Lotus Designs Smart Fortwo Sized All-Electric Mini Car Concept

From the make-believe world of 'What if...' comes our next story on a concept proposal for an all-electric mini car from Lotus. However, what makes this project stand out from the usual independently styled concepts is the fact that it was actually designed by Lotus. See, Automotive Engineer magazine asked the British sports carmaker to come up with a concept vehicle to show how far city car design could go.

The result is an extremely compact-sized mini car equipped with a 37kW-strong electric motor. Like many other EVs, power is provided by a 10kW lithium-ion battery pack which is positioned under the floor and can be recharged in three-and-a-half hours through a standard household 13A plug. The vehicle would have a range of around 50 km or 30 miles while it would be able to reach a top speed close to 65mph or 105km/h.

At just 2,600 mm or 102.4-in. in length, 1,600 mm or 63-in. wide, 1,700 mm or 67-in. in height and with a wheelbase of 2,000 mm or 78.7-in. the Lotus designed mini is roughly the same size as the two-seater Smart Fortwo and quite smaller than the 3+1 seater Toyota iQ.

Nevertheless, Hethel's designers say that mini can seat up to four people, albeit the two rear passengers will most likely feel like a pack of sardines. Alternatively, the rear seats can be folded to provide a luggage space. Driver and passengers would enter the car through a pair of sliding side doors.

The mini car would use an aluminum spaceframe in the floor while according to Russell Carr, head of Lotus Design, the body would be pressed aluminum or composite materials, depending on the sales volume.

Lotus points out that the design for the mini car was completed in approximately two weeks instead of the typical concept phase that lasts between three and six months, meaning that the project is a more of a rough sketch than anything else. And just to prevent any sort of rumors, the magazine says that vehicle wasn't designed as a Lotus city car but as a concept that could be developed for a third-party automaker.

Via: Automotive Engineer

Hertz so Good: Rental Lotus Elise SC Available in Italy

Fancy taking a Lotus Elise SC for a spin? Well, if you're either a permanent resident or planning to visit Italy as a tourist, you'll be happy to know that Lotus has announced a new agreement with the car hire company Hertz Italiana to supply a bunch of yellow Elise SC for its rental business in Italy. The two-seater roadsters will be available to hire from central Hertz centers throughout the country beginning from the middle of July.

"For many, to drive a Lotus is to fulfill a lifelong dream and now, thanks to Lotus and Hertz Italiana S.p.A. this dream can be realised for a longer period than just a quick test drive at a Lotus dealer," said Andrea Manni, director of the official Lotus dealer, 'Lotus Rome'

"We expect some drivers who hire an Elise or Exige from Hertz Italiana S.p.A to visit a Lotus dealership afterwards, as once you have experienced the exciting and adrenaline fueled capabilities of a Lotus, there is no turning back," Manni added.

Top Gear: First Episode of Season 13 goes Online

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard that the new season of Top Gear went on air this past weekend. The highlight of the show was when former formula one world champion Michael Schumacher supposedly revealed himself as the man behind "The Stig's" racing helmet, although many suggest -and we tend to agree- that it was merely a publicity stunt. The first episode also includes a first test drive of the Lotus Evora, the Stig races the Ferrari FXX while Clarkson, Hammond and May set to find out what Top Gear may have been like sixty years ago. Watch the video after the jump.

Via: Streetfire - Thanks for the tip Alesandro!

New Lotus Evora Priced from $149,990 in Australia

Lotus has confirmed Australian pricing for its all-new Evora sports car a few months ahead of the coupe's market launch scheduled for the third quarter of 2009. The entry level two-seater version of the Evora will be priced at $149,990 AU (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges) which is about $119,000 US or €85,000. Bizarrely, there seems to be some kind of a new law in Australia that prohibits official websites from publishing new car prices -we're not kidding- so unfortunately we can't compare the Evora's price to other sports cars sold Down Under.

Along with the Evora 2+0, Lotus will also sell a 2+2 seater version of the coupe that will be priced from $156,990 (again, recommended price before statutory and delivery charges). Rear seats aside, this version adds a host of luxury appointments both standard and optional including Alpine audio system, reversing camera and cruise control.

Both models are powered by a Toyota sourced 3.5-liter V6 engine producing an output of 206kW (that's 276 in good ol' horsepower) and 342Nm of torque. The naturally aspirated V6 is matted to a 6-speed manual gearbox while Lotus also offers a sportier, close-ratio transmission. For those that insist on buying a sports car for all the wrong reasons, an automatic version is in the company's future plans.

With the stick shift, the Evora goes from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in just over five seconds while returning an average fuel consumption of 8.7l/100km (combined highway/urban cycle).

Lotus Elise and Exige Recall Affects Most Tesla Roadster Models

As most of you may already know, the all-electric Tesla Roadster is based on the Lotus Elise with which its shares numerous parts including the rear hub flange bolts that have been deemed defective. According to the NHTSA, on some vehicles the bolts may be under-torqued and could become loose. The two companies issued separate notifications on the matter with Tesla saying that the recall affects 345 Roadster models manufactured between March 2008 and April 22, 2009 (out of a total of 400 cars sold until May 2009) while Lotus is recalling 27 Elise and Exige vehicles built from January 14 through May 5, 2009.

Both recalls are expected to begin in June. Tesla owners may contact the company at 1-877-888-3752 while Exige and Elise drivers can call Lotus at 1-800-245-6887.

VIDEO: Lotus Evora V6 3.5 276HP Test Drive in Scotland

Here's one of the first videos of the Lotus Evora sports coupe that was filmed during the official press launch event in Scotland earlier this month. The first truly-new Lotus in almost 15 years is powered by a mid-mounted, Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 that cranks out 276HP at 6,400 rpm and 252 lbs-ft or 342Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm launching the coupe from rest to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 260 km/h or 162mph.

Priced between the Porsche Caymen and the 911, the Evora is offered as a strictly two-seater as well as a 2+2. European sales are set to start in late May with North America following in early 2010.

Merci for the link Maxime!

Lotus Evora Sports Coupe: Updated Photo Gallery, New Details

With the delivery of the first examples of the all-new Lotus Evora in Europe only weeks away in early June, we thought we'd update our album of the mid-engined British sports coupe with the latest batch of photos that include static shots as well as images from the building process. Initially, the sports car will be offered with a mid-mounted, Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 rated at 276 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 252 lbs-ft or 342Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm.

Toyota has also provided the vehicle with a six-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels. Buyers can also opt for close ratio version of the stick shift while an automatic transmission is planned for the near future.

Lotus claims that with the six-speed manual the Evora can sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in just over 5 seconds and has a top speed in excess of 260 km/h or 162mph. Thanks to its lightweight construction, the Evora boasts a relatively low fuel consumption figure for this type of vehicle with an average of 8.7 liters/100 km which is the U.S. equivalent of 28.1mpg.

As well as being sold in a 2+2 configuration, the car will also be available as a two-seater, the space in the rear being allocated to luggage storage. The British sports carmaker has also revealed that it is planning to introduce other derivatives of the Evora in the next few years including a convertible and more hardcore versions. In North America, the Evora will arrive in the beginning of 2010.