Totally out of my budget, but just watching that straight at the end of the lap, with speeds north of 340 km/h is terrifying. And I know from experience that camera footage looks a lot slower than it feels when you're in the driver seat. That is getting close to double the fastest I've ever driven a car...
Today, the original 1966 Lotus Europa, which gave its name to the noughties Elise-based Europa S/SE featured yesterday. As @adrianco mentioned when I did the Renault 16 a week or two back, the original Europa borrowed the R16’s engine and gearbox. Later cars had a Ford-based Lotus twin-cam engine but kept the Renault gearbox. Small, low and light, the Europa showed what Lotus was all about. Pic taken at the #BritishMotorMuseum Gaydon, 2024.
Today, we’re looking at that Vauxhall/Lotus link again with the Lotus Europa S/SE. I’ve posted these pictures (taken at my local leisure centre car park) before, but I hope you won’t mind because this car provides the link between yesterday’s Vauxhall VX220 and tomorrow’s car. Like the VX220, the Europa S/SE was an attempt at a slightly less hairy and more spacious take on the Elise. It also uses a similar GM engine to that fitted to the VX220.
Today, after the Chevette HS and the Lotus Carlton, we’re looking at a third Vauxhall with Lotus links, the VX220. The VX220 was designed to be a slightly more grown-up/mainstream and more liveable-with (but still fast and sporty) take on the Lotus Elise, on which it was based. This car - actually the faster VXR220 rather than a standard VX - is from Vauxhall’s heritage collection and lives at the #BritishMotorMuseum in Gaydon in Warwickshire.
The final day of ‘23, a new orchid flower opened 🤗 The last three are waiting for ‘24, hope the year has more good things in store, peace and unity especially.
To send off the year, a bonus apistogramma and a pleco on leaf cleaning duty for a Red Tiger Lotus, started the tank almost 7mo ago!
I’ve not had the joy of building a Tamiya kit in ages. I am really looking forward to building this one. My wife got me the kit (under instruction), I’ve had to sneakily buy the ESC, servo and bearings. Threw in the Tamiya tools set for those JIS screws 😉 #Tamiya#LotusEuropa#Lotus#Europa#LotusCars#LotusCarsUK
I had almost forgotten about Lotus Agenda and the whole PC software category it belonged to, Personal Information Managers. A good reminder is this post which rediscovers Lotus Agenda and takes it out for a spin:
“Polestar states that it has focussed heavily on the 5's chassis and underpinnings, using a bonded aluminium construction that aims for "supercar levels of torsional stiffness, which is fundamental to class-leading ride and handling dynamics,"”
Bonded aluminum, you say? I wonder if #Polestar is the first application of the modular EV platform that #Lotus has been developing?
“By 2026, it will boast a line-up that includes saloons, hatchbacks and neo-sports cars, while its upcoming 4, which is set to be a crossover vehicle, will feature high levels of autonomy that will allow drivers to enjoy hands-off and eyes-off where permitted.”