Auto Design

by Giancarlo Perini (c)

You can look back at the Paris Motor Show, the latest top-ranking of the season from many different perspectives: business as usual or new perspective, sexy style or strict functionality, economic status or talks between car-makers to discuss new alliance and even a show within the show. Indeed this is what tiny British carmaker Lotus has done in Paris. By presenting as many as 5 new concept-cars and mock-ups (Elise, Elan and Esprit, Elite and Eterne) the company has attracted a lot of attention from the media and caused a series of serious of questions now waiting for an answer.

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Those of you who read Car Styling magazine might have been puzzled by my report on the Geneva motor show published in the latest (and last?) issue of the magazine.
For some mysterious accident that are more common in the printed press than you can image my text was cut and mixed up. For a more accurate reading and for the records I am publishing here the original text. Just as a sign of respect for my readers.

Official statistics show that the latest and 80th Geneva Motor Show set a new record for “premieres”, with as many as eighty “new cars”, or so, unveiled for the first time there. Now, considering the space in the magazine is not growing with the number of new cars at motor shows, let’s go straight to the point and answer the usual questions: how was the show this year. What was relevant and worth recording for the years to come?

First I would say that I saw more irrelevant, disappointing or irritating cars (read designs) than interesting and attractive ones: be for their design or their lack of innovative ideas/concepts. A short list includes the Aston Martin Cygnet,  Renault Megane CC, Renault Wind and Toyota Auris.

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More news have come form Italdesign-Giugiaro on their presence at the Geneva Motor Show, with some detail concerning the powertrain developed with Proton and their own Lotus Engineering think thank in the U.K. Read the rest of this entry »

Going to an international motor show is like going to the annual market. You meet a lot of friends and people, see many things and you come back home with the head full of information, impressions, news, comments and opinions. So much so that indeed you need a few days to arrange everything in some sort of order so that you get to the essence of the experience. This is all the same and yet all different every time. And I am not just talking of the cars.

As for cars, new cars I mean, I have come home with an incredible load of pictures and information.

I would have to share them all with you the very moment I sat back to my PC last Saturday but this is simply impossible. It takes a lot of time to put a label and classify more than 2000 images.

Now, having done just that I can start sharing with you some of the most significant. Or at least some that I image you want to see as soon as possible.

This is why, at this time I am offering you a series of photo galleries to look at. What you see is a combination of images shot at the Paris “Mondial de l’Automobile” and images provided by the press offices and design studio of the car makers.

I am giving priority to the latter ones, as the most attractive and unique.

Related information and comments will be posted shortly. Click on images below to access their photo gallery.

Lotus has officially announced they will be unveiling their all-new 2+2, mid-engine sports car, so far known as the “Eagle” project. Lotus will announce the actual name of the new model on the opening of the British Motor Show in London on July 22^nd.

The new Lotus is powered by a Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6, with dual VVT tuned by Lotus to effortlessly deliver 280 HP. According to Lotus, the new car “employs innovative lightweight chassis technology to ensure visceral all-round dynamic performance, in keeping with the great Lotus tradition”.

The top speed claimed is 160 mph and acceleration time from zero to 60 mph is claimed to be under 5 seconds. As well as being sold in a 2+2 configuration, the car will also be available as a purely two seater, the space in the rear being allocated to luggage storage. Other derivatives are also planned for the future, including a convertible and an ultrahigh performance version. Lotus plans a production run of only 2000 units per year, with first deliveries schedules for Spring 2009.Talking of the car design, developed in-house, under his leadership. head of Lotus Design Russell Carr said: “The dynamically sculptured form and the dramatic proportions of the “Eagle” communicate visual drama, speed and agility even when the car is standing still. Every element of the car’s exterior and interior has been carefully designed to create a product that offers comfort and convenience as well as traditional performance car attributes.”

According to Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc “Project Eagle is the biggest milestone Lotus has achieved since the Elise was born 13 years ago. It represents the first exciting step of our aggressive 5-year model plan, designed to broaden the appeal of the Lotus brand.”

By Giancarlo Perini ©

Great holistic sports car can be greener and greener and even greater fun to drive. This is the message from Lotus on the eve of the London Motor Show, where the Sports car and Technology tank established 60 years ago by the late Colin A.B. Chapman, will be unveiling their Eco Elise as a show-car and a high-tech technology demonstrator.

According to Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc “The Eco Elise promotes a different perspective on “green”, one which does not revolve solely around tailpipe CO2. Sustainable materials, hemp, eco wool and sisal have been developed for body panels and trim and, combined with hi-tech water based paint solutions, showcase new affordable green technologies. This holistic approach is in keeping with the progressive Lotus culture, driving Lotus to become the world’s green automotive consultancy.”

Indeed the Lotus brand values of lightweight, fuel efficient, and high performance are more relevant today than they ever have been. Both for CO2 concerns and fuel economy.

The Eco Elise weighs 32 kg (70.5 lbs) less than the standard Elise S, which means that the efficient Elise S engine in the Eco Elise will give higher fuel economy figures and even better performance.

The reduction in mass improves the handling and braking performance and also reduces the effort required to accelerate the car. The weight reduction philosophy has even extended to the audio system with an exceptionally lightweight stereo and speaker system from Alpine saving 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). The system uses MP3/ iPod technology in a sleek modern design.

In addition the Eco Elise uses special lightweight wheels that further reduce the unsprung mass and contribute a weight saving of approximately 15.8 kg (34.8 lbs) over the already super light Elise wheels.

No doubt: many industry insiders will have a very close look to the Eco Elise. Weight reduction has got to become the very first priority of any car maker from now on, whatever the starting point of their model range.

Group Lotus Today