New Lotus "circuit car"

alexz

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Lotus 'Circuit Car'

Sunday 12th June

Supercharged VVTL-i motor debuts in Track Special



lotus1.jpg




The new Lotus "Circuit Car" was announced yesterday by Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, CEO of Group Lotus, to Lotus Club International members at the annual Lotus Club International Gala Dinner held at Norwich City Football Club.

The catchily named car is based on the Lotus Elise Aluminium chassis, and weighing in at approximately 600kg, the single-seater car (with an option of two seats) has been designed and engineered Track Day and Club Racing only.

Only 100 models of the car will be produced each year.



lotus2.jpg




The bodywork combines low weight materials with extensively researched aerodynamics to ensure the body both looks the part and helps with performance and roadholding.

Power is courtesty of a (much rumoured) supercharged VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing with Lift - intelligent) engine, and is estimated to achieve the 0 - 100 mph (160 km/h) sprint in a rapid 9.0 seconds.

An entry-level naturally-aspirated VVTL-i engine will also be available, powering the car from 0 - 62 mph in under 4 seconds.

Clive Dopson, Managing Director of Lotus Cars, explained where the model fits in the range, "The introduction of this new model plays a key role in developing and enhancing the presence of Lotus Cars on the track, whilst providing the driver of today with a pure circuit car which thrives on the essential values of the Lotus brand. In addition, it will be yet another example of a high quality product to be built at our world class production facilities at Hethel."

The Lotus "Circuit Car" is due to go into production at the Group Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, in December.

Full specifications and price will be announced closer to the production date.

The one question every Lotus fan will be asking though is whether that supercharged motor has a place in any forthcoming road cars.














wondering if the engine is lotus' own (campro?) or still the 1.8 toyota celica engine.
 
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if its US bound, there is absolutely no hope of campro.

VVTi-L with turbo is already developed for the federal elise. (Force Feed, & lotus own development). Details are also on road & track or the SCC magazine.

much of the FI is alreeady discussed in lotus forums.
 
straightline accel. of this is no great shakes but it'll be da bomb at handling and corners
 
Eh put la the picture of the lotus exige R3 which will be taking part in super GT
 
looks like a cross breed between the 340r and the new exige...

excellent stuff !!

cheers
 
Updates!


http://www.autocarmagazine.com//Car/Lotus/Elise/17855951550.jpg


http://www.autocarmagazine.com//Car/Lotus/Elise/17855950570.jpg

http://www.autocarmagazine.com//Car/Lotus/Elise/17855954350.jpg

http://www.autocarmagazine.com//Car/Lotus/Elise/17855955260.jpg

http://www.autocarmagazine.com//Car/Lotus/Elise/1785595559.jpg


http://www.autocarmagazine.com//Car/Lotus/Elise/1785595559.jpgThese are the first official pictures of what could be the fastest ever Lotus, the track-biased Circuit Car, due to make its public debut this weekend at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb Centenery Festival Meeting.

Weighing in at just 600kg, the Circuit Car is 75kg lighter than the 340R making it the lightest production car yet to be spun off the Elise's extruded and bonded aluminium chassis. Like the 340R, the Circuit Car does without doors and roof, and this time it goes a step further by losing its windscreen and adding a full roll cage. The aerodynamics have received a thorough revamp and power comes from either 189bhp normally aspirated or 243bhp supercharged Toyota four-cylinder engines. Lotus claims that the supercharged car will go from rest to 60mph in under 4.0sec, to 100mph in under 9.0sec, and on to a maximum speed of over 100mph.

The Circuit Car will come as standard with a single seat, although there will be the option of adding a passenger seat to bring a friend along for the ride, and it will be given a Lotus 'E' name or type number before it goes on sale. Though it is designed as a track-day car, the new car will also be offered with an optional 'SVA pack' for road use and only around 100 cars per year are expected to be built, with a likely starting price of around £25,000 when it arrives in mid-2006.

The public will see the car for the first time when it is demonstrated on August 19 and 21 by head of product development Tony Shute, the man behind the ultra-lightweight polyeurathane-bodied Exposé
 
a few more pics :)

http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/06/circuit06_05.jpg


http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/06/circuit06_041600.jpg
 
i think its not much difference from the normal elise or exige, except taking our the rooftop and adding a huge gt wing... no wide bodykit also...
i think the lotus R3 Amprex car looks much more better.... hehe...

PS: since both are circuit car, thats why i compare ma...
 

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