Lotus (car)
Lotus is an automark from England (Hornsey/Cheshunt/Hethel), which was created 1952 by Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman.
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history
Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, just as younger as talentierter engineer, began its career as an automobile farmer in the year 1947, when it assembled 750 special models succeeded really well on the basis of the technology of the Austin Seven. Due to the success of its models it decided to create 1952 the Lotus engineering. The first series-manufactured success model of this mark, which became Lotus 6, in the component system driven out. Despite quantitatively limited production (altogether approximately 100 pieces) the Lotus achieved 6 numerous successes, also when mountain running. The Lotus 8 developed by franc Costin stood out mainly because of its aerodynamic sport body. This model was not only the basis for its successors Mk 9 and Mk 10, at it oriented itself also the Mk 11, a racing car, which won a running of Le Mans in its class also.
1957 produced Lotus its first, exclusively car thought for running. With the Mk 12 an extremely successful racing career began, in whose process Lotus achieved several times the world champion title of the technical designers. Titles and first prices reached Colin Chapman thereby not primarily by increase in output, but by lightweight construction and new manufacturing methods. Pretty often, then competitors accused, ignored he elementary safety rules in favor of progressive technology and used among other things „under-sized " construction units, for example filigrane wheel suspensions to him. To hold it remains however that Chapman contributed considerably to the advancement of the Grand Prix racing car.
An example of it is the Lotus 25 of 1962, the up to then slimmest and lowest F1-Rennwagen. With the Lotus 25 Chapman had the lattice tubing framework only few weeks before of the brought out Lotus 24 Monocoque well-known by one of the aircraft construction - (flat) construction replaced. Thus the weight could by approximately 20 kg be reduced and the torsionally stiff ones important for road-hugging property and handling be increased. In the meantime (1957) was the elite with an aerodynamic and very elegant body from fiber glass on the market.
The first Lotus Cortina was produced heart-Ford-almost, in the work by Cheshunt, where Lotus end of the 1950er - had drawn years. Later Lotus built a further work in Hethel (Norfolk), where the production Europe, a Mittelmotor Coupes with the engine of the Renault 16, began 1966. That Europe was offered later also in twin coming version with plumb bob US engine. 1967 came the energy +2 into the program, a 2+2-Sitzer, which had been derived from the 1961er-Elan. A new energy with front wheel drive with Japanese of 4 cylinders - turbo engine, which was presented 1990, was a flop. Production was stopped finally 1993, and sold the license at Kia. Beginning of the seventies started the ESPRIT, which was built until 2004.
1982 died firm founder Colin Chapman. The enterprise changed 1986 into the possession of general of engine. In August 1993 GM sold the company to the ACBN of getting thing S.A. the Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli, to which also Bugatti Automobili SpA belonged. 1996 took over the Malaysian Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (proton) the majority at Lotus.
[work on
] to Lotus 7 the Lotus 7 in the history of the plumb bob US models. Into the today's time became all road models with a name, which begins with “E” (a Hommage to the wife Chapmans), designated. All racing cars against it were provided with a sequential number. Only the Lotus 7 had this number and was designed a road vehicle, although as racing car. By the Lotus 7 altogether 4 series were presented. After 1974 the series of 4 was stopped, has the largest plumb bob US dealer, the company Caterham, the rights at the Lotus 7 of Lotus taken over and the series of 3 again presented. This vehicle is built up to the today's day (per year approx. 400-600 vehicles) and constantly, even if only in small steps, develops further. Many further companies were, which offer to follow and very similar vehicles to the idea of the small, easy, sports car (Westfield, DAX, Sylva, Locust, Donkervoort (NL), HKT (D), VM (D), Rush (D)).
Lotus XI
the Lotus XI with its beautiful and aerodynamic, of franc Costin developed body starting from 1955 in the work by Hornsey were built. This model was offered in three remarks:
- Model Le Mans with 1.1 - or 1,5-I-CoventryClimax-Motor, De-Dion-rear axle, disc brakes and different speed ratios in the oh transmission
- model club with rigid rear axle, drum brakes and an CoventryClimax engine with smaller capacity
- model sport, with rigid rear axle, drum brakes, and a 1172cc Ford engine with laterally standing valves was more economically, smaller and more inexpensive than the other models.
That outstandingly low air resistance of this model pointed itself to Monza, where XI a route car, which had only a plexiglass dome over the driver's seat, put a round back with 230 km/h and drove in one hour 221 km. In order to put the substantial aerodynamics knowledge out Costins still more, one remembers only that the Lotus XI uses on the average 8.7 l/100km at a speed of 161 km/h. 1957 were replaced the old joint front axle, a typical characteristic of the first plumb bob US models, by a wheel suspension with wishbones, which stability and the handling characteristics improved clearly. 1985 were introduced the Westfield, a dupe of the Lotus XI with glass fiber body, to the public.
Lotus energy
was introduced for the first time this sports car 1962. The successor of the elite had as first road Lotus typical the for many decades central framework, whose stability from a voluminösen central profile from steel sheet was due. The Karrosserie built from GRP was first glued on this chassis, screwed later. The energy had optically very much succeeded and with racing meetings extremely successfully, in particular in the version to 26R, from that originally approx. 50 Stk. and from that today still more than 100 was built is received nevertheless. The energy had very salient folding headlights.
1989 let this name in form of a wedge-shaped Roadsters revive Lotus again. This had an Isuzu engine in two performance levels. He could tie however neither sportily nor regarding the sales figures to his predecessor. the Korean mark Kia tried end of the nineties to produce this vehicle minimum revised. This model was officially never imported at least to Germany.
Lotus Europe
this model, which was presented in December 1966 was originally only for the foreign markets intended. It had the same engine as the Renault R16 with front wheel drive, however it was inserted behind the passenger space as central engine. All this lent a road-hugging property and handling characteristics, which were worthy of a racing car to Europe, and also its framework was appropriate for engines with more than only 1470 cm ³. The body from glass-fiber reinforced polyester had stuck together with a central carrier chassis from steel sheet. This combination was a condition for the outstanding handling characteristics, it had however the disadvantage of a bad repair ability. 1969, on the occasion of the appearance of the second series, chassis and body were bolted therefore with one another. At the same time for the American market an engine with 1565 cm was introduced ³. 1971 that Europe twin-came presented, an engine with two cam shafts into the light alloy head and 1558 cm ³ had, how it was already built in the Lotus energy. One year later one went to the uprated version „bends valve “(similarly energy Sprint) over and connected him with a Renault 5-Gang-Getriebe. One called this new version Europe Special.
Achievements:
- Europe S1, S2 (1470cc) 78 HP
- S2 (1565cc) 83 HP
- of twin Cam 105 HP
- of twin Cam Special 126 HP
of Lotus elite
as Colin Chapman decided to build a model with closed body was probably conscious it itself that the costs of the presses, which are necessary for the production of a steel body would have been too high, and that also a hand would have been not many more economical formed body from light alloy. Thus only the possibility remained of using glass fiber. Chapman developed the first automobile with even basic glass fiber body with the elite thus. The body was composed thereby of three bowls from GRP laminate, from which two formed the outer skin and which third to the engine and the interior represented. The material was at that time still relatively unknown, and the elite construction units out with mat one laminated to strengthened Polyesther up-to-date. With the today common technology of carbon and era avoiding fabrics or - clutches of eggs and mostly epoxy Matrices is this material to be hardly still compared. When she was presented to 1957 on London engine show, the elite was the only sports car with cam shaft, lying manufactured in England, above. Of the company Coventry Climax, which was at this time prominent in the range running engines, their money however with utilizable engines as for instance for fork-lift trucks and fire syringe earned, supplied full aluminum engine had been developed originally for a portable fire-brigade pump and was characterised therefore by a very small weight. The four-cylinder row engine had two valves per cylinder and a capacity of 1215cm ³. Over the entire construction period only this engine version was offered, it gave however different Tuningstufen up to 105 HP. Some unique pieces were developed - also after the official construction period of the elite - with the famous Lotus twin coming engine, and in the USA there were relatively many changes on Ford cent engines, since the Coventry Climax engines did not have functioning spare part supply after the insolvency of the importer Jay Chamberlain more. The elite, by which altogether only 988 pieces were manufactured, was actually meant as sports cars, but due to their handling characteristics it became inevitable the racing car. The elite reached first and the second place of his class in Le Mans 1961 - 1963.
Lotus ESPRIT
the first stylistic drafts for the ESPRIT were based on suggestions of Giorgetto Giugiaro. They planned the use the Lotus Europe very similar, although somewhat of a larger framework. The ESPRIT was presented 1972 in Turin, but while the three years between the conception of the prototype and the commencement of production the original draft became crucially improved (storage of the rear wheel suspension with Dreiecks-Versteifungen, linings of the body in other form, Lotus-907-Motor from light alloy with two cam shafts lying above). With the engine it concerned the same, which was used three years before for the Jensen Healey pursued by the pitch. The transmission of the final execution, a Citroen5-Gang-Schaltgetriebe, was identical to the Maserati Merak transmission. The ESPRIT had folding headlights.
of beginning did not have the ESPRIT hoped for success, but 1978 nevertheless a second series (S2) was introduced. On the occasion of Geneva autosalons the 1980 Lotus presented an execution with loader engine, to the turbo ESPRIT, which was equipped with the 2,2-l-Ausführung of the Sechzehnventilers Lotus 907. This engine, which had been developed for the Sunbeam Lotus, could reach a maximum output of 210 HP owing to its turbocharger Garett AI Research. In the same year a further ESPRIT, also with 2,2-l-Motor, was presented to these however without turbochargers. It was called S 2,2. This model could accelerate the sportier execution turbo ESPRIT from 0 to 96 km/h in 6.7 seconds, in only 5.6 seconds. Starting from 1996 there were also one execution with 32 valves and 354 HP from the 3.5l Biturbo V8 (Lotus-918-Motor). The Lotus ESPRIT was built until 2003. Since then the Lotus Elise/Exige is the last remaining model.
Admits became the Lotus ESPRIT particularly by its role as James bond car in the films the feeler gauge, who loved me (1977), in deadly mission (1981) and its appearances in Pretty Woman and basic Instinct.
Lotus Eclat
Lotus Excel
Lotus Carl clay/tone/omega
see: Lotus omega
Lotus Elise S1
the first time was introduced the Elise in September 1995 on the international motor show (IAA ) in Frankfurt/Main of the public with Rover a K 1.8 l 4 cylinder engine and 120 HP. The chassis consists of extruded Aluminumprofilen with adhesive and screws (manufacturer EJOT) is connected. The body consists of glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) and is bolted with the chassis and/or. stuck together. The first models were delivered 1996 at customers. Starting from 1998 there was additionally the model 111s, with 145 HP strong Rover K engine with VVC valve gear. Further special models were the sport 160 and the S190 with stronger variants Rover of the K of engine. The Elise S1 was produced until 2000 and replaced from the Elise S2.
Lotus Exige S1
the Exige S1 is the road execution the engine haven Elise and differs from the Elise by 177 HP Rover K VHPD engine, sport chassis, firm roof, sport seats with belts of point of four and front and tail spoilers. The model became approx. 600 times between 2000 and 2001 built.
Lotus 340 R
the most extreme variant of the Elise S1 came 2000 on the market. Without doors, without roof, without trunk and without adjustable heating, but with free standing wheels, transparent side parts and Rover the VHPD (very high power of derivatives) of 4 cylinders engine with 177 HP. The model was only 340 times built 340. The weight lies between 650 and 680 kg. Thus the 340R achieves amazing road performances and high transverse acceleration.
current models (2006)
Lotus Elise S2
of the Lotus Elise is a small to road-certified sports car than Cabrio with optional Hardtop. Special characteristics are round, swung forms, also a weight extremely small depending upon equipment between 785 and 930 kg. Lotus produces the up-to-date following models (series S2): Lotus Elise 111 (122 HP, 785 kg), Lotus Elise 111S (158 HP, 881 kg) and Lotus Elise 111R (192 HP, 930 kg). The models 111 and 111s are propelled by Rover a K 1.8 l 4 cylinder engine. The Lotus Elise 111R with Toyota the VVTI engine from Toyota the Celica. The basic prices for the Lotus Elise amount to approx. 33,700 euro to 41,900 euro.
The current Lotus Elise (S2) in addition forms the basis for the OPEL Speedster.
Lotus Exige S2
of the Lotus Exige S2 is the closed version of the Lotus Elise 111R. The chassis is höhenverstellbar and more sportily laid out than with the Elise S2. In addition the Exige possesses another hood with a tail spoiler and an additional air scoop on the roof and laterally behind the doors. The moreover are orderable 2 oil coolers, an additional Überrollkäfig and further racing parts for the Exige.
In Geneva now also the 935 kg heavy Exige S. was located. It carries 221 HP out and is thereby 30 HP more strongly. Mobile the Exige S is however only at the end of of April/at the beginning of of May. The price is with 51.210 €.
Lotus Exige S2 240R
special model of the Lotus Exige S2 with Toyota VVTI engine, compressor loading, special rims, Öhlins chassis and additional oil cooler. 247 HP carry out with 950 kg. The model was built 2005 only for 50 times.
Lotus Europe S
of the Lotus Europe S was introduced 2006 on the automobile salon in Geneva. It is conceived and less radical as GT than the Elise, had only a firm roof and has a substantially higher trunk volume. Crucially for many customers it might also be that in and door become substantially more konfortabler into the vehicle than with the Elise and the Exige, which is Design rather sportily elegantly as aggressive arranged. That is propelled Europe S of 2.0 litres of 4-Zylinder engine of GM, inserted of already in the OPEL Speedster turbo, which unfolds 204 HP in Europe. The road performances can reach the level of the Speedsters however not completely, 0-100 km/h 5.9 s (Speedster turbo 4.9 s), maximum speed 225 km/h (Speedster turbo 243 km/h).
to Lotus formula 1-Team
see major item Lotus (formula 1)
literature
- Jeremy whale clay/tone: Lotus ESPRIT: The Complete story. Crowood press, Great Britain, 1997, ISBN 1861260660 (English)
Web on the left of
| Commons: Lotus - pictures, videos and/or audio files |
- further ones left to the topic „Lotus “ in the open directory Project
- of all Exige homepage private
- of Lotus Lotus
- club Germany club
- Lotus Austria
