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The all new lightweight and high performance track day Lotus The new
Lotus "Circuit Car" was announced yesterday (Saturday, 11 June, 2005)
by Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, CEO of Group Lotus, to privileged Lotus Club
International members at the annual Lotus Club International Gala
Dinner held at Norwich City Football Club. 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 solely for Track Day and Club Racing.
The lightweight composite
bodywork of the visually dramatic open-topped circuit car combines
high downforce from cleverly engineered aerodynamics. Part of its
phenomenal performance is from a 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 staggering 9.0 seconds. This
exciting combination has allowed for a dynamic racing package
producing higher performance to that of existing Elise-based products.
An entry-level naturally-aspirated VVTL-i engine will also be
available, powering the car from 0 - 62 mph in under 4 seconds.
Tony Shute, Head of Product
Development at Lotus Cars, explains what makes the Lotus "Circuit Car"
a leading high performance track car: "The new product has allowed
Lotus to once again apply its key "performance through lightweight"
philosophy. This is in order to achieve an innovative product for the
track day and club racing Lotus enthusiast whilst staying true to the
key design attributes of the Elise and Exige products. They are
considered to be amongst the finest existing road and track day cars
by thousands of owners around the world, and the "Circuit Car" will
build on this formidable reputation, helping to further underline
Lotus as the ultimate driver's choice."
The introduction of the new
Lotus "Circuit Car" will generate additional exposure of the Lotus
brand and provide Lotus with entry to further key market sectors, as
Clive Dopson, Managing Director of Lotus Cars, explains "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 2005, with scheduled volume of approximately 100
units per annum.
Full specifications and price will be announced closer to the
production date.
Predicted Performance figures:
Naturally Aspirated VVTL-i Engine:
0 to 60 mph 4 seconds (approx.)
0 to 100 mph < 11 seconds
Supercharged VVTL-i Engine:
0 to 60 mph 3.5 seconds (approx.)
0 to 100 mph < 9.0 seconds
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