Lotus motor company: An innovator in design and concept

Click4Warranty thought that car warranty customers across the UK would be interested in finding out a little more of the inspiring Lotus Motor Company. At the Geneva motor show earlier this year, the sQuba was presented and drew widespread acclaim. Based on the Lotus Elise platform, a roadster and one of Lotus' most respected vehicle models, sQuba is an electrical vehicle straight out of the James Bond movie. Actually, the sQuba's predecessor, the Lotus Esprit, which was featured in Bond "The Spy Who Loved Me", did not work under water. The sQuba is the world's first official zero emissions underwater vehicle.

The sQuba has a depth capability of 10 meters. With a look of a sleek and sporty car, the sQuba separates itself with its salt water resistant design and high-tech sealing features that enable submersion. It is not just the underwater glitz that makes the sQuba an innovative vehicle. Fans of the 1980s classic TV show Knight Rider, starring David Hasselhoff and featuring the car "Kit" (Knight Industries 2000), will appreciate the car's ability to drive itself with lasers and electronic eyes. Did you know that David Hasselhoff (lives in Hawaii) is an icon himself in Germany, they really can't seem to get enough of him there. He also spends a lot of time with us here in the UK performing on stage, as does Christian Slater anther Hollywood star.

To the car driver, the Lotus Elise is renowned for it incredible driving performance. Those that have driven the Elise talk about the feeling of the car "hugging the road". The vehicle is powered by a Toyota engine to give it a great balance of exterior beauty and reliable performance. The demand for the vehicle typically outweighs the supply due to the relatively fair price consumers perceive from the car. You can see why when you note the following: there are 3 models available. The Lotus S, SR and SC. The new 2008 Lotus Elise SC is supercharged and some owners report a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds! This model is the most powerful production version on sale in the range by Lotus and will be a firm favourite in the years to come for a track car at seriously competitive prices. To top this model off Lotus also released a 240 PS Performance Pack option for the Supercharged Exige S that further reinforces its credentials as a “race car for the road”. Now to put that into perspective this vehicle only weighs 903 kg and has the fuel economy of the Elise SC is impressive to say the very least with an estimated combined figure 31.0 mpg. The car comes with both driver and passenger airbags and in response to forthcoming legislation Lotus say that the Elise and Exige both have a new “Thatcham approved” alarm/immobiliser system, which will also help a little when it comes to insurance premiums and the massive Yokohama AD07 LTS 225/45 R17 tyres and the well know rear wing spoiler.

Another popular Lotus car model that has fascinated vehicle fans is the Exige. The Lotus Exige is a 2-door, 2-seat sports car. Many describe the Exige is a coupe version of the popular Lotus Elise, which is a roadster. One of the sharpest looking sports coupe models in the world, the Series 2 Exige was first introduced to the world in 2004. The phenomenal enthusiasm for the Exige is heightened by the limited production runs. The 2005 Exige, which featured a prominent Toyota engine, was built with a limited production run of just 50 cars.

Ever heard of the Lotus 2 Eleven? It is build and engineered with one goal in mind, one single obsession, to tear up the race track. The Lotus 2 Eleven is built on a rigid aluminium chassis and has all the traits of a true racing car. It has phenomenal acceleration, sharp braking and cornering that is unparalleled on the road. the 2 Eleven is built form various lightweight composites, has forged alloy wheels, alloy dampers and a race battery. You get no creature comforts when you buy this car, only bucket seats, harness safety belts and a sparse interior and you also get no roof. The engine is placed directly behind the driver as with the other Lotus models. According to the official Lotus website "The result is lightning responsiveness reflected by the structure and aggressive exterior design".

Much of the success and innovative design from Lotus in the last two decades traces to the 1994 conception of the aforementioned Elise. Released in September 1996, the Lotus Elise is capable of reaching top speeds near 240 km/h. The Elise featured a hand-finished fiberglass shell and a bonded frame. Impressively, the car, though extremely high performing, was produced with a lightweight and low production cost, which kept the model affordable for its class. Many sports car lovers viewed the Elise as the best example of a beautiful, high-performing sports car that the layperson could afford to buy. The "performance through lightweight" concept that made the Elise a success still carries forward today, in the newest innovations from the Lotus motor company.

Most recently the Lotus innovation evolved through the Concept Ice Vehicle. This extremely sophisticated ice auto was specifically developed for the Moon Regan TransArctic Expedition to the Antarctic. The CIV is founded on three independent suspension skis. The advanced safety features of the vehicle include an ice-penetrating radar system that detects cracks and other ice surfaces issues that could potentially be dangerous. This is certainly a tremendous peace of mind advantage for the explorers who often venture through some uncertain terrain.

Perhaps the most glowing strength of the Lotus CIV is its incredibly light body. Despite a 4.5 square meter frame, the CIV is similar to other Lotus vehicles in its lightness. The Lotus line is known for the ability to offer powerful performance tracing back to the Elise. This performance through lightweight advantage is important in navigating the arctic terrain efficiently, while equipped with high-end technology and safety benefits.

The last fifteen years of innovation found in the Lotus line is demonstrates just how aware Lotus has been of its competitive advantages and internal strengths. Lotus is a company that has been led by people who recognized the market demand for an affordable sports car and a unique design concept (lightweight, high-performing). Following the Elise and the Esprit, its more "basic" vehicle models, Lotus took its unique design concepts and economical production process and expanded into un chartered vehicle territory. Now, the Lotus is more than just an innovative car company. It is an innovative company, period, that is able to pave the way for vehicle utilisation in geographies once thought to be not navigable or impractical.

Bookmark This Page

Copyright © 2008 Click4Warranty
The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the Click4Group unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.