lotus

2010 Geneva Motor Show: The Anglo File

You'll have to search long and hard to find a British automaker that's still owned by Brits these days. Bentley? Volkswagen. Mini? BMW. Lotus? Malaysian state carmaker Proton. Land Rover, Jaguar? Indian automaker Tata. But don't think, not even for one minute, that the industry isn't still alive and striving in the UK. In fact some of our favorite automobiles come from there, even if the cashflow is traversing overseas.

With the major motor shows in the UK paling in comparison to the scope of Geneva, the annual Swiss auto salon is – much like it is for the other European carmaking nations – Britain's chance to show the world what they've got. And show us they did. Follow the jump to see how.

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Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid to Debut at Geneva Motor Show

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid teaser – Click above to enlarge

Lotus has just formally introduced a new 400-plus horsepower sportscar concept. That news in and of itself would be enough to pique our interest, but the rest of the car's spec sheet makes the Evora 414E Hybrid an astonishingly intriguing concept vehicle. As you surely surmised by now, this two-seat sportster is a hybrid, specifically an extended-range electric vehicle that features a pair of rear-mounted electric motors and a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gas-powered engine. Why not fully electric? According to Lotus:

With regard to the total lifetime CO2 emissions of the vehicle, including the energy required to manufacture and run it, the range extender solution has a lower overall CO2 footprint than a fully electric car of comparable performance and operating range running with a larger battery.

That 47-horsepower gasoline engine never actually sends power directly to the Evora 414E Hybrid's wheels. Instead – as with other cars such as the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the Fisker Karma – the mill is used to recharge the onboard 17 kilowatt-hour lithium polymer battery pack, which is centrally mounted down the middle of the car for optimal weight distribution. That battery pack can provide up to 35 miles of gasoline-free driving per full charge.

Because each rear wheel has a separate connection to its own electric motor, Lotus has programmed in torque vectoring for stability control of the vehicle. This means that a complex set of software algorithms can provide the same kind of benefits as rear-wheel steering and exaggerated toe-in without the expense or efficiency losses of a mechanical system. Each rear wheel puts down 204 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

Further, though the actual transmission has only one forward ratio, Lotus has programmed in seven artificial "gears" that the driver can row through via a set of column-mounted paddle shifters. Also included is the HALOsonic Internal and External Electronic Sound Synthesis technologies from Lotus and Harman International that pipes artificial sound to both the cabin and outside to pedestrians. Want more? There's plenty to be gleaned in the exhaustive press release that you'll find after the break. Sadly, just one lone copper-topped teaser image, which you can enlarge by clicking above.

[Source: Lotus]

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First "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Specials Fetching Big Bucks at Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

A Lotus may seem like an exotic supercar, but the superlight British machines never approach the six-figure prices you'd expect from the likes of Ferrari or Lamborghini. But even that can change in the name of good will.

The first three examples of the special-edition "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Evoras, created in conjunction with supermodel Naomi Campbell on which we reported recently, went up for auction during London Fashion Week, fetching prices in excess of GBP 300,000, or nearly $500,000 American. Campbell's boyfriend Vladimir Doronin got his hands on the first one. The remaining five examples are up for auction now at naomiforhaiti.com, with bidding ending on February 28.

Tags: auction, charity, charity auction, CharityAuction, disaster relief, DisasterRelief, evora, haiti, london fashion week, LondonFashionWeek, lotus, lotus evora, lotus evora naomi for haiti, LotusEvora, LotusEvoraNaomiForHaiti, naomi campbell, naomi for haiti, NaomiCampbell, NaomiForHaiti, vladimir doronin, VladimirDoronin

Lotus and Naomi Campbell Team Up for Haiti Relief

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

Lotus isn't the first to pitch in for the relief efforts in Haiti. And godwilling, it won't be the last. But it is the latest, and every bit helps. The British sportscar-maker has teamed up with supermodel Naomi Campbell for a limited run of special Evora sportscars that will be auctioned off, with proceeds going towards relief on the disaster-struck Caribbean island.

Each of the eight examples of the "Naomi for Haiti" edition Lotus Evora gets a special paintjob designed by Campbell and Lotus, bearing the Haitian flag, coupled with a special interior and all the options. The first example will be auctioned off live during London Fashion Week, with the seven remaining examples up for grabs at naomiforhaiti.com.

Gallery: Lotus Evora "Naomi for Haiti"

Tags: campbell, disaster relief, DisasterRelief, evora, haiti, haiti relief, HaitiAid, HaitiEarthquake, HaitiRelief, lotus, lotus evora, LotusEvora, naomi, naomi campbell, naomi for haiti, NaomiCampbell, NaomiForHaiti

Gold Lotus Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Not an unheard of shape for a clutch but certainly not that common either, this Gold Lotus Clutch by Lotus Arts de Vivre is made of bamboo with reinforced decorative sterling silver corners. The lotus design is handpainted by a 'celebrated Balinese artist' (they don't say who) and makes for a nice mix of gold pattern and silver hardware, which both contrast nicely against solid black. I personally love the way this bag looks but think it might be awkward to open and close if you're the sort who gets into your handbag a lot. $950

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Tags: clutch, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, lotus

Tokyo 2009: Lotus Exige Stealth is Black You Can Feel

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

This year's Tokyo didn't have much in the way of luxurious items, but the three it did have -- the Lexus LF-A, Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo Long Wheelbase, and this, the Lotus Exige Stealth (Exige Scura in Europe) -- were all worthy of our attention. The limited-edition Lotus, of which just 35 will be made, even added to its luxe quotient with a feel-good factor: its paint isn't just matte black, it's got texture.

Matte cars are fabulous to behold until they leave the showroom, then it takes nothing more than an errant piece of lint to scratch the bejeezus out of them. To combat that, Lotus painted the Stealth in the shiny black stuff that comprises the stripes, then blocked those off and painted the car again in a proprietary, rubberized matte paint that spoils your fingers with a soft, fuzzy feel.

Lotus claims it is up to five times more resistant to marking and peeling than other finishes. But wait, there's more: Lotus is only making 35 Stealths, so if you've been looking for a kinder, gentler black on the outside to go with carbon fiber and 260 horsepower inside, then you'll want to place a call to Bruce Chapman's company.

Gallery: Lotus Exige Stealth

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Tags: exige, exige scura, exige stealth, ExigeScura, ExigeStealth, lotus, lotus exige, lotus exige stealth, LotusExige, LotusExigeStealth, scura, wheels

Lotus Welcomes new CEO with new Special Editions

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Lotus is making a comeback. Following its early success in Formula One and the James Bond years with sports cars that put the company on the map, the British automaker changed management and ownership a few times, its once legendary product line dwindled down to one as the engineering powerhouse tried to carve out a niche for itself. But with the new Evora joining to Elise/Exige line on the market and a successor to the iconic Esprit on the way, Lotus is experiencing a renaissance. The company has been under reliable Malaysian ownership now for several years, is reportedly considering getting back into Formula One, and has just announced the hiring of a promising new chief executive.

After having engineered the success of beverage giant Red Bull, Dany Bahar moved to Ferrari just a couple of years ago, taking a new seat at the head of the company's newly created branding and marketing division. But following the resignation this past July of outgoing Lotus CEO Michael Kimberley, Bahar has been announced as the company's new chief. And as if to welcome their new director, Lotus has announced two new special editions of its core products.

Based on the new supercharged Exige S, the Exige Cup 260 takes advantage of weight-saving technologies to tip the scales at less than two thousand pounds. Following Lotus founder Colin Chapman's less-is-more mantra, the Exige Cup 260 needs only a tiny 1.8-liter 260hp supercharged Toyota inline-four engine to reach sixty in four seconds flat, and promises to lap the race track faster than machines with twice as much power. Following a similar ethos, the new Club Racer is based on the less extreme Elise model and goes back to the company's roots with throwback color options, special interior trimmings and new lightweight wheels with specially-made tires, selling in Europe for about €34k. But whether you can get your hands on one of these special editions or not, it's clear that Lotus is back to stay.

Tags: bahar, dany, dany bahar, DanyBahar, lotus, lotus ceo, lotus elise club racer, lotus exige, lotus exige cup 260, LotusCeo, LotusEliseClubRacer, LotusExige, LotusExigeCup260, michael kimberley, MichaelKimberley

James Bond's Lotus Up for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

A Lotus Esprit Turbo (above) driven by Roger Moore as James Bond in 1981's For Your Eyes Only is being auctioned off in England this weekend. The copper metallic car with a ski rack fitted to the rear louvers is expected to fetch up to $200,000 at Coys' Blenheim Palace sale in Oxfordshire on Saturday the 18th. While not as iconic as the amphibious white Lotus Esprit driven by Bond in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me - which as we reported previously went on the auction block last year - it's still an incredible piece of 007 memorabilia for any collector. The car on offer was previously sold in 2006 for $210,000, making it officially the world's most expensive Lotus Esprit Turbo.

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Tags: 007, Coys, James Bond, JamesBond, Lotus, Lotus Esprit, LotusEsprit, movies, Roger Moore, RogerMoore, UK

Hertz Italiana receives Fleet of Lotus Elise SCs

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

There are plenty of great ways to see Italy, but few are as exciting as driving an exotic sportscar through the picturesque Mediterranean country. Fortunately the Italians have plenty of lust-worthy machinery on offer, but if you're looking for something a little different, a little lighter, a little more...British, then car rental company Hertz may be able to help you out. The agency's Italian locations just received a fleet of Lotus Elise SC sportscars as part of their Fun Collection, and they're ready for you to rent. The Elise SC packs a compact Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four cylinder engine with a supercharger producing a modest 218 horsepower, but with a curb weight of less than 2000 lbs it can rocket to sixty in just 4.3 seconds and whisk you around the Italian countryside in pure octane-induced bliss.

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Tags: elise, elise sc, EliseSc, exotic rental, ExoticRental, hertz, hertz italiana, hertz lotus, HertzItaliana, HertzLotus, lotus, lotus elise, lotus elise sc, LotusElise, LotusEliseSc, rent a car, RentACar, rental

Halekulani Resort Debuts Custom Exotic Auto Fleet

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

At $7,000 per night, the Premier Suites at the beachside Halekulani resort in Hawaii are among the world's priciest. However, the posh getaway has just added a luxurious new amenity that gets you a lot more bang for the buck. Called "Art in Motion," the program consists of a fleet of custom designed exotic autos, included at no additional charge as part of the Premier Suite guest experience. These include the Royal Suite, the Vera Wang Suite and the Orchid Suite.

The fleet features a Bentley Continental GTC convertible (above), Maserati Gran Turismo, Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige S. With the Bentley and Maserati guests have the option of being chauffeured around the glorious landscape in Waikiki, while the Lotus collection features GPS-guided thematic tours of the island, such as Culture, Adventure and Romance. Each car also comes with personalized leisure itineraries prepared by a Halekulani concierge.

Gallery: Haute Luxe Halekulani

Tags: Beach, Bentley, Halekulani, Hawaii, Hotel, Hotel suites, HotelSuites, Lotus, Maserati, Resort, Vera Wang, VeraWang

Rare Ferraris & More in Paris Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Earlier this month my colleague Deidre Woollard wrote about the rare $8 million Bugatti found in a barn, which is being auctioned off in Paris on Feb. 7. While that may be the highest priced lot in Bonhams' Retromobile sale, there are several other gorgeous classic cars on offer as well, including some beautiful rare Ferraris, at much better prices. For starters, there's a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB 'Alloy' Berlinetta (above), estimated at about $2 million - $2.5 million. Also included are a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder, est. about $400,000 - $550,000; an incredible 1964 Lotus 30 Mk1 Group 7 Sports-Racer, est. about $300,000 - $450,000; a 1962 Maserati 5000GT Coupé, est. about $460,000 - $600,000; the ex-New York Auto Show 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead Coupé, est. about $280,000 - $340,000; and more.

Gallery: Bonhams Retromobile Sale

1964 Lotus 30 Mk1 Group 7 Sports-Racer C

1972 Ferrari 365GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta

1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead Coupé

Tags: Bonhams, Bugatti, Classic cars, ClassicCars, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati, Paris, Rolls-Royce

Bond's 1976 Lotus Esprit Auctioned at �111,500

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Last month we mentioned the upcoming auction for the 1976 Lotus Esprit from one of the best 007 movies over the years. Recently, a private collector in the U.S. purchased the iconic car from the 1977 James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Sir Roger Moore and Barbara Bach. Bond's car was expected to fetch up to £120,000. The bid for the 1976 Lotus Esprit was made over the phone during the Bonhams sale by a self-proclaimed Lotus and Bond aficionado in Atlanta, Georgia. If you never saw 1977 film it was the third of seven Bond films Moore starred in and his action-packed scene from land to sea in his amphibious Lotus Esprit is pretty impressive. Too bad Mr. Atlanta won't be able to use his new purchase underwater like Bond did.

[via Luxury Launches]

Gallery: Lotus Esprit

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Tags: 007, barbara bach, BarbaraBach, james bond, JamesBond, Lotus, lotus esprit, LotusEsprit, sir roger moore, SirRogerMoore, the spy who loved me, TheSpyWhoLovedMe

James Bond's Lotus Esprit Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

On December 1, Bonhams in London will auction off the famous white 1976 Lotus Esprit driven by Roger Moore as James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me (one of two made). Next to the classic Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger, the Lotus, which was amphibious in the movie, stands out as the iconic Bond vehicle. Estimated at about $160,000 to $190,000, it does not unfortunately come equipped with the gadgetry deployed by Moore in the film during his eventful ride with the beautiful Barbara Bach, including a cement sprayer, sea-to-air missiles, front-mounted torpedoes, ink-cloud dispenser and mine launcher. However it does afford the purchaser a chance to join the Ian Fleming Foundation, which my colleague Deidre Woollard wrote about the other day.

[via Men.Style]

Tags: 007, Barbara Bach, BarbaraBach, Bonhams, James Bond, JamesBond, Lotus, Lotus Esprit, LotusEsprit, Roger Moore, RogerMoore, the spy who loved me, TheSpyWhoLovedMe

Floor Ferraris and F1's at the Ascari Race Resort

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

For the price of a $160,000 membership plus a $6,500 annual fee, you can get 50 days of high-speed driving in a fleet of supercars at Spain's lavish Ascari Race Resort. Situated in the dramatic southern Andalusian mountains, the Ascari consists of a luxury resort complex adjacent to a 3.4 mile racetrack designed to replicate famous Formula 1 courses. The resort features of a ten-villa luxury hotel, spa, salon, clay shooting range, pools, bars and a helicopter pad to take guests to a beautiful beach 15 minutes away. The fleet of cars ranges from several race-prepped Lotus Elises and BMWs to ex-Formula 1 machines and Ascari's own brand of supercar. However, they can procure Ferraris, Lamborghinis or "just about anything you could wish to drive on the circuit, given time and sufficient credit card headroom," BusinessWeek notes. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: Ascari Race Resort

Tags: Ascari, Ascari Race Resort, AscariRaceResort, Ferrari, Formula 1, Formula1, Lotus, Spain, Supercar

Diamond Europa Celebrates 60 Years of Lotus

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Our sister site (brother site?), autoblog, a few days ago posted the news that British sports car manufacturer Lotus celebrated its 60th birthday on September 14 at its Hethel headquarters in England with a special edition of the Europa. Specially configured for the diamond anniversary to appeal to the socialite-type set, the special custom gear shift lever and other switches are in-set with diamonds in black metal. The high-gloss black paint has tiny bits of glass in it, boasting more sparkle than an average metallic finish. The Europa also gets some unspecified performance upgrades that give it a sub-five-second 0-60 dash and 146 mph at the top end. We don't know, though, if this £150,000 Europa is a one-of-a-kind or if Lotus is planning to build more. Autoblog has the full press release.

Tags: car, cars, Europa, Lotus, Lotus 60th birthday, Lotus60thBirthday

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