Sale Of Parent Company Puts Lotus’ Future In Question

If politics makes for strange bedfellows, so does the automotive business. Volvo is owned by Chinese automaker Geely, while Jaguar / Land Rover is owned by the Indian company Tata. Upscale British brands Bentley and Rolls Royce are both owned by the Germans, with Bentley under VW’s brand and Rolls under BMW’s. Read more

Lotus Evora Unveiling in Jacksonville at World Imports

Company founder Colin Chapman’s apocryphal credo – “simplicate and add lightness” – may have to be amended in honor of Lotus’ new 2+2, the Evora. Of course, “complicate and add relaxation” doesn’t sound as good, but that’s what the new car does, with excellent, possibly even brilliant results that will tempt not just the Lotus faithful, but more than a few Porsche 911 intenders.

Lotus has lived on the razor’s edge most of its 61-year existence but has enjoyed some of its greatest sales since the introduction of the extraordinary Elise in 1995. That car led many Lotus fans’ eyes to tear up, for here again was a revolutionary Lotus – with its rigid, safe and easily configurable aluminum tub chassis – a technological beacon that pointed the way forward for other low-volume manufacturers (notably Aston Martin, which has adopted the concept throughout its lineup) and restored the Norfolk carmaker to its place at the forefront of sports car technology.

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Preview: 2010 Lotus Evora

Lotus has been known for some time now to make cars that handle like they are on rails. In a way they seem like street legal racing carts but I would not want to diminish the true value of a Lotus by calling them go-carts. The new 2010 Lotus Evora is additional proof in that Lotus is serious about performance and tickling the fancy of true car enthusiasts.

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Automotive Addicts Meet on October 10th

So we had another great meet, thank you everyone for coming out! Well here are some pics of the meet. If you want to see more go to Here

The next Automotive Addicts Meet is November 14th at 9am same location.

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An Adventure In A Lotus Exige S240 – Matt Farah is Lost!

No doubt many of the latest Lotus cars are dubbed as Go-Carts on Rails that are street legal. Others may call them something else like in a big guy’s case, something he will never get to ride in. Matt Farah from Garage 419 is lost and has to find his way back… In a Lotus Exige S240. We look forward to the follow-up video to the rest of Matt’s adventures. Until then, Enjoy the video below after the jump.

YouTube - “What happens when you get lost on New Jersey back roads with a Lotus Exige S240? Well, Matt Farah finds out when Producer J.F. Musial leaves him at the side of a river in the middle of the day. Matt needs to find his way back to New York City in only a few hours. Follow Matt on his adventure across the state in a street legal, race prepped sports-car.” – Garage419

Lotus Exige S240 Specs:

• Base Price: $65,815
• Vehicle Layout: Mid-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
• Engine: 1.8-liter/240-hp/170-lb-ft DOHC I-4 (interesting fact: Same Engine found in 2000-2006 Toyota Celica GT-S – co-developed by Yamaha)
• Transmission: 6-speed manual
• Curb Weight: 2100 lb (mfr est)
• Wheelbase: 90.5 in
• Length x Width x Height: 149.5 x 68.0 x 45.6 in
• 0-60 mph: 4.0 sec (mfr est)
• EPA City/Hwy Econ: 23/29 mpg
• CO2 Emissions: 0.76 lb/mile

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