The new Exige Sport 350 is the third model in the Lotus range to carry the ‘Sport’ badge, joining the recently named Lotus Elise Sport and Elise Sport 220. This video shows some of the areas where weight savings have been made, together with a glimpse of the performance of the Sport 350. Some of the action is on the Lotus test track, where managing editor Alastair Sloane drove … [Read more...] about Lotus Exige 350 gets Sports badge for losing weight
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Under brakes at 190km/h on the Lotus test track – at spot where Nigel Mansell is doing 300km/h
The difference between a V8-powered Formula One Lotus 125 and the four-cylinder Lotus Elise is obviously vast … just how is best experienced on the carmaker’s 3.5km test track at its headquarters at Hethel, in the north-east of Britain. There is a chicane on what Lotus has named the ‘Mansell Main Straight’. It’s marked by a red arrow on the layout of the track pictured … [Read more...] about Under brakes at 190km/h on the Lotus test track – at spot where Nigel Mansell is doing 300km/h
Lotus ‘restructuring’ another round of blood-letting
News that Lotus is going though yet another rebuild, this time with the potential loss of more than 300 jobs, brings to mind the blood-letting after the British brand hired former Ferrari executive Dany Bahar in 2009. The restructuring before the latest round of restructuring came at the Paris motor show in 2010. I was at the Lotus stand, waiting for the press conference to … [Read more...] about Lotus ‘restructuring’ another round of blood-letting
Crim-catching supercars leave Kiwi cops’ fleet of sedans in the dust
What will the New Zealand police use as highway patrol vehicles after Holden and Ford stop building cars in Australia? The Commodores and Falcons will be around long after Holden and Ford close manufacturing plants across the ditch. Parts will be available for years after, too. But the time will come when they will be replaced. Already there has been talk of the Holden … [Read more...] about Crim-catching supercars leave Kiwi cops’ fleet of sedans in the dust
Lotus opens its first NZ showroom
Famous British sports car and Formula One brand Lotus is sharing floor space at its first official outlet in New Zealand with Italy’s Maserati. Both exotic badges are distributed here by European Automotive Imports, one of ex-pat New Zealand businessman Neville Crichton’s companies. Lotus Auckland and its line-up of Elise, Exige S and Evora models has opened for business … [Read more...] about Lotus opens its first NZ showroom