Parent company of Lotus acquired by Malaysian company DRB-Hicom
By admin | January 26, 2012
Khazanah Nasional Bhd which has a 43% stake with Proton, the mother company of Lotus, has sold its ownership of the car manufacturing firm to DRB-Hicom which is also Malaysian owned. The deal was sealed for $410 million.
The new owner of Proton is known for its investments in power generation, transportation, and automotive services. It belongs to the portfolio of companies owned by Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, a Malaysian billionare.
The purchase which gives the new owner control over Proton follows a month after the approval of the bid of DRB-Hicom by former PM Mahathir Mohamad who is also the Proton founder.
DRB-Hicom is not at the helm of car factories which can produce around 350,000 vehicles annually. More significantly, DRB-HiCom also gains control of the sports car brand Lotus.
Fans of the British brand might be a bit wary with this buyout since it is not certain yet if the new owner will keep Lotus since it has not been bringing in money since its acquisition of Proton in 1996. Some experts are suggesting that the Lotus might be sold once Proton is controlled by a private company.
There are some parties though who have shown interest to the sports car brand. There is a loud buzz that Genii Capital wants to acquire Lotus after all the company is part owner of the grandprix team under the banner of Lotus Renault. Some Chinese companies have also expressed interest. Proton also did not bring in any profit since 2009.
Connected to this news, General Motors was also in negotiation with Proton last month for a possibility of a joint venture to be executed in Malaysia so it can tap the market of Southeast Asia. It is not yet clear if the latest purchase will have any effects on these talks.
Topics: Lotus, Proton | No Comments »
Lotus kicks off karting program to fish for young talents
By admin | October 24, 2011
Group Lotus has officially fielded a team to the 2012 World Karting Championship n the hopes of discovering young, racing talent.
This move makes Lotus the first carmaker to have a representative in the entry level automotive sport which is actually a good venue to discover fresh talents. Among the biggest names in the world of motorsport today traces their roots to kart racing. The best example perhaps will be Sebastian Vettel, the current World Champion in F1 Racing. Other names are F1 bigwigs Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Lotus is not only after fresh racing talents but also make most of the opportunity to collaborate with young individuals who understands engineering and car designing.
The brand will be carrying the banner Lotus Racing Karts under the umbrella of the Motorsport Division of Lotus. Lotus will be collaborating with Jefra Racing to field the karting team to the racing circuit. Jefra Racing, headquartered in Treviso, Italy has about four decades of racing history under its belt.
The production of the racing karts will be relegated to the engineering specialist Wildkart who has been involved in aeronautics since 1996 and have been producing karts starting 2002. The company is regarded these days as an authority in producing kart components and chassis. Just like Lotus Wildkart has also high standards when it comes to technology, looking for innovations, new technology, and development.
The main man to impress from Lotus is Franc Jerancic who will be serving as the team manager of the Lotus Racing Karts. The spotted talent will have all the best hardware, technology, and Lotus manpower at proper disposal to be really competitive in the KF1 category of the World Karting Championship.
Lotus will unwrap their 2012 karts during the Autosport International by January next year in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Topics: Lotus | No Comments »
Lotus preps up to take meet head on with Porsche and Ferrari
By Britt J. | August 8, 2010
Lotus recently released teaser images to announce to the world that the British carmaker is entering a new era. Car experts are saying that this can be a hint of a new Evora convertible or Esprit on the works or it can be a pronouncement that the brand is ready to take sports car brands like the Ferrari or the Porsche.
Proton which owns the Lotus brand announced a revitalized business plan for its future. At the moment, Lotus produces three models, with the Exige and the Elise considered as hardcore track cars. The Evora without a doubt is a luxury sports ride but is not yet at par with the likes of Ferrari.
The new branding as the sports car of the future is a side step from the idea Lotus have been known for: lightness as the number one factor. Lotus promises to come up with competitive sports car for the luxury segment by 2015 with sticker prices expected to start at $123,000 and going as high as $159,000. Lotus is also making progress on giving the Evora an automatic transmission, a similar moves being done by other sports car manufacturers too.
The upcoming lineup of Lotus will highlight advanced automotive technology like the dual clutch transmission with seven speeds. Another crucial feature will be their active aerodynamics. These two advancements are similar to the technologies being used by the 458 Italia by Ferrari. Lotus will also inject some variable dampers to give the cars a more luxurious feel.
The British carmaker is also planning to introduce green technologies for hybrids and EVs. Right now, the focus of Lotus is move up the ladder and compete with Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, and Ferrari. The brand will still keep their hardcore models like the Exige and the Elise while executing their new business plan.
Topics: Evora, Exige, Lotus Elise | No Comments »
Concept car Evora 414E Hybrid from Lotus heading to Geneva
By admin | March 2, 2010
Aside from producing performance cars, Lotus is also pouring a ton of funds and talents to develop their hybrid technology. The carmaker has is joining the lust for green cars in Geneva as it will showcase the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid.
The Evora 414E hybrid will rely on the power of lithium polymer battery packs powering the electric motors linked to each rear wheel. Each of the electric motor has an output of 207 horsepower so multiply the figure by two and you will see that the name of the hybrid vehicle is derived from that.
The batteries of the hybrid Lotus can last for about 35 miles before the 1.2L gasoline engine will be activated to recharge the batteries. The total range of the car is about 300 miles.
Each motor provides the car with a torque of 295 feet pounds and that explains how the Evora 414E hybrid can blast from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds. Each electric motor utilizes a reduction transmission with single speed but the vehicle assures maximum traction with a torque vectoring system. The car also has a sports mode which simulates paddle shifting to give that car a real good fast ride.
Topics: Concept, Concept car, Electric Cars, Evora, Hybrid | No Comments »
Lotus may offer the Evora Platform to other car manufacturers
By admin | November 12, 2009
A PDF file was leaked out detailing the plans of Lotus to offer the Evora platform to other automakers. The plan also includes a packaging solution for electric vehicles. This information though unconfirmed triggered a chain of discussion among Lotus fans. Everyone is wondering who will make use of the platform first? What will the implications of this move for Lotus and other companies like Tesla and their Tesla Roadster?
The paper documents the planned specifics of the sales pitch to other carmakers. The Evora platform being licensed for other manufacturers is a long shot though and may be a hurdle high enough to block the flood of affordable Evora-based vehicles.
The 2010 Evora of Lotus is actually depending on a V6 from the Toyota line of DNA that can squeeze out some 276 horsepower. The main lines of the vehicle are designed to cater for both style and performance unlike the more aggressive Exige and Elise models.
Topics: Engineering, Evora, Lotus, Lotus Evora | No Comments »
Club Racer Lotus Elise to grace the Frankfurt Auto Show
By admin | September 27, 2009
A car built for comfort, balanced ride, made from lightweight materials. A classic car of our times. This may be the perfect phrase to describe how Lotus transformed the Elise from drawing boards to reality. Fantastic as it is, the Elise will have a Club Racer version which is even more exciting and memorable.
The Club Racer grabs the best colors of the past like the Elite Yellow, Old English White, Sky Blue, and Carbon gray. It still has its great combination of looks and function inside and out.
The standard seats for the Elise get a microfiber treatment that installs comfort pads without making them heavier. The handbrake and the gear knob also get a racing touch with anthracite anodized materials used.
CR or Club Racer is featured on the headrest through an embroidery work while the flooring also gets the CR mark. The steering wheel was also designed with a small diameter and leather treatment for good grip and better control.
The lightweight alloy wheels which also makes use o f anthracite anodized material translates the intentions of the driver on the road.
The exterior color provides a smooth transition to whatever theme the buyer chooses. Lines of black and silver highlights the transmission tunnel and divides the cockpit on the middle.
The Club Racer derives its engine DNA from the Elise S and also outputs 134 horsepower. You might say that is just not enough, but considering the weight of the car it may just be right. The Club Racer can blaze from 0 to 60 in just 5.7 seconds.
The Club Racer will be unveiled during the Frankfurt Motor Show and will also go on sale the minute the spotlight hits its panels.
Topics: Elise, Lotus, Lotus Elise | No Comments »
Purist Edition of Lotus Elise for U.S. Dealerships
By admin | June 8, 2009
Attracting customers to go inside the showrooms is very difficult amid the global financial crisis, more so to close a sale. This has been the experience of all car manufacturers and dealers in the United States, if not in all countries. A lot of schemes are being tried by all to lure consumers to buy their vehicles. Lotus, like everyone else, offers more features coming in at cheaper packages.
The Lotus marketing move is coined the Purist Edition. 
The company is making use of the Purist Edition Elise with all the hyped features of the Touring variant, just minus the leather trims for the transmission tunnel, iPod interface, and leather inserts for the doors.
The sticker price for the Purist Edition Elise is marked at $44920 inclusive of delivery charges. This is about $3000 cheaper than the base model which has an original tag of $48175.
The Elise will be available in three colors—Ardent Red, Saffron Yellow, and Monaco White. The interior is with elegant leather seats combined with Momo steering wheel wrapped in leather, CD player, aircon, and a start button. The looks are classy with the 17 inch alloy rim paired with performance tires from Yokohama.
Topics: Elise, Lotus Elise, Special edition | No Comments »
Lotus in America
By admin | April 22, 2009
There are many automakers whose models are considered rare or elite in the United States. Among them are MG, MINI, and Lotus. Of the three, Lotus is probably the least well known and the most appreciated by aficionados of the marque.
Brief History of Lotus
Lotus was originally formed by engineer Colin Chapman in 1952, as Lotus Engineering, Ltd. It’s first factory was in an old stable behind the Railway Hotel in Hornsey, England and in 1954 Team Lotus was split off from the original company to focus on Formula One racing, where it excelled from 1958 – 1994.
In 1959, Lotus Cars, Ltd. and Lotus Components, Ltd., which focused on road car and competition car production, respectively moved to a factory in Cheshunt. In 1966, the company moved into a more modern factory with a road test facility in Hethel, at the former RAF Hethel base, where it has remaind ever since.
In 1971, Lotus Components, Ltd. became Lotus Racing Limited, but it ceased operations the same year.
In 1986, Lotus Cars, Ltd. was purchased by General Motors which ran it until 1993, when it was sold for £30 million to A.C.B.N. Holdings S. A. of Luxembourg, a company controlled by the Italian businessman Romano Artioli, also the owner of Bugatti Automobili SpA. Three years later Lotus was sold again, this time to Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (aka Proton) a Malaysian car company operating on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange.
In addition to manufacturing Lotus cars, the company also acts as an engineering consultancy providing engineering development, especially suspension systems, for other carmakers. It also has a lesser-known powertrain department which is responsible for the design and development of the same 4-cylinder engine used by GM’s Vauxhall, Opel, Saab and likely some Saturn cars, though the current models of the Lotus Elise and Exige use the 1.8-Liter VVTL-I I4 previously used in the Toyota Celica GT-S and the Matrix XRS.
Currently, the company is referred to as Group Lotus, and is divided into Lotus Cars and Lotus Engineering, and though many rumors abound, there are no plans to re-enter Formula One racing with a company team.
Current Models
Current Lotus models include:
- Elise – This car incorporates several engineering innovations including an aluminum extrusion frame and a composite body shell, and has spawned many racing models, including the exotic limited-edition 340R. In the United States, the Elise is sold with a Toyota engine in order to pass stricter emissions laws and auto insurance standards, though it also has a Lotus ECU with its own fuel mapping.
- Eco Elise – A special Elise model that incorporates solar panels and a roof made from hemp.
- Exige and Exige-S – Elise models that have been redesigned to provide additional downforce and a hard top. The S-model is supercharged and has an engine that provides 220 hp, while the standard Exige tops out at 190 hp.
- Evora – Launched last July, and code-named Project Eagle while it was in development, this is a 2+2 sports car with a mid-mounted, transverse, 3.5-liter V6 engine. A new model is planned for 2010.
Lotus in America
While Lotus is not exactly a household name in the United States, it enjoys a small but fierce following. The largest North American owners club is Lotus, Ltd, which boasts more than 1500 members, hosts the annual Lotus Exige 260 Cup, and has member groups in sixteen states and Washington, DC. They also have an extensive website at www.lotuscarclub.org, and publish a regular newsletter called the Remarque.
Other Lotus clubs are smaller, and exist in twenty-one states and Washington, DC. Most are linked to the official American site for Lotus cars: www.lotuscars.com.
Topics: Lotus | No Comments »
Lotus Omnivore Concept Engine to get unveiled in Geneva
By admin | April 1, 2009
The Omnivore Concept Engine from Lotus Engineering will take a bow at the Geneva Motor Show that just kicked off. The Omnivore engine is set to take in and utilize any type of fuel that will be fed to it.
The engine from the renowned research division of Lotus is set to deliver the maximum work performance regardless of the kind of fuel. A lot of speculations and hypothesis are being raised because of the known variability of fuel characteristics.
Different fuels will have different octane ratings, burn rates, and combustion temperatures and these will make one wonder how an engine like Omnivore will remain efficient. The Omnivore concept engine is specifically engineered to optimally use different fuels and make use of the available electronic control technologies.
Topics: Concept, Engine, Engineering, Lotus | No Comments »
Lotus Electric Sports Vehicle Coming!
By admin | January 10, 2009
A London newspaper reveals on their pages the plans of Lotus to build an electric vehicle sports car which is scheduled to debut in the Geneva Motor Show in March.
The British car manufacturer Lotus assisted in the development of the electric cars of Chrysler and Tesla and there are now assumptions that Lotus aims for a chunk of the market by competing with these brands.
The Lotus electric sports car is yet to be named but company officials share that it will be similar to the Fisker Karma or the Chevrolet Volt. Its batteries will be recharged by an internal combustion engine when they start depleting. Such a design shows the DNA of the Lotus in other EV cars like the Dodge EV and the Tesla Roadster.
The designers also hint of a prototype of the Lotus electric sports car soon.
Topics: Concept, Electric Cars, Evora, Lotus Evora | No Comments »