Lotus puts Toyota's Venza on a Strict Diet

Lotus just released a concept based on the Toyota Venza where the goal was to trim the fat, ultimately reducing CO2 emissions. Officially, the project was meant to showcase a "viable mass reduction strategy" on two representative models: a 2017 near-term version and a 2020 long-term version.

Comparing the Lotus Venza versus the off-the-lot Toyota Venza, overall mass was reduced by as much as 38% on the 2020 (minus power train) at only a 3% increase in component costs. The 2017 model's mass reduction was 21%. All this was done using processes and tech that should be available and affordable by 2020.

Power train included, the 2020's mass was still decreased by 33%, which the US Department of Energy says should be good for a 23% increase in fuel economy.

The process of lightening the two models seems fairly straightforward: take them apart, catalog the parts, evaluate how to reduce mass, and upon reassembly maintain all the standard features (vision, sight line, comfort, etc.).

Key components of the body-in-white have been reduced from 400+ to 211. While the original Toyota used 100% steel in its construction, Lotus's 2020 Venza uses aluminum (37%), magnesium (30%), composites (21%) and high strength steel (7%). No idea where the remaining 5% went, but it may just be regular steel.

The bumpers remain the same, albeit using an aluminum brace beam versus the a steel one (magnesium proved too expensive).

Any hinged parts (originally, again, 100% steel) and fenders were replaced with parts made up of magnesium (33%), plastic (21%), steel (18%), and aluminum (6%). The remaining 22% is made of "other materials".

Inside, the instrument panel was removed and both driver and passenger have "modules containing all key functional and safety hardware". Both the shifter and parking brake have migrated to the touch-screen interface, and lightweight foam front seats get a futuristic floating treatment by being mounted to the center tunnel and side sill (cutting the need for brackets).

Also, full-floor carpeting gets the ax in favor of removable carpet squares. Lotus says "this reduces mass and allows cost effective upgrading of the carpet quality."

Underneath, all chassis and suspension components have been upgraded to account for the updated mass, keeping this a good exercise in future product development.

By Phil Alex

»»  read more

Caterham Launches Special Edition Seven Designed by Lambretta

Caterham has joined forces with British-owned fashion company, Lambretta Clothing, to produce a special edition version of its Seven sportscar. The visual overhaul includes a unique body paint, decals and livery that would make Austin Powers feel pretty groovy baby...

The same theme continues inside with a matching color scheme spanning the leather seats, dash, carpets and boot. Hand-stitched seat piping, embossed Lambretta motifs and a Moto-Lita steering wheel round off the interior upgrades.

There are no changes under the skin with the Caterham Seven Lambretta Special using a 125HP 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox.

The special edition Caterham Seven Lambretta is available now with prices starting from £26,995 OTR.

»»  read more

Jaguar XJ Limo Green Hybrid Study with Range Extending 1.2-liter Gasoline Engine

Jaguar will use the upcoming "World Mobility Forum" exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany (April 15-18), to show off its XJ "Limo Green" hybrid study that was teased for the first time last September.

The 2011 XJ-based Limo Green makes use of a Chevy Volt-like hybrid powertrain with a range extending gasoline engine that was developed in conjunction with Lotus, MIRA and Caparo.

The vehicle uses an electric motor producing 145kW and 295 lb-ft of torque for propulsion. A lithium battery pack offers about 30 miles or close to 50 kilometers driving range with a full charge.

Once the battery is depleted, a Lotus-developed 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline unit kicks-in to produce enough energy to power it for another 600 miles or about 970 kilometers.

The XJ Limo Green prototype is said to return a combined fuel economy of 5.0lt/100 km (equal to 57mpg UK and 47mpg US) with CO2 emissions of juts 120 g/km.

Even though the study is billed as a one-off concept, it is believed that Jaguar will use the technology on its future production models.

»»  read more

Lotus Cutting Prices from $10,000 to $18,500 in Australia

Following the Australian government's move to reduce import duties earlier this year, Lotus Cars of Australia has announced significant price reductions across the model range, with savings of up to $18,500.

Lotus Cars Australia Managing Director John Startari explains: "The government's import duty reduction at the start of 2010 has offered some assistance, whilst favorable foreign exchange rates have been a further catalyst to these announced price changes."

The British automaker's range starts with the facelifted 2011 Elise, formerly known as the Elise S, that's priced from AU$69,990. The 2011 model year Elise R and SC as well as the Exige S and Cup 260, all see a AU$10,000 base vehicle price reduction, while the 2-Eleven, an AU$18,500 drop.

The Evora flagship sportscar is also reduced by $10,000, in both 2+0 and 2+2 versions, and now starts from AU$139,000.

Furthermore, Lotus' Australian arm has also announced adjustments to retail pricing for all Option packs, stand-alone Options and Metallic, Lifestyle and Premium paint throughout the Lotus Elise and Evora platform.

»»  read more

First Lotus Evora Delivered in the United States

The man you see pictured above is Bruce Rice, or in Lotus' books, the first North American customer to receive the keys to the firm's new mid-engined Evora sports coupe. Rice took delivery of the red-colored Evora earlier this week at John Eagle European's Lotus of Austin dealership in Texas.

In the States, the 2+2 seater Evora is priced from $73,500. It features a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 producing 276 horsepower that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

Tipping the scales at just over 3,000 pounds, the Evora goes from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 162mph (260km/h) while delivering over 30 mpg on the highway.

»»  read more

James Bond Style Lotus Evora Captured Filming in the Alps

Courtesy of Carscoop reader Allison P. coming straight out of my home town are these pictures of a probably-rocket-equipped Lotus Evora captured during a ski trip in Chamonix in the French Alps.

Here's what Allison had to tell us about her encounter with the Evora and the film crew:

"I'm just on a skiing holiday now in Chamonix in the French Alps and have seen loads of commotion around a film set. I watched an action stunt scene being filmed with tons of crews and papparazzi swarming! I especially noticed a flashy new Lotus Evora being used in the filming. Is there any way that this could be for the new James Bond film?"

Well, there are three possibilities as to what this ski-bearing tastefully-trimmed Lotus Evora is doing in the Alps: 1) it's the new 007 Bond car, 2) it's a Bond-themed Lotus ad campaign, or 3) some dude (or hopefully super-fine Geneva model...call me!) with a ton of cash just really likes attention.

Any thoughts?

- By Phil Alex / Thanks for the pics Allison!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

»»  read more

Geneva Show: Giugiaro's EMAS Italian Kei Cars

Italdesign Giugiaro's latest design study is a three-car plug-in collection debuting under the name EMAS, which stands for Eco Mobility Advanced Solutions (Emas also means "gold" in Malay). Built in collaboration with Proton and Lotus Engineering, their goal is to showcase variable-design mini-sized cars that provide the interior space of mid-sizers.

For reference, the silver 5-door is the Emas Comfort, the orange one is the Emas Country, and the white 3-door is the Emas3 City.

The shared platform was designed in-house by Italdesign Giugiaro, and with its hybrid system's layout the seating position the Emas family retains a crossover-ish ride height. Thanks to their nifty packaging, interior space is at a maximum.

The Comfort can carry 320 liters and features 4 "business class" seats inside. The Country, an "urban SUV", can seat five and can carry from 390 liters (seats up) to 780 liters seats down.

The Emas3 City's seating gets switched around due to the shortened wheelbase and is now called 3+1 Plus, because "the passenger seated behind the driver has less leg-room but there is still enough space even for an adult."

Power for all three comes from a 45 kW (75kW peak power) electric motor that is recharged by a 1.2 liter 3-cylinder engine. The hybrid plug-in drive system has been developed entirely by Lotus.

0-100km/h (62mph) surges by in 14 seconds, top speed is a hairy 170 km/h or 105 mph, and the electric range is 50 km or 31 miles. Currently the City's numbers are "being assessed", but for stylish EREV city cars there's no denying the stated numbers are good. Small, Giuguaro-designed economobiles? The Japanese need to get on this while it's hot.

- By Phil Alex

»»  read more