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The New Lotus Europa S - 'Business Class by Lotus'

Overview

The new Lotus Europa S, a Grand Tourer (GT) inspired two-seater,
will provide Lotus customers a spectacular sportscar with significantly
enhanced levels of touring and cruising capability, as well as higher levels
of practicality and refinement to complement the simplicity of the Lotus
Elise and Exige models.

The Europa S follows the core Lotus philosophy of performance
through light weight, enabling this refined and high-performing GT car to
weigh a mere 995 kg, making it class- leading in this respect. This low
weight has been obtained through the clever use of advanced and high-tech
materials including an extruded and bonded aluminium chassis, composite body
panels and a very advanced composite energy absorbing front crash structure.

When compared to the award-winning Lotus Elise, the Europa S has a
larger boot / luggage compartment and easier cabin access, resulting from
lower chassis sides and a higher roof line. Combined with a full leather
interior, Satellite Navigation, driver and passenger airbags and carpets all
as standard, Lotus has created a "Business Class" driving experience which
remains true to the Company's design philosophy.

The new mid-engine coupe will deliver high levels of performance
from a high torque (263 Nm or 194 lbft at 4200 rpm) 2.0-litre turbo engine
producing 149 kW (200 hp or 203 PS) at 5400rpm.

The Lotus Europa S achieves around 90% of its maximum torque at only
2000 rpm to give class-leading levels of acceleration from low engine
speeds, propelling the car from 0 - 96 km/h (60 mph) in around 5.5 seconds,
and 160 km/h (100 mph) in around 14 seconds. Maximum speed is approximately 225 km/h (140 mph). Being a Lotus, the Europa S has a competitive power to weight ratio of 201 hp / tonne (204 PS / tonne or 6.68 kg/kW).

The introduction of a GT-inspired car, represents both an important
and unique addition to the Lotus product range, as Clive Dopson, Managing
Director of Lotus Cars, explains: "The launch of the Europa S re-affirms our
position as an innovative player in the highly competitive sportscar
marketplace. It allows Lotus to extend its product appeal beyond our
traditional customer base, and provides yet another demonstration of the key
Lotus brand attributes and high levels of quality for which we are
particularly proud."

Trevor Houghton-Berry, Head of Commercial Operations for Lotus Cars
explains further the positioning of the Lotus Europa S: "No longer will the
outrageous fun and exhilaration of driving a true Lotus require Lotus
customers to make such significant compromises when it comes to the
practicality of living with their 'pride and joy' on a daily basis. The
purity and simplicity of the Lotus Elise and Exige ranges is now perfectly
complemented with the arrival of the new Europa S - a car which stays true
to the Lotus philosophy of 'Performance through light weight', but
recognises that for some, the Elise and Exige experience may sometimes prove
just a little too 'extreme'!"

Full production of the Lotus Europa S is scheduled to commence in
July 2006 at the award-winning and world-class Lotus manufacturing facility
at the Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, UK.

The Lotus Europa in more detail
The project and testing programme

The Lotus Europa S went from concept to production in just 28
months. This rapid development was down to the capabilities of the Lotus
Engineering and Lotus Manufacturing divisions.

Extensive testing was conducted around the world in hot and cold
climates, high humidity, city and urban environments as well as on the
freeways and autobahns around Europe. Also used was the demanding 4 km
(2.25 mile) Lotus test track and the roads around the Hethel headquarters -
regarded by many as some of the world's most demanding with an almost unique variety of surfaces and conditions.

However, engineering a vehicle is only one of the challenges to
developing a successful product. The Europa S was developed for manufacture by the team responsible for what is regarded by many as the finest niche vehicle and low volume manufacturing facility in the world. This
manufacturing facility, based at the Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, England
currently produces 4000 to 4500 cars per year (with the Elise and the
Exige). The Europa S will reach maximum volume rate in late Summer 2006
after a steady volume ramp up starting in late Spring 2006. Volumes are
expected to be in the order of 500 cars per year but this figure is flexible
and volumes can be rapidly altered to meet demand when required.

Lotus Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Lotus uses a worldwide network of high quality suppliers who not
only have excellent products, but are also willing to work with Lotus to
produce components specifically designed and developed to meet the exacting requirements of a Lotus vehicle. With the Europa S programme, special attention has been paid to broadening this supplier network in South East Asia, resulting in the body panels for example, being produced in Malaysia
through a new partnership between Lotus and a leading local aerospace
manufacturer.

Such activity has been strongly supported by Proton, the parent
company to Lotus, who continue to provide assistance in this region.

Lotus remains committed to using environmentally friendly high
solids water based paints, and each car is carefully inspected to ensure an
"A1" class finish.

Each car goes through a number of quality checking stages before
being delivered to the customer - these quality standards are world class -
Lotus was the first vehicle manufacturer and engineering consultancy in the
world to be awarded the prestigious QS9000 which is linked to ISO9001/2000.

It is this attention to detail that lead to Lotus to be awarded the
prestigious 'World Class Manufacturer of the Year' award in 2005.

Each Europa S will take about 3 ½ days and 130 man-hours to build.

Tony Shute, Head of Product for Lotus Cars explains the concept
behind the new product: "The Europa S has allowed Lotus to exploit its
extensive capabilities in developing a sophisticated GT-inspired car which
successfully complements the range of existing cars. The 'Grand Tourer'
concept underpinning the Europa S provides the driver with a refined
environment, incorporating innovative styling features which do not
compromise the superior performance and handling that is synonymous with the Lotus marque."

Chassis
The market and customer requirements for a GT-inspired car are quite
different to the current range of Lotus cars, the Elise and the Exige.
Therefore the challenge for the Lotus engineers was to design a car that
could be constructed around the extruded and bonded Aluminium chassis -
similar to that used in the Elise and Exige - but which also incorporates
significantly enhanced levels of practicality, refinement for the occupants
and increased touring and cruising capability.

The chassis for the Lotus Europa S weighs just 68 kg while
maintaining high levels of stiffness and strength. To make access to the
cockpit easier for driver and passenger, the sills, when compared to the
Elise and Exige have been lowered by 40 mm (1.6 inches) and reinforced to
maintain chassis stiffness. Again, when compared to the Elise and the Exige,
the door glass is 50 mm (2 inches) higher giving a total door opening access
for the driver and passenger of an additional 90 mm (3 ½ inches).

The engine is mounted to a lightweight and strong, galvanised steel
subframe. The lightweight steel wishbones are also mounted to this steel
assembly.

The Lotus vehicle dynamics team were set a tough challenge to
produce a ride and handling package for the Lotus Europa S that combines
compliance and comfort with the legendary Lotus agility, responsiveness and
handling.

Steve Swift, Head of Vehicle Engineering explains the relationship
between ride and handling for the Lotus Europa S: ""The Europa is a true GT
concept and the ideal companion for a long journey home."

Elegant and lightweight 17" diameter wheels front and rear are shod
with bespoke Bridgestone Potenza tyres (175/55 R17 on the front and 225/45
R17 on the rear).

Brakes
The light weight of the Lotus Europa S contributes to the high
performance braking capability through Lotus/AP-Racing twin-piston fixed
aluminium alloy brake calipers at the front and Brembo single-piston sliding
calipers at the rear. The 282 mm diameter ventilated discs are linked to a
servo-assisted, 4-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

crash5 a écrit :c'est vraiment incroyable de voir a quel point plus ça va, plus on pourrait l'appeler le speedy2 quand meme !!!

PA a écrit :Les mêmes pneus avant de vélo que sur le speedy avec encore plus de poids à maîtriser, ça va sousvirer sec...

TATONSPEEDY a écrit :Ma prochaine voiture ! sans hesiter...

Trop belle

Kanary a écrit :L'une des premières sur la route...