Lotus News

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Lotus Flash Charge 01 Full range of liquid cooled solutions including a wall mounted Residential Battery Storage System

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 28, 2023

Lotus Launches Innovative EV Charging Solutions Worldwide

Lotus has revealed its groundbreaking electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, including an ultra-fast 450 kW DC charger, a powerful modular unit for simultaneous charging of up to four vehicles, and a liquid-cooled power cabinet. This launch marks a significant stride in addressing charging anxiety, a major barrier to EV adoption identified by 80% of the public in a survey by the Energy Policy Institute. The new charging suite, designed for businesses, features a liquid-cooled all-in-one DC charger capable of ultra-fast charging up to 450 kW. For instance, the Lotus Eletre R can gain approximately 88.5 miles (142 km) range in just 5 minutes, making it one of the most competitive chargers available. A 10% to 80% charge can be completed in 20 minutes, providing a range extension of 74 miles (120 km) from a 5-minute charge with a 350 kW Rapid Charger. The liquid-cooled power cabinet, ideal for high-energy demand locations like motorway rest stops, offers up to 480 kW power output. The liquid-cooled charging unit, when paired with the power cabinet, can charge four vehicles concurrently, with a maximum current output of 600 Amp, catering to diverse charging needs. Lotus' EV charging solutions, already deployed in China, are set to expand across Europe and the Middle East in Q2 2024, with further market availability announcements to follow. Lotus' charging solutions are future-proofed, allowing customers to upgrade to 450 kW without additional hardware costs when infrastructure upgrades occur. This initiative aligns with Lotus' Vision80 strategy to transition into an all-electric global luxury technology brand by 2028, including developing its own EV charging solutions. Following the launch of its electric hyper-SUV Eletre in 2022 and the Emeya electric hyper-GT in early September 2023, Lotus continues to innovate in the premium electric vehicle market. With a strong orderbook and record-breaking production in 2023, Lotus is well-positioned to meet the growing demand in the EV segment. View all Lotus examples currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Lotus For Sale Source: Lotus Cars

EmeyaTechnology04 Anext generationintelligentcabin

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 17, 2023

How The Lotus Emeya Hyper-GT Can Complete 25 Trillion Ope...

The new Lotus Emeya groundbreaking hyper-GT, slated to begin production in 2024, promises to merge traditional automotive excellence with futuristic intelligence. The Emeya, with its in-vehicle supercomputer powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE platform, represents a significant shift in automotive design philosophy. It boasts the astonishing ability to complete up to 25 trillion operations in just 50 milliseconds, rivaling the human brain's image processing speed. At the heart of this hyper-GT are dual NVIDIA DRIVE Orin systems-on-a-chip (SoCs), which process data from 34 advanced surround sensors up to 30 times per second. This setup provides 360-degree perception without blind spots, utilizing four deployable LiDARs, multiple radars, and high-resolution cameras. This sensor array enhances driver confidence by detecting obstacles, playing a crucial role in paving the way for autonomous driving. The Emeya features a suite of intelligent driving capabilities, such as an electronically controlled air suspension that adapts thousands of times per second for optimal ride quality. Its advanced aerodynamics, including an active front grille and rear spoiler, draw from Lotus' rich racing legacy. Inside, occupants are greeted with a 15.1” OLED touchscreen powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 processor and Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3 software, delivering a responsive and visually stunning interface. The augmented reality head-up display provides real-time road and navigation data, enhancing safety and connectivity. Embracing the future, the Lotus Emeya is equipped for over-the-air (OTA) updates, ensuring continuous improvement and readiness for an autonomous future. With 5G connectivity, the Emeya is not just a hyper-GT for today but a vision of tomorrow's intelligent and connected driving experience. View all Lotus Emeya examples currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Lotus Emeya For Sale Source: Lotus Cars

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 09, 2023

Lotus Explains The Design Behind Its New All-Electric Eme...

With a single, sweeping line defining its sport-inspired silhouette, the Lotus Emeya represents the brand's audacious step into the electric hyper-GT segment. This line, a design signature reminiscent of the iconic mid-engined Lotus models, honors a new era for the automaker renowned for its agile and exhilarating sports cars. Embodying over seven decades of Lotus' performance heritage, the Emeya is a bold representation of the manufacturers modern transformation. Its striking exterior, characterized by ultra-narrow LED taillights and a dynamic musculature, embodies the evolution of Lotus' design philosophy, merging classic elements with forward-looking innovation. The Emeya is a vision of its future, with an exterior design that optimizes airflow for performance, battery cooling, and range while presenting an arresting aesthetic. The Hyper-GT’s stance, termed 'hyperstance' by Lotus, incorporates a low center of gravity essential for sports car dynamics, enhancing its aggressive, ground-hugging appearance. Inside, the Emeya's cabin is a driver-centric sanctuary of progressive luxury. A continuous blade of light accentuates the interior's array of technology, providing a futuristic user interface for the passengers. The use of sustainable, repurposed fibers and advanced materials showcases Lotus' commitment to technical artistry and environmental consciousness. As we anticipate further details in the final quarter, the Emeya continues to stand out as a testament to Lotus' pioneering spirit. As the world caught its first glimpse of the Emeya in New York City, it is clear that Lotus is driving full-throttle into an electrified future. View all Lotus Emeya examples currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Lotus Emeya For Sale Source: Lotus

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 01, 2023

Lotus' New Type 136 Is Revolutionizing E-Bikes With Motor...

Lotus has long since been recognized as a world-renowned British automaker synonymous with luxury sports cars, but many may not know of its successful involvement in performance bicycle engineering. Since debuting a new competition-grade race bike for The Olympics, Lotus is proud to unveil the Type 136 e-Bike as its newest creation aimed for recreational use. The automotive-inspired e-bike is a high-performance marvel that brings Lotus's 75 years of engineering expertise to the world of cycling. Designed to push the boundaries of speed, the Type 136 features the lightest e-bike motor from HPS, allowing riders to go further, faster, and higher. This groundbreaking technology derives from the Mars Lander Project, focusing on minimal weight and zero maintenance. The motor system weighs a mere 2.65 lbs, with the motor itself tipping the scales at just 300 grams. Handcrafted in Italy, the Type 136 e-bike comes with a lightweight carbon-fiber frame and modern components, making it weigh in at just 21.6 lbs. The bike sports a futuristic aero design, inspired by Lotus's Olympic velodrome successes, and includes features like V-shaped handlebars and wing-shaped forks for improved aerodynamics. A detachable battery, ingeniously disguised as a water bottle, adds to the innovation. As a nod to Lotus's legacy, the Type 136 will be released in a limited first edition of just 136 individually numbered bikes, available in iconic motorsport livery. This launch follows Lotus's successful lineage of performance vehicles like the Emeya hyper-GT and Eletre hyper-SUV, as well as the world's most powerful series production road car, the Evija. Unveiled at an exclusive VIP event at the Lotus London brand store, the Type 136 will be showcased at Rouleur LIVE in London from November 2-4, 2023. The all-new Lotus Type 135 e-Bike Collection is set to release with a starting retail price of $26,394. View all Lotus models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Lotus For Sale Source: Lotus