All Entries in the "LOTUS" Category
Cinematic Beauty: Lotus Esprit
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img via IMCDB ::: Lotus Esprit
TEAM Lotus had to have counted itself lucky.
For years, Hollywood saw the Lotus Esprit as the iconic English sports car. Not one, but two James Bond films – The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only, Basic Instinct, and Pretty Woman, what other car that’s not a VW Bug or Ford Mustang gets top Hollywood billing in Blockbusters spanning three decades?
The Esprit was something of a British take on Ferrari. Four cylinders -then eight, turbocharged, leather and wood, clean Giugaro lines at first, then complicating updates that featured air intakes and spoilers; it’s easy to see the appeal for the Anglophilic sports car enthusiast.
But what, specifically, was the Esprit’s appeal in Hollywood’s critical eye?
Why did the white Esprit so aptly match the dark enigma that was Sharon Stone’s sultry femme fatale in Basic Instinct? Why the high tech Lotus, and not, say, the classic Aston Vantage for Roger Moore’s Bond? And when Julia Roberts had her career making introductory scene with Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, it was behind the helm of anotherEsprit.
Pretty obvious, actually. Esprit represented the exotic without the baggage of being obnoxious. Fast without exercising brutish strength – the Esprit like its character-drivers executed power with relative cunning.
Take that cerebral character and cross it with the eye-pleasing, classic sports car wedge, with alligators-in-the-bayou pop-up headlamps (de rigeur of sports cars from the 80s through the 90s) and you have the winning formula that won the Esprit our affection and Hollywood’s attention for far longer than most of its able competitors.
For a plucky car maker from Norfolk, team Lotus was lucky.
Lotus So Excited About The Indy 300, They Issue A Release In The Shape Of The Track
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Lotus Cars Ltd ::: Lotus Racing
YES it’s a bit of a challenge on the eyes – but man – Lotus’ marketing machine proves once again that it can create engaging content for what would be just another dry announcement from another corporate press arm of another car company.
Funny how a silly image can telegraph excitement. Lotus is off to the races! The same, if more conventionally formatted press release after the jump.
Sir Colin’s Lotus Unveils Concepts and Cosworth Connection @ Geneva
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Lotus Cars, Ltd. ::: Lotus Concept Cars Geneva
LOTUS appears to be the little sports car maker that not only could, but in fact, just may…
Making waves at the Geneva Auto Show – an event this year packed with so many new developments from across the luxury automotive market as to make us crosseyed- Lotus has issued two concepts – the Evora 414E Plugin Hybrid and Evora Carbon Concept – plus announced a promising new partnership with Cosworth for your consideration.
The marque that the late and charismatic Colin Chapman built now stands next to the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, and even Koeniggsegg for bringing to the ideas marketplace a concept that aims to deliver performance with lofty promises of hybrid efficiency and eco-friendliness to satiate even the loudest of European communists green parties.
Or does it? The answer is a definitive maybe.
In a slap at Tesla, the Lotus Evora 414E (plug-in) Hybrid Concept is the British stab at a plug-in roadster but offers modest performance (47 hp, tri-pot), and even more modest range (35 miles on batteries only). And that’s not even with playing your favorite tracks from The Who on the in-dash.
Some have noted that even the concept’s color choice leaves something to be desired , but these are all small quibbles in the face of slow, but sure progress to success, people!
Considering that for the past decade, Lotus sold light and lighter variants of one car (Elise/Exige) and sold a lovely, if fairly dated Giugaro penned Ferrari rival for the previous three (Esprit), it’s right that Team Lotus is putting as many irons in the fire as it damn well can.
Steady As She Goes: Evolution, Not Revolution For 2011 Lotus Elise
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Lotus Cars ::: 2011 Lotus Elise
RECENTLY, yours received this message from Lotus in his inbox:
I know this is the most you’ve heard from Lotus in……well……ever, and I’m sorry for continuing to fill up your e-mail box, but there’s an awful lot going on in the world of Lotus now and well into the future – so buckle up!
Mind you, there were no “major” developments with the unveiling of the facelifted Elise. The 2011 model now looks that bit more like the Evora, sports a new set of rims, and can be fitted with cruise control.
But that’s a p.r. guy’s job, isn’t it? To get us revved up no matter what? Consider us buckled, Lotus.
Lotus Wishes Us A Happy Christmas!
Or “Holidays” (to be universalist). Nicely done, I might add. Many thanks to Lotus USA’s Kevin Smith.
Super Car Rally @ Foxwoods
HOW could it be that whilst on the grounds of the world’s largest casino – so large it’s said that Foxwoods’ annual intake would account for 20% of Las Vegas’ gross winnings – that yours couldn’t find the time to gamble?
Not a penny slot. Not a quick turn at the roulette table. Not a few numbers in the bingo hall. Nada.
No matter, I had good cause for distraction. The best actually.
In what may go down in the history books as one of Connecticut’s largest informal gatherings of exotic cars, last Sunday SuperCarRoadTrips.com founder Manolis Christo with the help of some very enthusiastic sports car enthusiasts organized a rally spectacular that drew Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Lotuses, Maseratis, and the odd Pantera and McLaren SLR from across the land (or southern New England, to be more geo specific).
It was an astounding sight. Foxwoods hosted. And the Hard Rock Cafe’s Pinktober charity partnered with SuperCarRoadTrips.com in an effort to raise some awareness and support for Breast Cancer. Drivers were offered a prix-fixe $17 a head lunch at the restaurant onsite.
There were plenty of side shows. A man who seemed a little down with his lot in life showed up as Bumble Bee from Transformers providing a funny, if melancholic distraction while a team of models from 80’s fashion label Jordache posed in front of a brilliant, tutto rosso F40.
Local car dealer extraordinaire Herb Chambers made an entrance in his own, particularly rare Ferrari 275 GTB*.
The event provided for another impromptu opportunity: the reunion of none other than our very own BMW Enthusiast Trio Hardy Drackett, Newt Clark, and Richard Wolf.
The air was thick with emotion.
Of course it wouldn’t have been a true exotic rally without the requisite Sunkist yellow Italian contingent.
As well as a smart, lean = mean set of road-legal roadsters from LotusTalk.com.
There was, however, a paucity of Porsches. And somewhere else that lovely morning, stewed a bevy of bruised egos. Apparently, more than a few German car registrant hopefuls were turned down. This led to sniping in some quarters: if so ‘n so’s Porsche got rejected from taking part in the rally, then why did that Mustang or that Infiniti get accepted?
It was an Italian party, gentlemen.
Manolis, the event-planner-in-chief recently did a reverse-Clarkson and traded in his AMG SL Benz for a Ferrari F355 Spider. Not that he had a moment to enjoy his car on Sunday.
In a subsequent email, Manolis expounded a little bit on what SuperCarRoadTrips.com was really about:
“[SuperCarRoadTrips.com] packages the best possible roads and social venues in the form of well organized events,” he wrote. “I seek to attain the premiere exotic car club for the North East. The twist being that it’s free to its members and comprised of a variety of exotic car makes.”
Luckily, the owner of this Mercedes McLaren SLR made the cut.
As did our Uncle Richo’s legendaryE39 M5.
Following an hour’s jaunt through southeastern Connecticut which included Mystic seaport, the procession of prancing horses and glistening tridents made its way back to Foxwoods.
Event planner Lane Baker, a mildly stressed 348 Ferrari owner from FerrariChat.com, was elated that the rally went off more or less hitchless. At least on his watch.
It was with not a moment too soon, then, that after a morning of gawking at exotics and parading around New London County the party segued inside to Shrine Lounge at the MGM Grand.
In a final twist in events, clothing designer Andy Jacques provided a sartorial cap to the day with a brief fashion show showcasing his own singular brand of couture based on sports car themes.
Karl Lagerfeld probably won’t call, but the display was lively and well received.
Meravigliosa!
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*Corrected
Earth Day Comparo: Which Exotic Is Greenest?
Is Porsche the greenest?
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Porsche
OH, yes! It’s Earth Day!
If you live in these United States, you know that each year on April 22nd Americans take a moment to appreciate that Mother Nature provides our one and only home. Just to be different, the UN acknowledges this gift on the March Equinox.
Since cars and their fuel efficiency ratings are weighed heavily in the ongoing scientific analysis of our environment, those most… eco-conscientious… of sports car buyers who might seek speed AND fuel economy have some options.
The easy choice would be to buy a Lotus Exige 260 – a go-kart car that runs circles around most “sports cars”, the li’l Lotus uses only a four banger and can do 26 mpg on the highway.
But Colin Chapman’s stripped racers aren’t for everyone – especially for those who want the roar of an American V8, cushy security behind a German V12, or a tryst with a hot headed Italian V10.
Consider, then, the following assorted selection of exotics – their horsepower ratings and combined average (city/highway) miles per gallon:
Ferrari California | 460 hp V8 | 12.5 avg mpg
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Aston Martin DBS | 510 hp V12 | 14 avg mpg
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Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG | 604 hp V12 | 14.5 avg mpg
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Audi R8 | 420 hp V8 | 15.5 avg mpg
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Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 | 560 hp V10 | 16 avg mpg
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Dodge Viper SRT-10 | 600 hp V10 | 17 avg mpg
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Corvette ZR1 | 638 hp V8 | 17 avg mpg
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Nissan GT-R | 420 hp V6 | 18.5 avg mpg
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Porsche 911 Turbo | 480 hp flat-6 | 19.5 avg mpg
While Porsche’s flagship wins strictly on average consumption points, the Americans prove more efficient than Ze Germans! The Viper and Vette have 120 and 158 more horsepower, respectively, than the turbocharged 911’s 480 hp and come close to the aft-driven Porsche’s economical performance.
And who says American cars are unrepentant gas hogs?
The Aston and AMG Benz both disappoint; their V12s falling well behind frugal ‘Merican muscle.
Lamborghini scores well in power to consumption ratio – and indeed does better than its Teutonic cousin – the less powerful Audi R8. Take that, Ingolstadt: the Bull is greener!
What’s our conclusion? Which exotic is the “greenest”?
If it’s by the numbers lowest consumption – the Porsche wins. If it’s hp/mpg balance, the ZR1 wins handily followed closely by Dodge’s Viper.
Sold! 007 Lotus Esprit
Bond to Q:
“Q, have I ever let you down?”
Q to Bond: ”Frequently.”
By Gunnar Heinrich
JAMES BOND didn’t always drive an Aston Martin.
Slow To Bloom: Lotus Awareness Stateside
By Christopher P. Davis
IT’S not often that you see a Lotus cruising by and yet yesterday I spotted one.
An edgy little thing, the car had a shape that connoted an arachnid. Pleasing to the eyes, it appeals most to those looking for the exotic.
In my mind, when I think of exotics I think Ferrari, Lamborghini, and even Saleen, but never Lotus.
In both performance and style, Lotus is right up there with their Italian and tuner competition. Their styling is avant garde and simply looks fast, but I realize that the differences lies not within hot contours of curved sheetmetal but rather the cold numbers of stat sheets.
Numerical Challenge No. 1
Price – In the eyes of many of the rich and famous: More Cash = More Cachet.
Lotus’ sprightly Elise starts around a very common $46K- need I say more?
Numerical Challenge No. 2
Horsepower – Unlike a German or Italian, Lotus’ Japan sourced powerplants avoid those big-honkin’ engines.
The Exige S with its 218 horsepower launches from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds.
With that kind of performance, why wouldn’t everyone want one?
Considering low price matched high performance, it’s easy to ask this basic question: why hasn’t Lotus emerged as the everyman’s sports car?
The Elise’s agility, style, and fleetness ensure makes a for a better argument than any Mustang. The Lotus will out maneuver any Corvette due to the simple fact that the little Brit can turn (at speed). James Bond in his Roger Moore days even drove a Lotus in a few of Albert T. Broccoli’s Giugaro masterpieces.
Mr. Bond never drove a ‘Stang or a Vette.
The real fault?
Advertising. Marketing. You know, getting the word out. I cannot remember the last time I saw a piece of Lotus advertising, whether it be in print, radio, or television.
I honestly wonder if you asked 10 people on the street how many people know the brand Lotus. Five out of 10? If you asked 10 people on the street if they knew what a Corvette was it would – 100%/
Often times, many companies fail because of lack of recognition and I honestly don’t know how Lotus survives. But so long as it does, the company’s cars – or arachnids – make for compelling alternatives.
[Linked: Lotus]
