LOTUS-RENAULT GP UNTUK 2011

LOTUS-RENAULT GP UNTUK 2011

F1 formula 1 International News Lotus motorsport

Lotus-Renault GP has unveiled the finalised livery for its 2011 car at the Autosport International Show in UK. While the revived iconic black and gold colour scheme (with some splashes of red to accommodate oil supplier Total) is final, it was shown on last season’s R30 – the R31 will be launched in Valencia on January 31, a day before official pre-season testing kicks off.

As all of us know, Group Lotus, which is fully owned by national carmaker Proton, has bought into the Renault team and is now a title sponsor of the Enstone outfit, much like what Vodafone and Petronas is to McLaren and Mercedes respectively. This is the start, and the sportscar maker plans to inch its way into having full control of the team eventually. It’s all part of the Dany Bahar led masterplan to take on the likes of Ferrari and Porsche, as demonstrated in Paris last year.

The livery was unwrapped by team driver Vitaly Petrov and Formula 1 legend Jean Alesi, present as brand ambassador for Lotus. “Everyone remembers the black and gold Lotuses from years ago and it’s nice they have been brought back. When you look around the show here and see those cars, then see this car, it does make you smile,” the Frenchman said.

Along with the new look is new ambition. “We want to win with this car. To win you need to be a regular podium finisher – and then you will win – and that is our target. My ambition has always been to establish this team as a top team. I want us to be recognised as a top team like Ferrari or McLaren,” team boss Eric Boullier told Autosport.

On his team’s new name, Boullier said: “To have Clive Chapman here is a good sign, I must say. Definitely we are representing Lotus Cars – and we don’t claim any heritage or anything. We are the F1 vision of Lotus. It is good to have a Chapman family member here. The strategy of Group Lotus was to licence the F1 entry. For reasons that they decided on their own, they decided to change their strategy and to stick with us. That is it. There is only one Lotus manufacturer in the world and they have asked us to represent them in F1. That is the end of the story.”

By the way, should the team win a race, the British anthem will be played, not the French anthem, as Renault will compete next season with a British racing license, now that they have Lotus onboard. By the way, Tony Fernandes’ Team Lotus (as it will be called from now) is using a Malaysian license, so Negaraku will be played should the team win a race, although that’s a highly unlikely scenario in the near future.

ProtonCLUB Pada 1/15/2011 Comments

LOTUS KELUARKAN KERETA SPORT BARU

LOTUS KELUARKAN KERETA SPORT BARU

Cars Lotus Paris Motor Show Sport Cars

Memang gempak! Lotus mula mengeluarkan kereta2 sport mrk untuk menguasai semula pasaran kereta sport ini. Dengan rekabentuk terbaru dari Lotus ini mampu menyaingi kereta2 mewah lain seperti Ferrari, Lamborghini dan sebagainya. Ianya akan dilancarkan tidak lama lagi. Kereta2 mewah ini dipertontonkan kepada umum di Paris Motor Show.

ProtonCLUB Pada 9/30/2010 Comments

KERETA F1 LOTUS-PROTON TERBAKAR

KERETA F1 LOTUS-PROTON TERBAKAR

formula 1 Lotus motorsport Proton

Malang sekali apabila kereta Formula 1 Lotus Racing yang dikendali Proton telah terbakar. Ini telah membuatkan Proton menarik semula jentera tersebut. Adakah kumpulan 1Malaysia ini akan menarik semula penyertaan mereka? Harap2 tidaklah.. Kami doakan pakar2 Lotus dan Proton dapat memperbaiki jentera F1 ini secepat mungkin.

ProtonCLUB Pada 9/27/2010 Comments

KUMPULAN LOTUS RACING DIKENALI TEAM LOTUS

KUMPULAN LOTUS RACING DIKENALI TEAM LOTUS

formula 1 Local News Lotus motorsport

Secara officialnya team Lotus Racing kini dikenali sebagai Team Lotus. Itu adalah gelaran terbaru pasukan kereta lumba Formula 1 milik Proton ini. Team Lotus akan memulakan perjuangannya dilitar2 lumba seperti di Singapura, Malaysia dan sebagainya. Inilah kumpulan 1Malaysia kebanggaan negara Malaysia iaitu Team Lotus. Marilah kita sama2 memberi sokongan kepada team ini.

ProtonCLUB Pada 9/26/2010 Comments

Turbocharged Proton Exora to debut next year, facelift version of an existing model to be launched this year

Turbocharged Proton Exora to debut next year, facelift version of an existing model to be launched this year

alternative fuel Cars electric vehicles fuel cells hybrids Local News Lotus Malaysian Makes Proton

It has been widely reported previously that Proton will be introducing a turbocharged engine sometime next year and the Exora would be the first vehicle to run the engine. Proton has reiterated it’s intentions yet again. The company has confirmed to Bernama that it will debut the force-inducted engine with the Exora MPV next year.

Speaking to reporters after the company’s annual general meeting, group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal said, “The engine will support Proton’s future products in relation to extending enhanced performance, emissions and quality standards.’ He also added that the performance of the engine would be equivalent to a 2.0 liter engine.

He did not reveal further details about the engine, but we can expect it to be based on the 1.6 Campro, with or without CPS. Syed Zainal also mentioned that Proton will launch a facelift version of an existing model before end of the year. This could well be the Saga facelift, as we have recently spotted a taped-up version near Bukit Jelutong. As reported previously, the new Proton Waja will be introduced this year as well. Based on the Mitsubishi Lancer, the new model would carry a slightly higher price tag as it will be offered with better performance and features.

He also spoke about Proton’s involvement in the hybrid and electric vehicles arena. “Proton has started on the development of the hybrid and electric vehicles which are currently being subjected to performance evaluation, testing and safety assessment,” were his exact words. The company has already showcased the Saga EV in Indonesia and we have also seen the Exora Hybrid demonstrator vehicle.

Proton also expects to better it’s export figures compared to the last fiscal year as interest in China, Thailand and Indonesia is growing. The company’s chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh also went on to confirm that Proton has no intention to off-load Lotus at the moment. “We have no intention to dispose of Lotus at this point in time. By having Lotus within the group we will have better benefit,” he assured.

Source: Paultan

ProtonCLUB Pada 9/23/2010 Comments

LOTUS EVORA S & LOTUS EVORA IPS

LOTUS EVORA S & LOTUS EVORA IPS

International News Lotus

After Lotus’ recent e-mail malfunction, they have now officially unveiled details of both models. These are the Lotus Evora S and the Evora Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS), which will officially make its debut at the Paris Motor Show.

As you would have guessed it, the Evora S sees an increase in power from the Toyota sourced 3.5-liter V6, now producing 345hp and 400Nm of torque. It makes more power now thanks to a supercharger and I suspect the engine is the same one found in the Toyota Aurion TRD for the Australian market. In any case, this gives the car a 0 to 100 figure in just 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 276km/h.
The Evora S also comes with a ‘sport’ pack as standard, featuring a ‘sport’ button allowing drivers better control of the throttle responses and activates the exhaust by-pass valve. Pressing the button also raises the instantaneous rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control. Cross-drilled brakes and a fine tuned suspension will add to the whole experience.

The IPS option is an automatic 6-speed gearbox coupled with the 3.5-litre V6 engine that generates 276hp. This also includes manual paddle shifts, allowing the driving to switch between that and the automatic mode. Again, by selecting ‘sport’ mode, the experience is enhanced with the driver being in complete control of the transmission. It’s basically a Toyota transmission but with Lotus very own shift logic.

“The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We hope it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. It’s been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and we’ve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience,” said CEO Dany Bahar on the development.

ProtonCLUB Pada 8/27/2010 Comments

LOTUS FACTORY OPENS FOR VISITORS

LOTUS FACTORY OPENS FOR VISITORS

F1 Lotus

Lotus F1 fans will be delighted to know that the team is opening the doors to their factory in Hingham, UK to the general public. This will allow die-hard fans to experience the behind the scenes action of a professional Formula 1 team. Guests will be treated to a guided tour that lasts 1 and half hours which will take you to places such as the Design Office, Composite and Machine Shops, Race Bays and the Race Team workshops.

Depending on the date, you might even be able to catch a glimpse of the T127 race car but it would be good to check before hand as bookings are on a first come first serve basis. You’ll even get a gift bag at the end of your visit. Dates available include July 1st, July 2nd, July 5th, July 6th, July 13th, July 14th, July 15th, July 16th, August 4th, August 5th, and August 6th.

The price of the tour will set you back £80 per adult, while under 17’s get in for £40 and under 12’s go in for free. The factory is 10 minutes away from their Hethel (Lotus Cars) factory, 15 miles from Norwich city, and 3 hours away from the country’s capital, London. Wonder if Lotus will be organizing a trip for Malaysian journalists to check out the factory now that they have a proper tour set up. They’ve already brought some media in the past, such as Majalah Tiga’s TV crew.

ProtonCLUB Pada 7/01/2010 Comments