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

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 13, 2022

Lotus Dealerships Get A New Look To Match A New Portfolio

Lotus’s dealerships are tidying up to prepare for new cars and new customers. Having undergone revolutionary change and incredible growth, Lotus is no longer the small sports car brand that it used to be, and its dealerships are starting to reflect that. With the world’s most powerful production car currently in its portfolio, along with an incredible new all-electric SUV, Lotus is giving its dealerships a new visual identity to reflect its renaissance. MUST READ: 10 Coolest Facts About the Lotus Eletre Electric SUV The first Lotus dealership to get the new look opened in Bahrain last autumn, and since then Lotus’s dealerships in Exeter, UK, Dallas, Texas, Brussels, Belgium, and Turin, Italy have all been updated with a fresh new aesthetic, and Lotus dealers around the world are sure to follow. With Lotus’s vehicles getting an update, the Lotus lifestyle and experience is bound to be just as amazing. View All Lotus For Sale Source: Lotus

By Edward Jones – March 30, 2022

10 Coolest Facts About the Lotus Eletre Electric SUV

1. For starters, the new Lotus Eletre is the very first five-door production car from the automaker. It's also Lotus' first model that's not a sports car and their first lifestyle EV. VIDEO REVIEW: Lotus Evora GT 2. Another first is found on the outside of the Eletre where the deployable LIDAR sensors can be found, a first for an automobile. This system also points to the Eletre's autonomous capabilities. You can see one of the hidden LIDAR sensors right above the wheel. 3. Being a new electric vehicle means that the Eletre has a battery that needs serious cooling. To help cool the battery, the Eletre's active grille and its triangular petals open up, allowing fresh air to cool the battery, motors, and front brakes. 4. What's in a name? Eletre means 'Coming to Life' in some Eastern European countries, an appropriate name considering the new Lotus points to a new life and era for Lotus. 5. With electric power comes great acceleration. For the new Lotus SUV? It joins the "Two Second Club" as the Eletre's 0 to 60 mph time comes in at under 3 seconds. That's not bad for a five-door SUV. 6. Another "quick" aspect regarding the new Eletre is its charge time. Lotus notes that it can charge to 248 miles of range in 20 minutes with a 350kW charger. 7. The centerpiece for the Eletre's cabin is its 15.1-linch touchscreen where the vehicle's controls can be accessed. But, when not being used, the 15.1-inch infotainment center will fold flat and out of sight. 8. A blade of light that runs across the cabin, below the instrument panel, will change color depending on certain situations like the temperature is changed, a call is coming in, or even to signify the battery's charge status. 9. When you press the button on the key or smartphone app, the Eletre's grille "breathes," exterior lights run through a sequence and the illuminated door handles deploy. 10. Last, but not least, the electric Eletre SUV is the first of three new Lotus lifestyle EVs that will be released in the next four years. Expect more exciting reveals coming from the iconic automaker. All Lotus Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 29, 2022

Lotus Eletre Revealed: An All-New, All-Electric Hyper SUV

Say hello to the world's first "Hyper SUV." The new Lotus Eletre has been unveiled as the hyper SUV that has been teased under the Type 132 moniker. Lotus notes that the name can be translated to "coming to life" in some Eastern European languages. Why this name? Considering Lotus is entering a new and electric era, it's a perfect fit. Additionally, the name is a bit close to "electric" which is also appropriate as the Eletre is an all-electric model. For the build, the new Lotus Eletre utilizes the new Electric Premium Architecture (EPA). This new platform is extraordinarily versatile and can various battery sizes, motors, layout, and driving technologies. Lotus says that EPA will be the foundation for a new range of premium performance electric vehicles. For power, the new Lotus Eletre's horsepower output starts at 600 hp with electric motors powering each individual axle. This allows the Eletre's 0 to 60 mph time to be under 3 seconds and for a top speed of 161 mph. That's incredibly quick for the Lotus SUV which also that provides ample room for four people. Of course, electric power brings range into the mix. Lotus states that the Eletre's battery has a capacity of over 100 kWh, enough for a range of 373 miles. In terms of charging, a 350 kW charge time of 20 minutes can equal 248 miles. For style, the new Lotus Eletre's overall design DNA is very similar to that of the Evija and Emira. One of the most obvious design cues that has been carried over is are the air channels that allow air to flow gracefully through and over the vehicle. When inside, the Eletre offers up a technologically-advanced cabin where multiple screens can be found. In front of the driver is a slim screen that displays only the key information so that clutter is reduced. Standing as the highlight of the cabin is a 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen where the Eletre's infotainment center can be accessed. The Lotus Eletre's price has yet to be revealed, but we do know that deliveries will begin in 2023 in China, the UK and Europe. See All Lotus For Sale

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 28, 2022

Lotus Prepares For The Eletre Debut, The First-Ever Hyper...

After revealing its name, Lotus gets ready to welcome the Eletre. Since its humble beginning as a sports car manufacturer with a deep presence in motorsports, the Lotus brand continues to evolve as the technology grows within the automotive industry. Lotus is proud to announce the upcoming unveiling of its newest release, the electrified Eletre. The all-new Hyper-SUV is the first of its kind, blending the functionality of a full-size chassis with the performance of an exclusive hypercar. The name ‘Eletre’ means ‘Coming to Life’ in some Eastern European languages, which perfectly introduces the first lifestyle electric vehicle from Lotus. MUST-READ: Colin Chapman’s Son Says He Would Have Loved The New Lotus SUV As part of its world premiere, Lotus reveals the name of its new creation in central London as a bespoke yellow cube containing the car made its way up the River Thames on a specially commissioned boat. The all-new Louts Eletre World Premier coverage takes place on March 29th at 2:30 pm EST live from the Lotus Website. View all of the current Lotus models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for upcoming coverage on the all-new Lotus Eletre. View All Lotus For Sale Source: Lotus

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 22, 2022

Colin Chapman's Son Says He Would Have Loved The New Lotu...

With one week away from Lotus announcing its very first SUV, the founder’s son sheds some light on how his father might have seen things. Clive Chapman is the son of Colin Chapman, founder of the Lotus brand that we have known and loved for incredibly agile racing and sports cars that are excellent to handle and thrilling to drive. Now, Lotus is just one week from entering an entirely new chapter in its history, by revealing the first SUV from the brand, an electric vehicle that promises to remain true to the agility and dynamics that characterize Lotus’ roots, while also catapulting the brand into the future with electric technology and the practicality of an SUV. MUST READ: Legendary Designer Giorgetto Giugiaro Visits Lotus HQ Being as different as it is from the typical Lotus car, many might wonder what Colin Chapman might have thought of a Lotus SUV, but Clive Chapman tells a story that suggests the Type 132 may well have been right up Colin Chapman’s alley. Clive says that Colin was known for his pragmatism, and despite his love for the racing and sports cars that he designed, always had a practical car such as a 4x4 on hand. He even goes as far as saying that Lotus HQ always had two parking spots for Colin, one for a Lotus and another for his more practical vehicle. However, as of next week, he would only need one. Source: Lotus

Giorgetto Giugiaro right and son Fabrizio left

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 18, 2022

Legendary Designer Giorgetto Giugiaro Visits Lotus HQ

A design legend pays Lotus a visit. Any fan of the most iconic supercars and sports cars from the 70s and 80s knows about the legacy of Giorgetto Giugiaro, who has designed cars before and after that period as well but made a lasting mark on the automotive industry with his “folded paper” era of wedge-shaped cars. MUST READ: Lotus Announces World’s Most Powerful 4-Cylinder Is Available In New Emira One of these cars was the Lotus Esprit, an iconic sports car that celebrated a run of nearly 30 years. As a matter of fact, the Esprit was one of Giugiaro’s first and most important “folded paper” designs, catalyzing an incredible era of sports and supercars that car fans everywhere look upon with nostalgia, amazement, and inspiration. 45 years after designing the Esprit, he reunited with Lotus to look back on the iconic Esprits that he penned, including the Lotus Esprit Turbo that Colin Chapman drove himself. Lotus also took him on a tour of what the brand is currently doing, and Giugiaro expressed admiration for the Emira and the Evija, and even sat with Lotus’s current Design Director, Russell Carr, and penned an Esprit in his office, which is now on the wall. His design legacy is still important to Lotus today, and who knows? Hopefully, he can return to pen a Lotus once again. Source: Lotus

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 16, 2022

Lotus Announces World's Most Powerful 4-Cylinder Is Avail...

“Power” and “Lotus” weren’t historically words that went together, until now. However, with an electric car that boasts nearly 2000 horsepower in the brand’s portfolio, Lotus is not the car manufacturer they were before by any stretch of the imagination. Having blossomed into a formidable performance car brand with global, world-class appeal while remaining true to the brand’s lightweight racing agility roots, the Lotus Emira is, in many ways, the final culmination of Lotus as we have known it for decades. The Emira is Lotus’s last gasoline-powered model, and the V6 version of the Lotus Emira has been a wonderful success for orders thus far. However, Lotus didn’t stop there. In collaboration with AMG, Lotus is now offering the Emira with a four-cylinder engine, and not just any four-cylinder engine, the most powerful production four-cylinder engine in the world. Seen previously in the Mercedes-AMG A45, GLA45, and CLA45, the AMG M139 featured in the Lotus Emira is bespoke and manufactured specifically for the Emira, and despite its small 2.0-liter size, delivers 360 horsepower to the mid-engined car. That in mind, the four-cylinder Emira actually accelerates slightly faster than its V6 counterpart, getting from 0-60 in under 4.2 seconds. Currently, the First Edition is the only Emira available to order, with orders for the four-cylinder powertrain starting April 8, and deliveries starting later this year. The First Edition comes with standard touches like branded brake calipers, heated 12-way seats available in Nappa leather and Alcantara, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and added options available include a suspension and tire package, a package with privacy glass, headliner, branded floor mats and sports pedals, and a package including rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, and other convenience features. The entry-level four and six-cylinder Emira will launch and become available in early 2023, and with two powertrains to choose from, it certainly won’t fail to impress. All Lotus Emiras For Sale Source: Lotus

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 28, 2022

The New Lotus Type 132 SUV Is Unveiling March 29

We’re just one month away from a Lotus SUV being fully realized. For Lotus fans who have known the brand for decades for its racing prowess, and small, agile sports cars, this is still shocking news. But if this decade so far has proved anything about Lotus, it’s that Lotus is a brand that can transform, adapt, and excel in modern times and take advantage of its pedigree, heritage, and history to make cars that took the brand from being a cult classic to a staple of the future. MUST READ: The Inaugural Lotus Parade UAE Is Just The Beginning For Lotus In The Emirates Part of that future, as we have seen from most luxury and sports car brands, is luxury sports SUVs, with models being announced and released in the past decade by Jaguar, Maserati, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and now Ferrari and Lotus. With the SUV seeming to become the modern luxury car, a sports SUV is surely the next logical step. We have known about the coming Lotus SUV for a while now, as patents were filed years ago, and announcements have been made for some time, but such a dramatic new direction will take some getting used to, especially with this new SUV and every new vehicle coming from Lotus being electric. Lotus has announced that the Type 132 will be unveiled on March 29, which means that if you do need time to get used to Lotus having an SUV, a month is all the time you have. Source: Lotus

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 17, 2022

The Inaugural Lotus Parade UAE Is Just The Beginning For ...

The UAE Lotus Owners’ Club seems like the place to be. To celebrate the inauguration of its owners’ club, Adamas Motors, Lotus’s UAE dealer, put together a parade of Lotuses which all traveled over 180 miles together from Abu Dhabi, to Dubai, and then to the 1484 by Puro restaurant, named after its 1484-meter altitude, rendering it the highest restaurant in the Emirates. In this celebration of Lotus Ownership, fans got to see a convoy of Lotus’s incredible cars travel across the country, and drivers got to share the ultimate Lotus experience with each other. Adamas Motors says that Lotus has just enjoyed its highest sales month since August 2018 in the UAE and that the brand’s enthusiasts and owners are a passionate group that loves events like this one. Lotus and Adamas Motors plan to make the Lotus Parade UAE an annual event that will be used to celebrate the Emira’s UAE introduction, and the Type 132 in the future. See All Lotus For Sale Image Source: Lotus Cars

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 09, 2022

Lotus's New Lotus Advanced Performance Division Is Here T...

Lotus’s new special operations division means the British brand is truly on the next level. The renaissance of Lotus has shown no signs of stopping, what with the Evija’s incredible performance and success, the release of the Emira, the anticipated release of Lotus’s first SUV, and their announcement of a four-door coupe, and yet another SUV coming in the near future. Lotus has also announced that the brand has established a new division for a range of special operations, which is called Lotus Advanced Performance, and what the new division plans to do is incredibly exciting and something that we have never seen Lotus do before. Going from a maker of cult-classic sports cars known for their incredible agility to a global brand of the world’s most powerful electric hypercars, Lotus Advanced Performance is there to ensure that every aspect of the Lotus brand matches the caliber of the incredible cars it makes. MUST READ: Lotus Teases New Electric Supercar Lotus Advanced Performance will head up halo projects, runs of one-off or few-off vehicles that show off the absolute best and furthest the Lotus brand can create, as well as exclusive limited editions of Lotus cars that allow customers to stand out from the crowd. In addition, customers will be able to create bespoke Lotus cars, choose exclusive options, and sport new accessories and merchandise through Lotus Advanced Performance. Finally, Lotus Advanced Performance plans to add exclusive Lotus experiences, driving academies, and motorsport models to customers, starting with the Emira GT4. The director of these programs is Simon Lane, who comes from the Q By Aston Martin bespoke service, and in other news, the image Lotus has released with this announcement, which looks to be the back of a race car is teasing something big to come. If it wasn’t clear before that this is a brand new era for Lotus, it should be now.

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