La Dolce Veloce

Lotus has announced a successor to the radical 340R. Currently known as the ‘Circuit Car’, this open top racer will be based on the Elise chassis and feature an optional supercharger to go with its Toyota engine. It will weigh about 33% less than the Elise (600kg), and you can bet on it costing probably that much more than the Elise (though pricing will not be announced until later this year).


From: PR@lotuscars.co.uk
Subject: The New Lotus “Circuit Car” – Embargo: 12 June 2005 at 00:01 BST (GMT +1)
Date: June 11, 2005 8:21:55 PM EDT
To: PR@lotuscars.co.uk
Cc: PR@lotuscars.co.uk

Embargo: 12 June 2005 at 00:01 BST (GMT +1)

The Lotus “Circuit Car”

The all new lightweight and high performance track day Lotus
The new Lotus “Circuit Car” was announced yesterday (Saturday, 11 June,
2005) by Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, CEO of Group Lotus, to privileged Lotus Club
International members at the annual Lotus Club International Gala Dinner
held at Norwich City Football Club. Based on the Lotus Elise Aluminium
chassis, and weighing in at approximately 600kg, the single-seater car (with
an option of two seats) has been designed and engineered solely for Track
Day and Club Racing.
The lightweight composite bodywork of the visually dramatic open-topped
circuit car combines high downforce from cleverly engineered aerodynamics.
Part of its phenomenal performance is from a supercharged VVTL-i (Variable
Valve Timing with Lift – intelligent) engine, and is estimated to achieve
the 0 – 100 mph (160 km/h) sprint in a staggering 9.0 seconds. This exciting
combination has allowed for a dynamic racing package producing higher
performance to that of existing Elise-based products. An entry-level
naturally-aspirated VVTL-i engine will also be available, powering the car
from 0 – 62 mph in under 4 seconds.
Tony Shute, Head of Product Development at Lotus Cars, explains what makes
the Lotus “Circuit Car” a leading high performance track car: “The new
product has allowed Lotus to once again apply its key “performance through
lightweight” philosophy. This is in order to achieve an innovative product
for the track day and club racing Lotus enthusiast whilst staying true to
the key design attributes of the Elise and Exige products. They are
considered to be amongst the finest existing road and track day cars by
thousands of owners around the world, and the “Circuit Car” will build on
this formidable reputation, helping to further underline Lotus as the
ultimate driver’s choice.”
The introduction of the new Lotus “Circuit Car” will generate additional
exposure of the Lotus brand and provide Lotus with entry to further key
market sectors, as Clive Dopson, Managing Director of Lotus Cars, explains
“The introduction of this new model plays a key role in developing and
enhancing the presence of Lotus Cars on the track, whilst providing the
driver of today with a pure circuit car which thrives on the essential
values of the Lotus brand. In addition, it will be yet another example of a
high quality product to be built at our world class production facilities at
Hethel.”
The Lotus “Circuit Car” is due to go into production at the Group Lotus
Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, in December 2005, with scheduled volume of
approximately 100 units per annum.

Full specifications and price will be announced closer to the production
date.

Predicted Performance figures:
Naturally Aspirated VVTL-i Engine:
0 to 60 mph 4 seconds (approx.)
0 to 100 mph < 11 seconds

Supercharged VVTL-i Engine:
0 to 60 mph 3.5 seconds (approx.)
0 to 100 mph < 9.0 seconds
ENDS.

Notes:
High-resolution “Artist’s Impression” pictures of the Lotus “Circuit Car”
can be downloaded from the media centre of the official Group Lotus website
at http://www.grouplotus.com/mediactr. The image library is for registered
users only. Members of the press may register for the media centre.

For further details please contact:
PR Department
Group Lotus plc, Potash Lane, Hethel, Norfolk, UK, NR14 8EZ
Tel: +44(0)1953 608264
Fax: +44(0)1953 608111
Email: pr@lotuscars.co.uk

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