-R and nine other new models launched in the past year. The defending champ GT-R dropped all the way to fourth in this ...

Forza Motorsport 3 celebrates past and present of JDM in new screenshots 2 months ago on Autoblog

More and more folks are slowly but surely coming to the realization that old school Japanese metal is pretty cool. Stylish, too. For instance, have you ever noticed how much a Toyota Celica Supra looks like a Lamborghini Jarama? Or that a first generation Miata is a dead ringer for Lotus Elan? ...

Lotus begins offering supercharger kits for all NA Elises and Exiges 3 months ago on Autoblog

Anyone who's picked up a Lotus Elise or Exige before the kids from Hethel began offering a factory supercharged engine, help is at hand. Drivers of normally aspirated Lotuses can now get a factory style blower kit from Lotus Cars USA. The system is completely emissions certified, warrantied and ...

Found for sale: Lotus 11 replica track car 3 months ago on Autoblog

As we were rolling through Lexington, OH this weekend after leaving the ALMS race at Mid-Ohio, we spotted an interesting yellow car sitting in a lot. This knee-high roadster is a replica of the Lotus 11, one of the most successful small bore race cars of the late 1950s. Colin Chapman designed ...

Automotive Engineer commissions Lotus to design tiny city EV [w/VIDEO] 3 months ago on Autoblog

Developing cars quickly is nothing new to the designers and engineers at Lotus – the British firm does contract development for automakers around the world on a regular basis. With that in mind – and knowing that Lotus has been actively involved in many electric and hybrid vehicle ...

Lotus head Mike Kimberley stepping down due to medical issues 3 months ago on Autoblog

Lotus has announced that Mike Kimberley will step down as the company's chief executive on July 17 due to health problems. Kimberly, who will turn 71 this August, has been enduring back problems for some time and has been advised by doctors to retire in order to maintain his long-term health. In an ...

Hertz So Good: Lotus Elise SC joins Italian rent-a-car fleet 4 months ago on Autoblog

Ever fantasize about driving an exotic sportscar around Italy? Well who hasn't. And there are plenty of companies on the peninsula that'll be glad to help you out. Count among them now car rental giant Hertz. But while you may have images in your head of wafting around the countryside in a ...

Lotus becomes title sponsor of Lotus Challenge Series 4 months ago on Autoblog

After attending the second event of the 2008 Lotus Challenge Series last May, we were convinced the up-start had potential. Lotus Cars USA seems to agree and has become the title sponsor for the 2009 season. In its inaugural year, the series stuck to California for six of its events, along with ...

Lotus Blossoms: U.S. Evora specs leaked 4 months ago on Autoblog

With there having been so much continued hubbub over the forthcoming Esprit replacement, you would think that enthusiasts have already forgotten that we have a new Lotus in our midst, the 2010 Evora. That's a shame, because judging by the U.S. specs provided by our friends at ...

What's in a Name? Lotus to return to Formula One 5 months ago on Autoblog

With over a dozen teams all bidding to join a new cost-capped F1 next season, it would take a big name to stand out above the competition. Lotus ought to do the trick. Teaming up with veteran F1 team leader Mike Gascoyne, the Litespeed Formula 3 team has secured the rights to use the Lotus name for ...

Tesla Motors and Lotus announce matching recall notices 5 months ago on Autoblog

- Tesla Motors has announced its first-ever recall, affecting all 345 Roadsters the Silicon Valley automaker produced in 2008. According to the official recall notice from the NHTSA, the rear hub flange bolts on some vehicles may not be torqued to proper specifications, which could lead to ...

Rumormill: Next Lotus Esprit could be powered by Lexus V10 5 months ago on Autoblog

Lotus' relationship with Toyota could extend beyond supplying drivetrains for the Elise, Exige and Evora, with three new engines sourced from Lexus rumored to be fitted to the 2012 Lotus Esprit. According to EVO, a choice of three Esprits will be available for any (thick) wallet, including a 300 hp ...

VIDEO: One-make Lotus Elise racing is crowded, thrilling 5 months ago on Autoblog

It is the lap every driving simulator player dreams of putting together – except this one was real. It actually happened way back in 2005 (but has just come to our attention now and was too good to pass up), when Sydney motoring journalist Dean Evans drove in one of the Lotus Trophy Races ...

Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel to enter production? 6 months ago on Autoblog

Could the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel enter production? According to a post on Lotus Enthusiast, that's an entirely real possibility due to interest from Youngman Auto, which is the British automaker's Chinese partner. It seems that the Tri-Fuel was a big hit at the recent Shanghai Motor Show, ...

Lotus releasing Elise Purist Edition for $43,995 6 months ago on Autoblog

Rumors have been circulating for almost a week that Lotus was planning to release a stripped-down, low-cost version of the Elise in the States. Today, we finally received confirmation from Lotus' U.S. PR-man, Kevin Smith, that indeed, the Elise "Purist" edition is on the way, and unlike the ...








Autoblog Podcast #151: With Car and Driver's Eddie Alterman

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

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