Manufacturer: Lotus
The Lotus is this week's supercar reveal for Atari's Test Drive Unlimited.
It doesn't get much better when you can tool around Oahu's miles of pavement
racing the world's best cars, does it? Here's the skinny on Lotus as we go
behind the scenes to give you the down-low.
The Lotus, as we know it today, was almost named "Austin Seven Special" - that
was the name it was given as its creator Colin Chapman worked on his first car
in a lock-up garage behind his girlfriend's house in 1947. As the technology
progressed, so did the name. Since that time, Lotus has been a leader in
performance and design. Lotus automobiles have enjoyed Grand Prix success
since 1960. Featured in the James Bond film, the "Spy Who Loved Me"
in 1977, the 1989 blockbuster hit, "Pretty Woman," and the 1992 classic "Basic
Instinct" the Lotus has enjoyed as much fame as the stars who drove it in the
film. Soon, fans will take the wheel of one of three Lotus cars featured in
Test Drive Unlimited and star in their own race for fame and glory!
Lotus Elise R
The Lotus Elise R adds superb power to the Lotus stable of cars. Its VVTL-i
engine (Variable Valve Timing and Lift-Intelligent) produces maximum power
output of 190 bhp and boasts 133 lb-ft of torque. The Elise R sprints to 60
mph in 4.9 seconds before reaching a certified top speed of 150 mph. The Lotus
enjoys a flurry of colors, totaling 21 custom colors in all. This is truly a
car that loves to be driven.
Lotus Esprit V8
Celebrating 30 years of this automobile, the 2002 Lotus Espirit V8 received a
face lift. This bad boy features a 3.5 Liter Twin Turbo V-8, Allied Signal
T25 Turbos, and an all-aluminum engine. On the roads of Oahu, you'll push it
to 175 mph and enjoy a breakneck jump of 0 - 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
Lotus Sport Exige R240
Lotus Sport, the performance division of Lotus Cars Ltd., has developed the
Lotus Sport Exige 240R, a limited edition high performance sportscar with
total global build volumes kept strictly to 50 cars.
Lotus Sport built the Lotus Sport Exige 240R within its facilities at the
Group Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk. This facility, located in the
centre of the famous Hethel Test Track, has a great history of producing
bespoke versions of Lotus products.
With a supercharged and intercooled high revving engine producing over 240 hp
and over 170 lbft of torque, the Lotus Sport Exige 240R reaches 60 mph in less
than 4 seconds and 100 mph in less than 10 seconds before topping out at 155
mph. At this top speed the advanced aerodynamics produce 113 kg of downforce
increasing grip, stability and safety.
The total unladen weight is approximately 930 kg and the power to weight is
approximately 261 hp / tonne.
All 50 cars were built to order and to further identify and maintain the
exclusivity of the Lotus Sport Exige 240R, they were only be available in
Sport Yellow or Sport Black - both unique and exclusive colours specifically
blended to denote the brand colour scheme of Lotus Sport.
