What's new?

On this page you will find a list with the latest Lotus related news, and a list of the most recent changes on the Lotus Drivers Guide website. In this way it is easy for you to see what is new on these pages. I like to thank everybody who is sending emails with information and/or images!! You can contact us here if you wish.

I do know that there is still a lot of work to be done on this website, and to be honest, I hope there allways will be as I do this as a hobby! As it is a hobby and not a business, I will take my time to do it. So please be patient and see the website grow from time to time.

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Latest news and recent changes on this website:

February 2012

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

• Lotus Elise GT1 (raceversions) slotcar by Avant
  
• Lotus Type 78, Truescale Miniatures have announced two 1:18 versions
• Lotus Elite S2 by Spark, 1:43
• Truescale Miniatures also announced a Lotus Type 76 in scale 1:43
• And also from Truescale, this Type 72E Ronnie Peterson Italinian GP 1973, 1:43
• Rêve 1:43 Lotus Type 99T Nakajima British GP 1987
• A new version of the Ninco 1:32 Exige S slotcar

For collectors who want to add something to their models, this 1977 Lotus pit crew that is announced by Truesale Miniatures may be nice, it will be available in scale 1:43 and scale 1:18.

And there will be more 1:43 and 1:18 scale figurines like Ronnie Peterson 'Team Lotus 1978, Mario Andretti 'Team Lotus 1977.

January 2012

Formula One news

The new Lotus F1 car, to be presented by the Lotus F1 Team on 5 February, will be called E20. This will be the 20th car that is produced at the Enstone plant.

A teaser video can be viewed at our video page.

Lotus Renault Grand Prix -> Lotus F1 Team

This is the new logo

D’Ambrosio announced as new reserve driver for Lotus

Lotus F1 Team is pleased to announce that Jérôme D'Ambrosio has joined the team as third driver for the 2012 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.

Jérôme, who contested last year’s season as a race driver for Marussia Virgin Racing, will attend all races in 2012, working with the race driver pairing of Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean. The 26 year-old Belgian will be ready to stand-in for either of the two race drivers if required.

JÉRÔME D'AMBROSIO
“It’s a great feeling to be joining Lotus F1 Team. It’s an exciting next step in my career. I contested a complete season in F1 as a race driver for a smaller team where I learnt a lot about Formula 1. Now, I have the opportunity to work with one of the top teams with great potential for my future development. With my recent race experience, I know I can make a valuable contribution. Of course, I would love to be racing, but racing with a top team. Being associated with Lotus F1 Team should be more beneficial and this is the choice I have made. This opportunity is one I couldn’t afford to miss. My desire to get back in a race seat in the future is motivating me to do the best job possible in my new position.”

ERIC BOULLIER, TEAM PRINCIPAL AND MANAGING DIRECTOR:
“To have a third driver who is highly motivated, fresh and talented and who contested the full 2011 season is highly beneficial for us. In Jérôme we have someone we know well who integrates beneficially with the squad. He impressed as reserve driver for us in 2010 and at the end of that year he made a strong showing in the young driver test. He also showed strongly in his rookie season as an F1 race driver. I am looking forward to working with Jérôme again and think he is a perfect addition to our driving strength.”

Indian Driver Sailesh Bolisetti to race for Lotus in British GT

Lotus Sport UK has signed Sailesh Bolisetti to race in the 2012 Avon Tyres British GT Championship. Read more here.

New on the video page of this website:

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team's new driver, was back at the wheel of an F1 car for the first time since 2009, in Valencia 23-01-2012.

The new Lotus F1 Team Formula One car will be presented on the 5th of February!

New on the video page of this website:

Lotus' chief testing guru Matt Becker puts the Lotus Evora S IPS through its paces at the Hethel test track.

Events news

Club Lotus has announced that there will not be a Donington Show in 2012! The idea is to have the show in April again, as many exhibitors and visitors have asked. Now that April 2012 seems to be impossible for several reasons, it is decided that the next show will be in April 2013. Well worth a visit!

Read more here

Award for the Lotus Evora S

Digital magazine and automotive website Winding Road has selected their best cars of 2012. The Lotus Evora S was selected as best Super Coupe.

"With competitors including even blistering fare from Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche, winning the Super Coupe of the year award means a dogfight. So, while few would argue that the newly supercharged Evora is anything but a purebred sports car, we think its win here is mightily impressive considering the talent in the segment."

"The Evora S is fast, blissfully communicative, and more fluid to operate at the limit than any car south of a six-figure price tag ought to be. A fast, direct manual transmission allows for superb modulation of the torque-rich engine, while a nearly pitch-perfect exhaust note encourages us to keep the revs up just for the hell of it. Take this Lotus to the track and it’ll do you proud; drive it hard on the most excellent back road you can find and it’ll blow your mind."

Newsletter

The January 2012 newsletter is published now, all (free) subscribers have received it.

New Lotus Originals flagship store in London

Group Lotus is delighted to confirm a brand new ‘LOTUS ORIGINALS’ flagship store will be opening in London’s prestigious Regent Street - 52 Regent Street to be exact! Situated in London’s Piccadilly, from Spring/Summer 2012 the building will host a brand new Lotus experience: a 4,800 sq ft store situated in a Grade II-listed former ‘Café Royal’. Read more here.

New on the video page of this website:

Lotus team up with Team Bullrun at Autosport International

Team Bullrun have announced they are to take delivery of a new Lotus Evora in time for the first round of the Championship at the Silverstone GP circuit on 24th March 2012. See the video here.

Lots from Lotus at Autosport International

Lotus has announced a lot of news at the Autosport International Show. Read all about it here.

Lotus Renault Grand Prix innovation

Lotus is doing it again! I am of course referring to ‘the old days’ when Colin Chapman was able to make his opponents very nervous with his innovations. With the new innovative reactive ride height system Lotus Renault Grand Prix is forcing their rivals to copy it. Especially now that the FIA has approved it!

The mechanical system helps maintain a standard ride height during braking, when normally th efront end of the car would go down. The adjustment to the ride height is reactive to brake torque and is linked to the suspension. The driver does not have to do anything to improve aerodynamic performance and stability while braking. The fact that the driver is not involved, and that the system is a part of the suspension, means it complies fully with the F1 regulations.

Introducing Lotus GP

Lotus ART will have a new name, but the identity and values of the team remain the same. Starting in 2012, and for the upcoming seasons, the team led by Frédéric Vasseur and Nicolas Todt will continue its commitment in the GP2 and GP3 Series championships under the name Lotus, with the colours that brought glory to the auto brand, Black and Gold.  Read more here.

New on the video page of this website:

Introducing Lotus Club GT
The Priocept Exige in action

New in the Press Releases section of this website:

Members only....

A hint of what’s to come at the Autosport International Show this week

Group Lotus is welcoming applications to one of the world’s most elite clubs – the Lotus Club GT. Here you won’t find leather Chesterfields, wood-paneled walls or the aroma of fine cigars; instead you’ll find bucket seats, carbon-fibre and the smell of burnt rubber. Read more here.

Kimi Räikkönen visited the Lotus Renault Grand Prix HQ at Enstone earlier this week for seat fitting.

image © LRGP

New in the racing section of this website:

Some information on the 2012 LRGP drivers.

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

SMART Lotus Elan by MEA kit 43
Lotus Type 79 as driven by Jarier in the 1978 Canadian GP, by Minichamps

New on the video page of this website:

Bruno Senna takes the new Lotus Exige S for a spin.

Happy New Year everybody!

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

Elan 26R Shapecraft Lightwork Racing by Spark, 1:43

Evora Type 124 Cup 2010 by Spark, 1:43

December 2011

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

Lotus Renault GP R31, Petrov, Minichamps 1:43
Lotus Renault GP R31, Heidfeld, Minichamps 1:43

New in the Press Releases section of this website:

Lotus Motorsport Hits  Major Milestones
Success in Italy with the first IndyCar engine fire-up and Exige R-GT Rally shakedown

The December Newsletter has now been send to all subscribers.

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012
A full six months ahead of next summer’s Festival of Speed (28 June - 1 July 2012), Goodwood is excited to reveal that it will be honouring the pioneering Lotus marque with the main ‘Central Feature’ installation, displayed prominently outside Goodwood House. Read the full press release here.

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

Lotus Cortina by Scalextric, 1964 Neptune Racing Team
T128 Chandhok, German GP 2011, by Spark, 1:43
Type 77 transfer kit by Model Factory Hiro, scale 1:12

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

99T, 1:43 Monaco GP 1987 winner (Senna) by Rêve
Sunbeam Lotus, 1:18 scale rally version by Otto Mobile announced for February 2012
Lotus Type 25 in "Classic British Marques" set by Brumm
Lotus Renault GP Showcar by Minichamps, scale 1:18

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

Lotus Type 25 by Spark, scale 1:18, a replica of Jim Clark’s 1963 championship winning car. Just in time for Christmas!

New contract for Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar

The CEO of Group Lotus, Dany Bahar, has signed a new contract for a period of 4 years after a meeting with Proton. Dany Bahar came from Ferrari to Lotus in 2009 and his contract was to expire in 2012. “The Proton dedication to our plans has always been solid, and the decision to extend my contract a year early is a signal of that commitment,” Bahar said.

New in the Modelcar section of this website:

Elise GT1 street version by Avant Slot, 1:32
Lotus 97T in 4 versions by Fujimi, 1:20 kit.

New in the books section of this website:

Joe Honda Photobook Volume 12, Gold Leaf Team Lotus

New in the books section of this website:

New DVD deries Grand Prix Heroes. Each film is narrated by Sir Stirling Moss, and is packed with wonderful racing action from legendary circuits including Monaco, Kyalami, Spa-Francorchamps, Brands Hatch and Montjuich. In addition, we have the privilege of listening in as the teams and star drivers work on performance in the pits. I have listed DVD's on Mario Andretti, Ronnie Peterson and Emmerson Fittipaldi. Look here for more information.

10 December 2011

First Lotus Originals Shop is now open

In Hethel, located at the Group Lotus HQ, the first new Lotus Original Shop has been opened by Bruno Senna And Dany Bahar. The store is open to the public Monday to Thursday 8.30am until 5pm and 8.30am until midday on Fridays. Customers can also shop online at www.lotusoriginals.com.

Read the full press release here.

Romain Grosjean to race alongside Kimi Räikkönen in 2012

Lotus Renault GP and TOTAL have just announced that Romain Grosjean will race alongside 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen next season. The two companies are also pleased to confirm that they have renewed their sponsorship agreement for another year. Read the full story here.

Do you want to know more about the new Lotus Exige? Have a look here:

Exige S is comming soon!
Lotus dealers are now offering testdrives with the new Lotus Exige S with V6 engine. Read more about the new Exige S here.

Newsflashes:

If we may believe Spain's El Mundo Deportivo and Italy's Italiaracing, Kimi Räikönen is co-owner of the Lotus Formula One team that he will be driving for next year....
He could be the first 'driver-owner' in F1 in more than twenty years.

There may be a female test driver next season with María de Villota reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with Lotus Renault GP. This 31-year-old lady is the daughter of former Formula One driver Emilio de Villota. She made her first drive in a Lotus Renault GP car in August, testdriving an R29 at the Paul Ricard circuit.

Lotus Renault GP: Genii's Gerard Lopez said this week: "Kimi (Raikkonen's) decision to come back to formula one with us is the first step of several announcements which should turn us into an even more serious contender in the future." One of the first announcements may be about team boss Eric Boullier is rumoured to be leaving his duties... Former McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan was in the Renault garage last weekend at Interlagos. An other person who seems to be on the shortlist is Gerhard Berger.

New on the video page:

1. Launch party for Lotus luxury automotive to unveil the world's first chrome colored car designed by the newly appointed creative director Swizz Beatz. Special guests included Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, Alicia Keys, Russell Simmons, Stephen Baldwin, Carmelo Anthony and a surprise performance from Swizz and TI.

2. Lotus Renault Grand Prix: Film featuring exhilarating footage of the best road cars in the world trying to attain a speed of 300km/h before the R30, driven by Nicolas Prost, demonstrates an amazing performance of its own.

New on the links page:

1. Elan M100 hoods
2. Rare lotus cars

I have started the events calendar for 2012, any Lotus related event can be listed here, free of charge!
Read more here.

New in the Genealogy section of this website:
An update of the Evora page, including the special versions that Lotus has produced or announced.