Tuesday 13th September 2011

Frankfurt: Lotus Plays It Fast (And Safe?)

And breathe... Lotus gets a grip and unleashes some real show sizzlers

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Following the six-concept furore of the Paris show, Frankfurt seems a much more grounded place for Lotus - but it's no less exciting for fans of the marque. As well as a new Exige S that packs the Evora's supercharged Toyota V6 under its unmistakeably beetle-backed body, there's a new Evora GTE for European markets, a new supercharged Elise S, and a fantastic Exige RGT rally car that will compete on tarmac rounds of the WRC next year.

The new Exige S features an 1080kg lightweight chassis, and the 350hp 3.5-litre V6 Supercharged Evora S Engine so it should be quick - although Lotus isn't quoting figures yet as they've not been officially certified. The new car also gets a dramatic new look with a new front splitter and rear spoiler.

Built for what Lotus calls 'the adrenalin hungry sportscar aficionado', the Exige S features Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres as standard, and a Lotus DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) switch allows the driver to switch between three driving modes: Touring, Sport and DPM off. An additional Race Pack option is available which adds a fourth driving mode setting: Race. This setting provides the maximum possible traction out of corners, but also features Launch Control and an optimised suspension setting making the car perfect for track work.

Staying on the Exige theme, we can't tell you much more about the rally car than we have already. Except that it's very pretty, and it's built for a new rear-drive GT category that will form part of the existing WRC championship next year. Oh, and it looked great next to the Lotus Sunbeam rally car parked on the stand - Lotus last won the WRC with this very car back in 1981.

While the original concept for the Evora GTE road car boasted 420hp, centre-lock wheels and an automated AMT sequential racing gearbox, the one at Frankfurt has a powerhike to 444hp to go with its new 'pedestrian friendly' but still aggressive bodywork. Talking of the body, lots of it is carbonfibre, thus trimming 105kg off the kerbweight, and the new look is how European versions of the GTE special edition will appear when production starts.

The show stand also features Lotus's 2012 model year 'standard' Evora which as we discovered recently has been much improved, and a new Elise S model which replaces the Elise SCwith a new 1.8 litre supercharged engine delivering 220hp and extra torque.

[Kong]

Any more details on the new supercharged Elise S? Interesting to see what engine they are using now the 2ZZ-GE is dead.

[thewheelman]

I love most things Lotus, but, i can't help being disappointed by the styling of the facelifted Elise, it looks like it's lost its edge a little. Also not keen on the VX220 scoops on the front. As for the Evora, the more i see them, the more i want one

[Mr Noble]

The GTE looks fantastic!!

Really hope it works out for Lotus. Certainly exciting times!


Look forward to getting behind the wheel of a V6 Exige soon

[Stew2000]

Isn't the R-GT a bit much for the WRC.
It would probably be happier competing with the 911 GT3 in the German rallies.

Edited by Stew2000 on Tuesday 13th September 11:02

[Twincam16]

Hmmm. Mid-engined rally cars...





As a rally car it bears a passing resemblance to a Ford RS200, come to think of it:

[VeeTEC]

Kong said:

Any more details on the new supercharged Elise S? Interesting to see what engine they are using now the 2ZZ-GE is dead.

I'm trying to find out, but my friend at Lotus can be a bit cagey with details sometimes.

[HeMightBeBanned]

VeeTEC said:

Kong said:

Any more details on the new supercharged Elise S? Interesting to see what engine they are using now the 2ZZ-GE is dead.

I'm trying to find out, but my friend at Lotus can be a bit cagey with details sometimes.

So why announce a car with a new engine, if you don't want to say what the engine is? FFS.

[Gazzab]

When I was a kid my school was next door to the Lotus dealer Bell & Covill in East Horsley. So I have great memories of Lotus 'supercars' that seemed so aspirational, powerful and stylish. When will we see some Lotuses for sale that achieve the same?

[toppstuff]

Some interesting new cars and some sensible positioning in the market at last.

Lotus have had their head well and truly up their arses lately. I still can't forgive them for the Swizzle Beatzzz debacle, or for displaying cars that are the automotive equivalent of vapourware, but this seems like a step to repair some of the damage.

At one stage it seemed as if the company was being run by a 17 year old. Maybe some of the people in Hethel who know what they are doing got the chance to shine this time.

Thank. God.For.That.

[Alfa numeric]

Lotus builds a Noble. No bad thing.

I've not wanted a rally car so bad since I saw a Lancia 037 when I was 10.

[Thorburn]

Kong said:

Any more details on the new supercharged Elise S? Interesting to see what engine they are using now the 2ZZ-GE is dead.

Most likely the 2ZR-FAE.

Edited by Thorburn on Tuesday 13th September 11:18

[McSam]

Alfa numeric said:

Lotus builds a Noble. No bad thing.

I've not wanted a rally car so bad since I saw a Lancia 037 when I was 10.

This stuff all looks brilliant, a nice way to make the most of what they've got now while all the new models come on stream.

[VeeTEC]

HeMightBeBanned said:

So why announce a car with a new engine, if you don't want to say what the engine is? FFS.

Calm down. I said sometimes.

It's a 2ZR, like the link above says.

[Agoogy]

New Exige is a stylistic fail compared to the pervious gen.
New Elise looks like something that'd fit nicely inbetween the original and gen 2
Evora is a grower and no mistake...

[Thorburn]

Thorburn said:

Most likely the 2ZR-FAE.

Looks like I was slightly out, 2ZR-FE not the 2ZR-FAE. Presumably because the 2ZR-FE has a slightly lower compression ratio. Paired up with a Magnuson R900 supercharger utilising Eaton TVS™ technology.

[bobsan]

great to see Lotus moving forward with what appears to be a strong game plan for the next decade, however all this will amount to nothing in a heart beat if they can't match the build quality of counterparts, and that's been achilles heel for as lone as I can remember.

[Grodecki]

The exige looks phenominal. Wow.

[ludicrous speed]

The old Elise/Exige headlights looked much better. Evora GTE looks fantastic!

[Adrian W]

P Zero Corsa's are out of production, Lotus must have a very large warehouse full of them,

[98elise]

Now stop all these positive comments about Lotus, this is PH after all