Elite motor sport series launched

Picture, if you can, a car accelerating from zero to 300 km/h in just a shade over nine seconds, propelled by 2 000 brake horsepower. That is just what the electric Lotus Evija can do and it is the centrepiece of a new motor sport initiative between a local and a Chinese consortium.  

The announcement, made a few hours ahead of the BRICS Summit, at Sandton Square, had founding members of the new Elite World Cup consortium – Tokyo Sexwale, Liu Yu and Stephen Watson in the spotlight.  

“The Elite World Cup is not just a racing competition,” says Sexwale, Co-founder of the Elite World Cup. “It is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation and sustainability.”  

Stephen Watson, Co-founder of the Elite World Cup, says: “The Cup is called Elite for a reason as we will engage and invite experienced international racing car drivers that have competed across F1, Indy Car, NASCAR, WRC and the likes. We want the drivers and teams who have established themselves and represented their countries in various prestigious motorsport championships around the world.”  

Scheduled to start in September 2024, the race programme will run in the so-called ‘off season’ for all the other major championships and teams from around the world will compete in a series of 8-10 World Cup race weekends.  

The consortium is aiming to have 25 cars on the grid – all identical and prepared by the organisers and issued to the teams ahead of each race.   Watson says five countries have committed to the series – South Africa and China, naturally, and considering the launch even featured Emerson Fittipaldi speaking from Monterey in California, Brazil is also a likely player.

While Watson was not saying who the other countries are, he did acknowledge they were in conversation with Colombian ex-F1 driver, Juan Pablo Montoya. 

According to Yu, one asks three primary questions when it comes to the selection of electric hypercars: how big is its performance, how far is its range and how rapidly can you recharge?.

As a road car, the Lotus already holds fast to its reputation as a striking manifestation of elegance and raw power. With 2 000+ bhp (brake horsepower) and acceleration of 0 to 300 km/h in just over 9 seconds, it is as brutal as any car can be.  

As the motor sport industry embraces the transition to electric power, the Elite World Cup stands as a beacon of change. By fostering competition, collaboration, and breakthroughs in electric vehicle technology, this event will drive advancements that have far-reaching implications for the automotive industry and beyond.  

“We have run Team China in many prestigious racing championships since we first started racing internationally in 2004,” says Yu. “The automotive landscape has evolved significantly, and as the electric car industry is growing rapidly in China, we’re excited and proud to be at the forefront of this Elite revolution in sports,” says Yu.  

The Chinese connection goes even further considering its car giant, Geely, owns Lotus (as well as Volvo and Aston Martin).

https://bit.ly/3EbB2aE

Colin-on-Cars - Charge in six minutes

Former Aston Martin Vanquish and Jaguar F-Type designer, Ian Callum’s company, is at the heart of an electric vehicle battery development that could reduce charging times to just six minutes..

Design and engineering business Callum, together with the pioneering developer of ultra-fast-charging batteries, Nyobolt, have revealed the Nyobolt EV. Designed by Julian Thomson, developed and executed by Callum together with Nyobolt, it is set to feature Nyobolt’s new advanced battery technology that can charge fully in less than six minutes.

David Fairbairn, managing director at Callum, says: “Nyobolt’s pioneering battery technology has provided us with a unique and inspiring opportunity to support the design and execution of a vehicle set to mark the way forward for EV technology.

“The collaborative creativity, engineering capabilities and steadfast efforts of Nyobolt, Julian Thomson and Callum have resulted in an EV that is not only exciting technically for the industry, but something that is beautiful to behold, too.”

Nyobolt, wishing to demonstrate this ultra-fast charging battery technology in a nimble, lightweight sportscar, turned to the talents of revered car designer, Julian Thomson.

Thomson’s natural starting point was the Lotus Elise, having conceived it in early 1994 and, since its release in September 1996, has always wanted to evolve and modernise it.

Following Nyobolt’s approach in 2021, and working as a freelance designer at the time before being appointed design director at GM Advanced Design Europe, Thomson embraced the opportunity, inviting design and engineering business Callum to see the design through to execution.

The result of this collaboration is the Nyobolt EV – a sports car with greater presence and exaggerated proportions. Sitting on 19-inch wheels all around, its low-slung body 100 mm wider and 150 mm longer than its inspiration, while maintaining an aggressive attitude and hunkered stance that’s reminiscent of the original.

“The aim was to evolve the design and bring it up to date while keeping that iconic sports car character that was so well received in the Elise,” explains Aleck Jones, creative lead at Callum.

“Nyobolt’s technology allows this car to tick all the boxes that made the original Elise such a desirable drivers’ car with a cult following, but it’s electric. These two things don’t usually come hand-in-hand due to weight and battery packaging constraints.”

The new battery technology is smaller, lighter and faster to charge. In the Nyobolt EV, set to weigh close to one tonne, this translates into a 35 kWh battery that is capable of fully charging in just six minutes with existing charging infrastructure, delivering a range of up to 250 km.

Additionally, the battery has been tested for over 2 000 fast charging cycles without significant performance loss.

Nyobolt’s ready-to-deploy technology, which will go into production in early 2024, unlocks this ‘holy grail’ through a proven 10C (six-minute) charge lithium-ion technology that is capable of immediate application and rapid scale-up. This breakthrough translates to a nimbler, more efficient EV with a lower up-front cost, lower running costs and lower use of scarce raw materials.

Sai Shivareddy, CEO at Nyobolt, said: “Unlocking the challenges faced by electric vehicle designers has been key to the development of our breakthrough fast-charging batteries.

“Previously, enabling a lightweight fast-charging vehicle was not possible without compromising its lifetime and so people have been relying on costly and large battery packs in the vehicle.

“With our unique technology, we have achieved a six-minute charge car and developed smaller battery packs that can deliver more power and charge in less time.”

https://bit.ly/3NyuYhK

Colin-on-Cars - Lotus Eletre breaks cover

The re-imagining of Lotus a a global performance brand has picked up speed with the launch of the all-new Lotus Eletre, a fully electric Hyper-SUV.

The Eletre takes the heart and soul of the latest Lotus sports car – the Emira – and the aero performance of the all-electric Evija hypercar, and reinterprets them as a Hyper-SUV.

The Eletre delivers a significant number of firsts for Lotus – the first five-door production car, the first model outside sports car segments, the first lifestyle EV, the most ‘connected’ Lotus ever – yet it remains a true Lotus, packed with technology, genuine sporting performance and simplicity of purpose.

Driving

The Eletre is 4WD, has a battery capacity of 100 kWh and with power from 447 kW. A 350kW charger will deliver a 400 km range in just 20 minutes. The car’s target maximum WLTP driving range is 600 km.

Technology includes the most advanced active aerodynamics package on any production SUV and intelligent driving technologies such as the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system in a production car.

Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars, says: “The Eletre is a bold and revolutionary new car, delivering on our commitment to move Lotus into completely new automotive segments as we widen our global appeal and accessibility.

Signal

“This is a momentous point in our history and a clear signal of our ongoing desire to transform our business. It is a true Lotus, and we’re confident it will delight performance car customers and offer a distinct alternative to the segment’s established players. The Eletre has the soul of a Lotus and the usability of an SUV. Alongside the Emira sports car, this is the perfect two-car garage from Lotus.”

The Eletre is the first in a new range of premium lifestyle performance electric vehicles to be built at an all-new state-of-the-art production facility in Wuhan, China. The car has been ‘Born British, Raised Globally’, with design led by the UK, supported by collaborative work with teams in China, Sweden and Germany. The overall exterior and interior design has been led by an international team based at the Lotus Tech Creative Centre (LTCC) in Warwickshire, UK.

Life

The Eletre is the latest in a long line of Lotus road cars whose name begins with the letter E, and means ‘Coming to Life’ in some Eastern European languages.

Pressing the button on the key or smartphone app activates the car’s exterior lights that run through a short sequence, the active front grille ‘breathes’ and the illuminated flush door handles deploy. The experience is repeated inside the car as the door closes behind the occupant.

Ben Payne, Head of Studio at LTCC, says: “This walk-up sequence is a ‘peacock moment’ – a little ‘showing-off’ that highlights the Eletre’s engaging personality. It’s a visual expression of a car coming to life, and a metaphor for the reinvention of the Lotus business and brand which begins with the Eletre.”

Porosity

A signature element of the design is its ‘porosity’ – the aerodynamic principle of air flowing through the car as well as under, over and around it. Porosity was at the heart of the Evija’s design, is integral to the Emira, and has provided clear inspiration for the Eletre.

It is most obvious where air is channelled under the leading edge of the car, emerging through two exit vents in the bonnet above. There are other examples of porosity ahead of and behind the front wheel arches, behind the rear wheels, and even at the top of the D-pillar. For the driver there are clear benefits to porosity – less resistance in cutting through the air, delivering a more efficient journey in terms of improved vehicle range, speed and performance.

The Eletre’s active front grille is a network of interconnecting triangular petals that dominate the central section. Intricately designed, they remain closed when the car is at rest or when there’s a need to reduce drag during driving. They open in a distinctive pattern to feed air into the radiator, allowing the Eletre to ‘breathe’ when cooling of the electric motors, battery pack and front brakes is required.

Each door mirror is replaced by an Electric Reverse Mirror Display (ERMD), which houses three different cameras – one for the rear-view mirror, a second to help create a 360-degree view of the car from above to aid parking, and a third that’s part of the intelligent driving technologies.

Inspired

The driver-focused cockpit and high centre console are inspired by the Lotus Emira and Evija, and the centre console includes a storage tray with wireless charging for mobile phones, as well as twin cupholders of different sizes which sit flush to the surface until they’re needed.

While every element of the Eletre can be controlled digitally, certain key controls are duplicated with analogue switches – another nod to the simplicity for which Lotus is famed. Voice control through advanced speech recognition technology is also available.

Technology is used for much more than infotainment on the Eletre. It is also at the heart of the car’s suite of intelligent Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), many of which are designed to be futureproof so new features can be enabled via Over The Air (OTA) updates.

Safety

The Eletre is available with Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Collision Mitigation Support Front (CMSF); Traffic Sign Information (TSI); Door Open Warning (DOW); Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA); Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA); Lane Change Assist (LCA); Children Presence Detection (CPD); Lane Keep Aid with Lane Departure Warning / Prevention (LKA+); Parking Emergency Brake (PEB); Collision Mitigation Support Rear (CMSR); and Emergency Rescue Call (E-Call). There are i-Size child seat anchor points on the outboard rear seats.

The latest connectivity technology, including 5G compatibility, is part of the Eletre package.

Gavan Kershaw, Director, Attributes and Product Integrity, Lotus, says: “Dynamically, the Eletre has been developed to deliver everything you would expect from a Lotus – outstanding ride and handling, highly communicative steering and exceptional driver engagement. From a performance perspective, we know the world is watching so there has been an obsession with getting everything just right. Everyone is delighted with it – it’s a world-class product and a true Lotus.”

The car has five-link suspension at the rear for optimised ride and handling, while standard equipment includes air suspension and Continuous Damping Control (CDC). Active ride height, active rear axle steering, an active anti-roll bar and torque vectoring via braking are all available.

The car comes with four drive modes, which adjust the steering, damper settings, powertrain and accelerator pedal response. The modes are Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual, and are standard on all versions of the car.

https://bit.ly/3tOktgf

Colin-on-Cars - Full Lotus jacket

It is so undeniably British. The idea of having jacket to suit the occasion – the smoking jacket, the car coat and the driving jacket, this latter piece of outerware the subject of a collaboration between Lotus and globally renowned Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons.

It is arguably the world’s most exclusive driving jacket and is available only to customers of the Lotus Evija, the world’s first British all-electric hypercar, who will spend in the region of £2-million to have the chance to buy the garment.

The jacket’s classic design draws on the core values and DNA inherent in every product that both Lotus and Norton & Sons create – performance-oriented, lightweight contemporary design, advanced technical materials and sporting durability.

Norton & Sons was founded in 1821, exactly 200 years ago, and in the 1860s moved to its current address at 16 Savile Row, in the heart of London’s Mayfair district. Every Lotus Evija customer, male or female, is offered a personal appointment at the shop, where they will experience the unique luxury of the Norton & Sons bespoke service.

They will be measured and fitted and a unique pattern for their driving jacket will be drafted by hand by Norton & Sons’ master cutter. Each jacket will be individually hand-cut and hand-sewn, with the resulting garment being as unique as each Lotus Evija.

The jacket’s design was created jointly by Norton & Sons Design Director Patrick Grant and Lotus Design Director Russell Carr. Together they drew inspiration from the Lotus Evija hypercar and the car company’s glorious and successful racing heritage.

The jacket is made from a superfine lightweight water-resistant merino wool/nylon technical textile manufactured in Italy by Loro Piana, and features state-of-the-art Cobrax and Riri hardware. The overall shape echoes that of Team Lotus pitlane jackets of the early 1970s, seen at the racetracks of the world and worn by Lotus founder Colin Chapman and iconic motorsport heroes of the era including Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti.

The shape of the front pocket outlined with twin red stitching is drawn from the design of the Lotus Evija’s ‘ribbon’ tail light. Detailing on the nape of the neck, both inside and outside the jacket, repeats that motif and features a golden number 16 – the Savile Row address of the Norton & Sons’ shop.

Other tributes to Lotus heritage include three underarm ventilation eyelets inspired by the Lotus Elan 1600 triple tail light design.

The technical eyelet knit lining is breathable, perforated to reduce weight and includes a pocket perfectly sized to take the Lotus Evija key. There is also a label celebrating the collaboration; it features the Norton & Sons wordmark, the Lotus roundel and strapline ‘For The Drivers’, and a new silhouette of the Lotus Evija hypercar penned by Anthony Bushell, the car’s lead exterior designer.

Patrick Grant, best known as a judge on hit BBC TV Show ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’, commented: “When I was a kid, Lotus was the sports car everybody wanted. It was what James Bond drove and was the dominant team in Formula 1. To get the chance to explore the extraordinary Lotus racing archive, and to design a piece of clothing that takes its inspiration from such iconic 1960s and 1970s designs, was both a challenge and a thrill.”

Watch an exclusive film about the project at https://youtu.be/iCe3BUhEZJY

https://bit.ly/3prH3to

Colin-on-Cars - Emira pricing revealed

Even before import duties and other nasty taxes, the new Lotus Emira V6 will set you back around R1,5-million, based on the just announced UK pricing for the ‘First Edition’ model.

Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars, says: “The Emira is the most accomplished Lotus we have ever made, and to celebrate and reward our keenest early customers, we want to make the first cars extra special to own. The features have been carefully selected by our design team to make for a truly special and distinct First Edition.”

The Emira has been developed on a new lightweight bonded aluminium chassis – technology pioneered by Lotus and which remains an intrinsic part of the company’s sports car DNA.

Powering the V6 First Edition is the Lotus-honed 3,5-litre supercharged V6 engine, mid-mounted behind the two seats. Developing 298 kW, it is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with a visible gearchange mechanism and hydraulic power-assisted steering.

Exterior details include LED lights all round, a titanium exhaust finisher, heated power-fold door mirrors and rear parking sensors. The Lower Black Pack is fitted as standard, which means the front bumper air blades, front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser are all in finished in gloss black.

The heated seats feature 12-way adjustability and two memory presets linked to the door mirrors (driver’s seat only). Climate control, cruise control, keyless start and selectable drive modes are all included.

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation (in selected markets) are integrated into the Emira V6 First Edition, supported by Bluetooth and USB/12v sockets. The 10-channel/340W premium audio system has been developed in partnership with British brand KEF and includes DAB digital radio. All functions are accessed through a 10.25-inch centrally mounted touch-screen, with driver feedback through a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster ahead of the multi-function steering wheel.

Three more option packs are fitted as standard to the car, making four in total. The Drivers Pack gives customer the choice of Tour or Sport suspension with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, or Sport suspension with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

The Design Pack adds privacy glass, sports pedals, a black Alcantara headliner, and the choice of black, red, yellow or silver painted brake callipers. Lotus-branded footwell mats are also included. The Convenience Pack adds front parking sensors, rear reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers with aero blades, auto-dimming mirrors and a rear luggage storage net.

LOTUS EMIRA V6 FIRST EDITION TECH SPEC

Engine configuration3,456cc / V6Engine modelToyota 2GR-FESuperchargerEdelbrock 1740Power400hp / 298kWTorque420Nm (manual) / 430Nm (auto)Max engine speed6,800rpmGearboxSix-speed manual / six-speed autoCO2 emissions (WLTP combined)243g/km*0-60mph4.3 seconds*0-100km/h4.3 seconds (manual) / 4.2 seconds (auto)*Top speed180mph / 290km/h*Drag coefficient (Cd)0.349*

                                         *subject to homologation

https://bit.ly/3nXbGpI

 Richard Hammond collection on auction

Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is funding his new business venture by offering eight of his personal vehicles to be sold by Silverstone Auctions at The Classic at Silverstone on Sunday, August 1. 

All proceeds are to support his new business venture The Smallest Cog, a classic vehicle restoration business that will be documented in Richard Hammond’s Workshop (working title), a brand-new original docuseries airing on discovery+ UK later this year. 

“The irony of me supporting my new classic car restoration business by selling some of my own classic car collection is not wasted on me” says Hammond. 

He went on to add: “It is with a very heavy heart that they go, as they have a great deal of personal sentimental value, but they will be funding the future development of the business and giving life back to countless other classic vehicles.” 

Several of the classics are personal favourites of Hammond, with classic and limited-edition motorcycles he bought himself for his 40^th and 50^th birthdays on offer, as well as a much-loved family heirloom in the 1959 Bentley S2. 

The other lots include a stunning 1969 Porsche 911T, a 1927 Sunbeam Model 2 motorcycle, a classic 1999 Lotus Esprit Sport 350 which is number 5 of 48 built, a 1932 Velocette KSS Mk1 and a highly collectable 1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk1. The entire collection is being offered without reserve. 

Separate to his private collection, a widely publicised and beautifully restored Ford RS2000 was also due to go under the hammer the same weekend, but Hammond has deferred the release of this vehicle until the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Sale in September 2021 which will be hosted by Silverstone Auctions’ sister company, Classic Car Auctions (CCA). This is to allow more time for The Smallest Cog to complete the car to their exacting standards. 

Nick Whale, Managing Director of Silverstone Auctions, added: “We are delighted to have Richard both attending our sale but also joining us on the rostrum to introduce the collection. These vehicles clearly have a special place in his heart, so I’m sure it is going to be a day of mixed emotions for him, but we are confident we can deliver a keen bidding audience that will do his new business proud, we wish him the best of luck.” 

The Classic Sale at Silverstone is taking place from Friday, July 30 through to Sunday, August 1 in The Wing Building at Silverstone. The Richard Hammond Collection will be offered from 2pm during the Sunday auction.

 Lotus comeback starts with Emira

It is a name that has been exceedingly quiet for some time but, Lotus is back with its all-new Emira the company says perfectly embodies the ongoing transformation of the Lotus business and brand as well as featuring all the hallmarks expected from a Lotus – striking design, thrilling dynamic performance and outstanding aerodynamics.

Building on the legacy of the Elise, Exige and Evora, the Emira represents a quantum leap forward for Lotus and Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars says: “The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus. It stands as a beacon of everything we have achieved to date in the transformation of the business, the embodiment of our progress. It is a highly significant milestone on our path to becoming a truly global performance car brand.” 

The Emira has been developed on a new lightweight bonded aluminium chassis, technology pioneered by Lotus and which remains an intrinsic part of the company’s sports car DNA. That vehicle architecture is wrapped with a design using cues clearly developed from the Evija. Key dimensions of the Emira are length 4 412 mm, width 1 895 mm, height 1 225 mm and wheelbase 2 575 mm. 

Powering the Emira will be a choice of two petrol engines, the 3,5-litre V6 that powered the Exige and Evora and, from summer 2022, the first new Lotus sports car engine for more than a decade makes its debut, with the Emira powered by AMG. The new-to-Lotus AMG unit is a turbo-charged 2,0-litre four-cylinder ‘i4’ from the performance division of Mercedes-Benz. 

Working with Lotus for the first time, AMG has come on board as technical partner on the Emira programme, with some fundamental changes made to the in-line four-cylinder set-up for its Lotus debut. Transverse-mounted and delivering rear-wheel drive, the unit has been modified with a new air intake system and new exhaust to suit the character of the Emira. 

The second engine is more familiar, the 3,5-litre supercharged Toyota V6 that is so loved by drivers of the Exige and Evora. Cars will be available with a manual, automatic and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). 

Across the Emira range, power output will between 268 kW and 298 kW at launch, with 0-100km/h acceleration in less than 4,5 seconds and top speeds of up to 290km/h. Maximum torque will be 430 Nm and CO2 emissions will start below 180 g/km. 

Manufacturing will take place at Lotus’ famous home in Hethel, Norfolk, following more than £100-million of new investment in the company’s UK facilities. 

Matt Windle adds: “The Lotus Emira is the most accomplished Lotus road car ever to roll through the Hethel factory gates. Beautifully proportioned with a stunning design inspired by the Evija all-electric hypercar, it’s the perfect package. The Emira is a junior supercar with all the thrills and head-turning characteristics found in the greatest Lotus cars, but at the same time is an everyday sports car that’s high on comfort and functionality, packed with the latest technology demanded by the discerning driver.”

 

LOTUS EMIRA RANGE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Dimensions	Length 4 412 mm; width 1 895 mm (mirrors folded); height 1 225 mm; wheelbase 2 575 mm
Petrol engines	2,0-litre in-line four-cylinder / 3,5-litre V6
Transmissions	Manual, automatic and DCT
Power output	360-400hp
Maximum torque	430 Nm
Acceleration (0-62mph / 0-100km/h)	Less than 4.5 seconds
Top speed	Up to 290km/h
CO2 emissions	Start below 180g/km
EU DIN kerb weight	1 405kg in its lightest form
Connectivity and infotainment	10,25-inch touch-screen; integrated navigation*; Apple CarPlay / Android Auto; KEF Uni-Q premium audio system * not available in all markets
Key technology and features	Keyless-go; cruise control; rain-sensing wipers; electric folding door mirrors; powered seats; all-LES exterior lights; adaptive cruise control; anti-collision system; fatigue alert; road sign information; vehicle speed limiter; lane departure warning; rear cross traffic alert; lane change assist.