Lotus

Lotus Engineering Invests in Low Carbon Vehicle Programmes

June 16, 2008 -- Lotus Engineering, the world renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus has won two contracts as part of winning project consortia announced by the UK Government Technology Strategy Board. These two project consortia will be allocated part of a total £23 million for 16 innovative low carbon vehicle development programmes. Including investments from companies such as Lotus, these projects collectively represent a total value of £52 million.

Zero Emission London Taxi Commercialisation

June 2008 -- Jim Clark is considered by many as the finest and most naturally gifted racing driver of all time. He won the F1 World Championship twice for Team Lotus in 1963 and in 1965.

In total, he won 25 Grand Prix races and was the first Briton to win the Indianapolis 500. Clark won a third of all the F1 races he entered, as well as racing in other formulae such as F2, F3 and Touring Cars. Typically he would race in as many as three different categories per race meeting! How many of the current crop of F1 drivers would do that?

15th May 2008 -- Group Lotus plc, the world famous sportscar manufacturer and globally renowned automotive engineering consultancy, announces the creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures, following the acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited today.

Lotus Lightweight Structures, which employs 120 skilled engineers, technicians and sales staff, will be based at the former Holden Lightweight Structures Limited site in Worcester, UK and will continue to manufacture light weight aluminium and composite structures and components for its extensive client base as well as growing its business globally through the company’s association with Group Lotus plc.

May 13, 2008 -- Spyker and Lotus have reached agreement today on the outline of their intended cooperation, which will include a Parts and Platform Commonality Agreement (PPCA), a Parts and Accessories Supply Agreement pursuant to which Lotus would provide certain parts for Spyker's new C8 Aileron super sportscar, and a concept Design and Engineering Agreement relating to all of Spyker's future models.

21/04/08 - The eagerly anticipated ‘Gran Turismo 5 Prologue™’ for PlayStation®3 was released by Sony Computer Entertainment UK at a recent launch event in London’s Marble Arch and was supported by Lotus Cars who has two versions of the iconic Elise in the game.

One of the capital’s largest underground car parks was transformed into the GT5 Pit Lane which boasted some of the stars of the game which is heralded as one of the most realistic to date. Alongside the legendary 1996 Lotus Elise and the now iconic 2004 Elise 111R, other heroes of the game turned out to support the event including Audi R8, Aston Martin DB9, Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper SRT10, Ford GT, TVR Tuscan Speed 6, Ford GT and a Ferrari 599.

60 years of world class innovation from Britain's finest sports car manufacturer

March 20, 2008 -- In this its 60th year, Group Lotus plc is taking the ‘diamond’ element of their anniversary to heart and is celebrating in style. A variety of high profile events have been planned for 2008 that will pay homage to the heritage of the marque and look forward to the future of the international brand. The pinnacle of the campaign is a landmark event held at the Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, England on 14th September 2008 and will be opened by Hazel and Clive Chapman.

Lotus has a history of holding fantastic public events and the 60th Birthday Party will follow this vein. Over 15,000 visitors are expected and will be a fun-filled day that all the family can enjoy.

Lotus Engineering unveils its latest development towards carbon neutral road transport at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show

March 2008 -- Lotus Engineering, the world renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus, unveils its latest development towards carbon neutral road transport at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show.

The Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel is the most powerful road version yet of the Exige (0-60 mph / 96 kph in 3.88 seconds, a top speed of 158 mph (255 km/h), 270 hp (201 kW / 273 PS at 8000 rpm) and it runs on any mixture of gasoline, bioethanol and methanol. Emerging technologies will allow alcohol fuels such as methanol, already a proven internal combustion fuel, to be made synthetically from CO2 extracted from the atmosphere.

Mar. 4, 2008 -- Group Lotus plc unveils a new updated and significantly enhanced range of Europa’s at the 78th annual Geneva International Motor Show. The new entry level Lotus Europa is priced at £27,950 MSRP / EUR 37,500, with the range topping Lotus Europa SE available for a competitive £32,995 MSRP/ EUR 41,500 (Euro prices are without taxes, delivery & other related costs).

These new Lotus Europa variants have been designed and developed especially for European customers and will be sold exclusively across Europe from June 2008. The Europa is now available to a larger target audience with the entry level car providing a more accessible way to own a Europa and the SE designed to appeal to those who are even more style conscious and want increased levels of performance.

Marks the latest development in an ongoing program of exciting changes for the expanding brand

Wednesday, 27th February 2008 -- Committed to driving forward with technology for both Lotus Cars and Engineering clients, Lotus follow this vein with a new and improved website which is easy-to-navigate, cool and modern. Visitors can observe today’s Lotus; a technology focused, environmentally aware company that is passionate about delivering the finest sports cars and high technology engineering, globally.

Feb. 22, 2008 -- Lotus Engineering, the world renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus, has created a new research and development group solely for electric and hybrid vehicles. The formation of this group recognises the increasing global importance of hybrid and electric vehicles, and the increasing amount of consultancy project work in this area that is being undertaken by Lotus Engineering.

February 20, 2008 -- Lotus Sport, the motor sport division of Lotus Cars Ltd, has unveiled the MY2008 Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260. A direct development of the 2007 Exige Cup Car, this year’s car has a revised engine management system to take the maximum power output to 257 hp (260 PS), up by nearly 5 hp (5 PS) over last year. Bespoke performance enhancements created to offer a car with even greater levels of handling and acceleration capable of taming Europe’s most challenging race circuits.

13th February 2008 -- Lotus Sport, the motor sport division of Lotus Cars Ltd, has unveiled the MY2008 Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260. A direct development of the 2007 Exige Cup Car, this year’s car has a revised engine management system to take the maximum power output to 257 hp (260 PS), up by nearly 5 hp (5 PS) over last year. Bespoke performance enhancements created to offer a car with even greater levels of handling and acceleration capable of taming Europe’s most challenging race circuits.

Agreement Encourages Technology Development in Abu Dhabi

12/02/2008 -- Lotus Engineering and Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) are pleased to announce the signing of a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The joint aim is to further enhance Abu Dhabi's position at the forefront of environmentally orientated technologies and accelerate the development of its manufacturing and business infrastructure.

21 January 2008 -- Lotus Cars has taken one of the most recognisable and iconic Lotus colour schemes from the early 1970s and reintroduced it for the first time with the limited edition Lotus Exige Sprint.

Just 40 right hand drive Lotus Exige Sprints will go on sale in the UK and Ireland in a duo-tone paint scheme of Aspen White on the lower portion of the body and a choice of Solar Yellow or Persian Blue on the upper portion of the body. The two colours are separated by a gold stripe bearing the name Exige Sprint on the doors on either side of the car.

16/01/2008 - Lotus, via its engineering division, has entered into a joint cooperation programme with KACST, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology with the intention to promote the establishment of an ecologically driven automotive technology capability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BUFORD, Ga., Jan. 16, 2008 - Hyper Sport Engineering has announced the construction of a Lotus Exige S for competition in the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship.

The Lotus Exige S is the newest Lotus model to hit the streets. The Hyper Sport Engineering racecar will utilize the same light weight, forced induction 1.8 liter engine and sophisticated suspension design of the stock Lotus Exige. Kirt Wightman, Owner and Director of Hyper Sport Engineering, is convinced the ultra fast and nimble Exige will be right at home in SPEED GT.

“I am excited about the fantastic potential of this new program,” Wightman said. “SPEED World Challenge is the right series to showcase the outstanding capabilities of the Lotus chassis.”

Jan. 15, 2008 -- The Lotus Elise was first released in England in late 1996. This roadster has a hand finished fiberglass body shell on top of its aluminum extrusion and bonded frame. It is capable of speeds up to 150 mph.

K&N Engineering has designed a performance intake system (57A-6030) for the 1996-2003 Lotus Elise 1.8 liter engine. It is a custom design that uses K&N's Apollo air filter enclosure and a washable reusable K&N air filter. See application details below.

This K&N Apollo cold air intake system comes with adaptors to fit the Lotus Elise. The Apollo is designed to eliminate hot air problems and provide the benefits of an open cone filter and a standard air box in one unit.

23 November 2007 -- Lotus Cars is very pleased to release its limited edition for Mainland Europe – the Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition.

This unique limited edition is based on the entry-level model of the Elise Range – the Elise S – and commemorates the 40th anniversary of production at the Lotus factory in Hethel in 2007.

2008 Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

The specification of the car is as follows:

Elise S – Model Year 2008, featuring twin airbags
Burnt Orange Premium Paint
Hardtop
Painted rear diffuser and wheels
Leather trim in orange stitching
Painted centre consol & exterior panels in body colour
Coloured brake calipers
Build plate

13/11/2007 -- The Lotus Exige S police car operated by East Sussex Police will head a convoy of the world’s most exclusive supercars in a parade of the roads of Britain this week to support ‘Children in Need’.

The supercar tour comprises some of the world’s most exclusive marques including: Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley, Maserati and Pagani and will commence with an event hosted by organisers ‘GROUP20’ at their head office on Tuesday 13th November and will hit the road at 9am on Wed 14th November.

Former Lotus Engineering CEO Leads Technical and Engineering Discussions for New Electric Car Joint Venture

SANTA ROSA, CA, Nov 2, 2007 -- Albert Lam, former CEO of Lotus Engineering, has been selected by electric car pioneer ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB) to take the lead on engineering projects for its new joint venture with China Youngman Automotive Group.

During his visit to California, Mr. Lam met with officials from Advanced Battery Technologies (AMEX:GBT - News). Advanced Battery Technologies is scheduled to ring the opening bell today as part of their new listing on the American Stock Exchange.