Lotus, Ltd. - North America's Largest Lotus Car Club


CLICK HERE FOR
LOG 29 INFO!

LOG 29 to be held
May 28 through June 1 Birmingham, AL

Lotus Ltd. Club Apparel

 

Other News:

ProActive #26 May/June 2008 - Official Newsletter of Lotus Engineering

 

Rocky Mtn Sportscars Newsletter February 2008

 

Club Lotus Australia October 2008 Newsletter

 

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Start Planning NOW for LOG 29

LOG 29 is earlier than usual next year, May 28 - June 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Alabama. The Wynfrey Hotel is wonderful and the largest shopping mall in Alabama is directly attached to the hotel. Barber Motorsports Park is the venue for the Saturday concours, Sunday autocross and Monday track day. Birmingham is a beautiful area of the country and well worth the drive. Take a look at the LOG 29 website and begin planning how you're going to fit LOG 29 into your 2009 schedule.

LOTUS reMARQUE NOTICE

Mailer problems affected the delivery of a small number of copies of the Nov/Dec 08 issue of LOTUS reMARQUE. Any current member who failed to receive his or her copy should email hq@lotuscarclub.org and request a replacement.

Club Caps Are Available

Lotus, Ltd. has a limited supply of the new style club caps that were produced earlier this year. Both are produced in bright "Lotus Yellow" with the Lotus, Ltd. club badge embroidered in 3 colors on the front. The regular club hat (left) retails at $12 plus $4 shipping. The fancier model with a white/black flare on the peak (right) is $15 plus $4 shipping.

To purchase one of these great caps, please send your name, shipping address, desired cap style, along with a check prepayment to Lotus, Ltd., P.O. Box L, College Park, MD 20741.

The 2009 Model Year Lotus Exige Cup 260

Extensive use of carbon fibre and lightweight components for the latest homologated-for-the-road Lotus Exige Cup 260

Lotus Cars Ltd, has unveiled the MY2009 Exige Cup 260.  A direct development of the 2008 Exige Cup Car, this year’s car uses advanced light weight components and carbon fibre body material, to reduce the overall weight by 38 kg to a total mass less than 900 kg. Maximum power output of 257 hp (260 PS), remains the same as the 2008 car, but with careful attention to weight reduction detail, the 2009 Model Year Exige Cup 260 provides a more agile and dynamic track focused drive and is more than capable of taming Europe’s most challenging race circuits.

Unusually for such a focused track and road machine, the 2009 Model Year Exige Cup 260 is fully homologated for road use in Europe and key markets in Asia - a must have for many race competition programmes where a road legal car has to be entered.  The Lotus Exige Cup 260 is also eligible to compete in the newly announced 2009 Lotus Cup Europe race series organized and run by LoTRDC.

The Exige Cup 260 exploits the Lotus philosophy of using weight reduction to increase performance and reduce emissions.
Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus commented, “Lotus is now recognised globally as one of the leaders in the green automotive revolution. Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus is attributed as saying “Adding power makes you faster on the straights; adding lightness makes you faster everywhere” and this statement is more relevant today than it ever has been, as decreasing weight increases the car’s performance and most importantly efficiency.”

The Exige Cup 260 follows this philosophy closely - the weight saving programme has looked at all areas of the car where components can be replaced with a lighter version (without pushing the costs beyond the reach of the serious track day driver or clubman racer) or where components can be removed completely without detracting from the purity of the driving experience:

Carbon fibre (resulting in a weight saving of 12kg):
· FIA and HANS compliant Driver and Passenger Seats
· One piece Carbon Fibre Dash Top Panel
· Rear Tailgate
· Front Access Panels
· Front Splitter
· Side air intake ducts
· Rear Spoiler

Lightweight components (resulting in a further weight saving of 22kg):
· Ultra-light 12 Spoke Forged Alloy Wheels
· Revised Engine Subframe with lightweight Coating
· Lightweight Fly Wheel
· Lightweight composite bulkhead replaces rear window
· Alloy Supercharger U bend pipes
· Footwell Pads

Removing some other non essential components and equipment such as the interior and boot carpets, front mudflaps, battery cover, interior mirror, sunvisors, rear tailgate gas strut, results in a further weight saving of 4kg.
However, should a customer wish, air conditioning and an interior noise reduction pack are available, together with the complete range of Lotus metallic, lifestyle and premium paint colours.

The MY2009 Exige Cup 260 weighs in at just 890 kg, giving an impressive power to weight ratio of 288 hp / tonne (291 PS / tonne).  But, of course, power to weight alone does not make a highly competitive race or track car, so in addition, the Exige Cup 260 has a formidable list of standard performance focused equipment, as follows:-

Wheels and Tyres
Ultra lightweight wheels, that reduce the unsprung mass and contribute a weight saving of approximately 10 kg (22 lbs) over the already super light forged Exige wheels, are shod with Lotus specific LTS construction and compound Yokohama A048 LTS tyres to maximise grip and achieve the ride and handling targets set by Lotus Engineering.

Safety Equipment
Lotus Exige Cup 260 cars have the safety equipment expected of a race car, with FIA and HANS compliant carbon fibre lightweight sports seats*, normal 3-point “Webb Lock” harnesses (four or six point driver and passenger seat belt harnesses are available for track use only).
(* The seats are FIA compliant when fitted in conjunction with fixed seat runners that are available as a track only dealer fit option).
A high tensile steel roll over hoop is now fitted with a body coloured Lotus Sport A-Frame as standard and the chassis is already pre-drilled to fit a full front roll cage – a simple dealer fit process involving just the removal of the roof panel for access prior to fitting.  Completing the additional safety equipment is a FIA compliant electronic ignition kill switch, with cockpit and external activation, and a FIA compliant plumbed electrically activated fire extinguisher system, again with cockpit and external switches.
Like all current Lotus cars, the Exige Cup 260 is built around a very strong extruded and bonded aluminium chassis tub.  Attached to the chassis is a sacrificial energy absorbing composite front structure designed to help absorb crash energy in the event of impact.

Suspension
Eibach springs, one way adjustable Bilstein dampers and a stiffened and adjustable front anti-roll bar allows customers to tailor the handling characteristics of the car to their own requirements.
As the Exige Cup 260 cars are equipped for track use, a double shear track control arm brace is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during racing or hard track day driving.

Brakes
The brake system includes large diameter 308 mm 2-piece aluminium belled cast iron cross-drilled and ventilated front discs and 282 mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs at the rear, upgraded Pagid RS14 sports brake pads set into the brake calipers (AP Racing two piece radially mounted, 4 piston at the front and Brembo sliding at the rear), and stainless steel braided brake hoses - all linked to the proven Lotus track tuned servo-assisted four-channel ABS system that enhances braking performance and minimizes stopping distance without taking over from the skill of the driver.

Performance, Economy and Emissions
The Exige Cup 260 is one of the quickest road cars around a circuit.  Key to this incredible performance is the aerodynamic package, which produces over 40 kg of downforce at 160 kmh increasing grip and stability at higher speeds.  With a top speed of circa 245 kmh (152 mph) and a zero to 160 kmh (100 mph) in circa 9.9 seconds, 0 to 100 kmh in circa 4.1 seconds (0 to 60 mph in circa 4 seconds), the MY2009 Exige Cup 260 is the perfect partner for the serious racer.  Combined Fuel Consumption is 9.1 l/100km and the CO2 emissions 216 g/km.

Engine
The supercharged and intercooled engine in the Exige Cup 260 has a maximum power output of 260 PS (257 hp) at 8000 rpm and a torque figure of 236 Nm (174 lbft) at 6000 rpm.  This significant amount of extra power and torque now available together with the VVTL-i variable cam system ensures that there is a smooth and linear delivery of power from low engine speeds all the way to the maximum 8000 rpm (8500 rpm transient for 2 seconds).  The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engine’s oil) is run from the crankshaft and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation.  Charge air (air under pressure from the supercharger) is cooled through an air-to-air intercooler (the air enters via the enhanced roof scoop) before being fed into the engine itself.  All charge air ducting has been kept as short as possible with large diameter pipes to minimise restriction and maximise throttle response and efficiency.  Four high capacity injectors and an uprated fuel pump add additional fuel under hard acceleration or continuous high speed driving.

A lightweight flywheel is fitted (giving even greater flexibility and response to the gear change), a sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfer the engine power and torque to the lightweight C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminium casing) – with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the Exige S.  A torque-sensing limited slip differential is fitted as standard, with a plate type limited slip differential available as an option.  An Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit) is included in the whole package as an oil reservoir back-up for extreme track use ensuring that, under those conditions, the engine oil pressure remains constant.

Electrical supply is provided by a lightweight motorsport battery which saves a massive 5 kg of weight sitting behind the rear axle – again weight saving is not just the removal of mass but ensuring that this mass is removed where it most effects performance and handling.

Lotus Launch Control and Lotus Traction Control
Keen to pass on lessons learned on the track with the Exige GT3 racing programme, Lotus Sport has contributed another important technology – launch control combined with variable traction control.  This combination has already made its production debut with the track-oriented Lotus 2-Eleven.

The launch control allows the driver to determine the number of revs they wish to use during a standing start.  Having programmed that limit, the driver then holds their foot down fully on the throttle pedal and sidesteps the clutch pedal for a very quick departure from the line.  The clutch damper cushions the severity of the clutch to transmission engagement to minimise the stresses to the drivetrain.  The launch control also keeps wheel-spin at bay until 6 mph, after which the traction control assumes its duties.

As with launch control, the driver can control the amount of traction control you require from the driver’s seat, altering it on the move to suit the characteristics of particular corners.  The amount of traction control can be varied in over 30 increments from an optimum 7 percent tyre slip to completely off.  The message display in the new instrument pack displays what degree of traction control you have currently dialled in.

Roof Scoop
For 2009, the Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260 now has a high flow, full-length carbon roof scoop as part of the lightweight carbon roof panel, which not only saves 4 kg but also ensures efficient cooling through the intercooler, which in turn allows the Exige Cup 260 to gain a higher charge density in the cylinders.

Specification
The standard specification Lotus Exige Cup 260 is road legal within the European Union, and can be registered for road use.
The Exige Cup 260 is available now for sale in mainland Europe. Individual recommended retail prices for some major European markets are listed below:

Warranty
The Lotus Exige Cup 260 will have a limited manufacturer’s warranty unless used for competition or timed runs. Any type of timed or competitive vehicle use requires that a suitably qualified specialist applies expert levels of vehicle preparation, servicing and maintenance. The purchaser’s statutory rights are not affected.

Lotus "Evora"

Lotus Evora Chassis

Not just a city on Portugal, but the new Lotus as well. Evora is located in the Alentejo Province, a region of wide plains to the south of the Tagus River (Rio Tejo). In the heart of this region, at a distance of 130 km from Lisbon, lies the city of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Part of the town is enclosed by ancient walls and has been preserved in its original state, aswell as its monuments dating from various historical periods. It was known by the Romans as Liberalitas Julia, and vestiges from this period (walls and rooms) and the monumental imperial temple (Diana's temple), still remain. During the barbarian invasions, Évora was under Visigoth rule. It occupied a space defined by a Roman enclosure that had been modified. In 715, the city was conquered by the Muslims.

Évora was wrested from the moors by the Christian Knight Geraldo Sempavor in 1166 and flourished as one of the most dynamic cities in the Kingdom of Portugal during Middle Ages. The court was resident here for long spells and Évora became the scene for many royal weddings and a place where many important decisions were made. Particularly thriving during the Avis Dynasty (1385-1580), it was formerly a major center for the humanities.

 

Lotus "Evora"

TheNew Distinctive, Mid-engined,
2+2 Sportscar from Lotus

Eagerly anticipated and making its official global debut at the British Motorshow in London on July 22nd, the first all-new
car from Lotus since the iconic Elise in 1995, will enter the sportscar market as the only mid-engined 2+2 in production.

The new car, which is known only by its project name ‘Eagle’, is a more holistic offering than the Elise and Exige models that have been so massively popular with track day enthusiasts. The car, the name for which will be announced at the British Motorshow on July at an 11:30 press conference, is designed for people who desire exotic sportscar characteristics
of stunning design, exclusivity, dramatic proportions and performance. Project Eagle also offers real-world usability and a unique sense of occasion.

Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 producing 280 PS, the new car employs innovative lightweight chassis technology to ensure visceral all-round dynamic performance, in keeping with the great Lotus tradition. Even in the very early stages of development testing, Lotus ride and handling engineers report that it is considerably faster around the famously demanding Nürburgring circuit than
the Elise and more stable at speed than the Exige.

Inside, Project Eagle cocoons occupants with a sumptuous leather surfaces juxtaposed with contemporary high-tech features. With driver focused instrumentation the driver sits in cockpit-esque surroundings. A beautifully appointed dash boasts tactile details such as flush-mounted controls that glow with blue LED haloes and a stylised speedometer and rev counter ensuring
that controls are both attractive and accessible.

Styled in-house by Lotus Design, the Project Eagle’s sleek, sophisticated and attention-snaring lines brilliantly disguise its ability to accommodate passengers in the rear of the cabin, giving the car the external characteristics of a small, nimble sportscar whilst belying its internal space. As well as being sold in a 2+2 configuration, the car will also be available as a purely two- seater, the space in the rear being allocated to luggage storage. Other derivatives are also planned for the future, including a convertible and an ultrahigh performance version.

Deliveries of Project Eagle will begin in Spring 2009, and with only 2000 of the hand crafted cars planned each year, this exclusive and unique car is creating a real stir with celebrity enthusiasts around the world. Hollywood actor and
car enthusiast Patrick Dempsey is just one of the high profile collectors who are on the waiting list for a test drive.

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc, had this to say about the new model: “Project Eagle is the biggest milestone Lotus has achieved since the Elise was born 13 years ago. We are currently working at broadening the appeal of the Lotus brand through an aggressive 5-year model plan of which this car represents the first exciting step.”

Project Eagle in Detail:

Project Eagle is the first of three new models included in the CEO’s (Mike Kimberley) five year strategic business plan initiated in October 2006 to support Lotus’ growth.

Design

Designed in-house by Lotus Design, Head of Design, Russell Carr, explains “Project Eagle’s dynamically sculptured form and dramatic proportions communicate visual drama, speed and agility even when the car is standing still. Sportscars are primarily an emotional rather than a rational purchase and so the design must seduce with its beauty and distinctive character. However,
the modern customer also demands that the product offers real-world usability as well as exotic imagery. Therefore every element of the car’s exterior and interior has been carefully designed to create a product that offers comfort and
convenience as well as traditional performance car attributes.”

A design language of dynamic lines and fluid surfaces that flow from the ‘Lotus –mouth’ and over the length the cars toned form are unmistakably ‘modern Lotus’. They instantly convey a sense of agility and athleticism that is intrinsic to the car’s driving persona. On Project Eagle they are complemented by the distinctive wraparound visor screen but have been subtly tailored to suit the more sophisticated character of the car, optimise high-speed aerodynamics and artfully disguise the unique 2+2 layout. The cab forward proportion combines with muscular haunches and optimised intake detailing to instantly inform the viewer that this is a serious mid-engine sportscar. Elsewhere a Lotus philosophy for combining function with beauty is evident in the
downforce generating, top exit radiator vent, rear diffuser and rear wing.

Inside the car the forms echo the exterior with fast moving surfaces that wrap around the cockpit cosseting the occupants, the contrast colour band that flows from the instrument cluster and sweeps around the cabin highlights this theme. “We recognise that ‘touch’ not only assists with driving enjoyment but also conveys messages about quality and therefore great attention has been paid to all the areas where the driver interfaces with the car.” Carr explains. Figure hugging adjustable sports seats and flat-bottomed steering wheel instantly communicate the driving potential of the car. Project Eagle employs premium quality material and finishes to create an exclusive, British handcrafted ambience that is unique in this price segment. Modern, precision- engineered aluminium inserts and hi-fi quality, edge-lit switches are brilliantly juxtaposed against the traditional contrast stitched leather panels.Everyday convenience is catered for through ergonomically located touch screen SAT NAV, remote release glove box, storage bins and integrated “cup holders”.

Technology

In a world launch by partners Alpine, Project Eagle boasts a truly cutting edge in-car entertainment and navigation system. The multi-media system features a 7in touch-screen providing advanced audio, satellite navigation, Bluetooth hands-free telephone and iPod® connectivity functions; the screen also serves as a monitor for Project Eagle’s optional reversing camera. The satellite navigation element of the system has a removable hard-drive, allowing you to programme it from the comfort of your home or use it as a roaming satellite navigation unit and MP3 player.

The Alpine audio set-up is one of the most sophisticated automotive systems in the world. Called IMPRINT and using MultEQ sound enhancement technology, it is able to cancel out imbalances in the sound caused by different areas of the cabin – window glass, for instance, creates echoes, while carpets suppress mid-range frequencies – resulting in amazingly crisp,
clear, undistorted sound reproduction wherever you are seated in the car.

A bespoke progressive air-conditioning system developed by Bergstrom is standard on all models, while on-board tyre pressure monitoring will be either standard or optional depending on model and market. And in deference to the
American market in particular, a module in the headlining will accommodate automatic garage and gate opening remote controls.

Interior space and accommodation

The rear seats of 2+2 versions of Project Eagle are intended for children or smaller adults on short journeys. To maximise comfort in the rear, there is foot-room under the seats in front, while both back seats feature ISOFIX mountings for secure child seat fitment.

When unoccupied, the rear seats provide a convenient stowage area for briefcases and jackets, adding to Project Eagle’s appeal as an everyday car. The boot, which ingeniously features a fresh air cooling system to reduce the effect of heat ingress from the engine bay, will accommodate a set of golf clubs. A two-seater derivative of Project Eagle is planned and will have a luggage shelf in the back replacing the two rear seats.

Safety

Lotus’ Project Eagle conforms to all regulatory standards and in addition boasts additional safety features; Lotus aluminium chassis technology applied to Project Eagle’s provides the car with immense inherent strength, particularly in regard to side impacts and a tubular steel seatbelt anchorage frame that also acts as a rollover structure.Anti-lock brakes are standard on all models, as are traction and stability controls; these systems have been specially developed in co-operation with Bosch to provide enhanced safety features whilst maintaining performance characteristics.

Under the Bonnet

Lotus continues its excellent working relationship with Toyota, world leaders in engine development and manufacture and Formular1 competitors. For Project Eagle Lotus has modified Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6, with dual VVT-i (‘intelligent’
variable valve timing) for optimum performance.

Performance

At the time of unveiling, full performance figures for the new Lotus will not have been compiled on a production specification car, however Lotus has a further 6 months of development time to conduct these before Project Eagle is available to test drive. While for Lotus top speed is of less importance than stability at speed, early indications suggest a maximum speed of 160 mph; the 0-60 mph sprint from standstill is estimated at sub 5 seconds (prototype figures).

 

LOTUS LTD. CLUB APPAREL
NOW AVAILABLE!

 

Show pride in your club with custom Lotus Ltd. apparel - now available at the club store! Follow this link.

  • Click : Lotus Ltd. Store to reveal a list of apparel items
  • Click: on the item type you want
  • You will be taken to a listing of the items with photos
  • Click on the photo of the item, you will be taken to a page with a close up on the item with a description. The upper right hand corner will ask for the quantity and will ask you to choose a color.
  • Then you will be taken to a page with a listing of size and price
  • In the lower right is a box for packing slip text. This allows you to put a note with the shipment. It is not necessary to pt a note here.
  • Just below that box is a link to select a logo.
  • It will take you to a screen to select a logo. Pull that box down and click "Lotus Ltd. Car Club". At a future date there may be more than one type of logo available. Currently there is only one choice :Ltd. Car Club".
  • Click "Add to cart" at the lower right.
  • You will be taken to a list of the you have selected. Then click proceed to check out.
  • You will be taken to a credit card order form. Fill out the boxes required. The shipping charge is automatically figured at the bottom of the form.
  • Continue to check out to complete your order.
Site last updated December 3, 2008. Click here to contact the webmaster.

Lotus, Ltd. is an independent car club not affiliated with Group Lotus, Lotus Cars USA, Team Lotus or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.