USA - The storming Lotus Evora 400 takes silver at the renown Road and Track group test.

• Best European sports car bar none
• 2nd overall in renowned Road & Track group test
• Almost half the price of outright winner

Beating the best rival performance cars that Europe can muster, the acclaimed Lotus Evora 400 has seized second in Road & Track's celebrated Performance Car of the Year for 2017.

Shunning indirect and stilted systems, the Lotus Evora 400 utilises intelligent engineering to deliver a pure and intuitive driving experience. Lighter, faster and drastically more dynamic than its predecessor, the Evora 400 bested the rest of the Europeans to impress the Road & Track judges and force the final decision to the line - just missing out on first place.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, commented: “Lotus will never sacrifice its philosophy. Keeping weight to a minimum, and giving the driver an unrivalled degree of control, has always been paramount to our success. The Evora 400 can rightly be described as one of the greatest Lotus cars ever built – supremely fast with amazing agility. The Road & Track result shows the appetite for our cars in North America, the world’s biggest sports car market.”

Reserved for the best of the best, the annual Road & Track fixture sees only the finest cars compete. Be it measured by outright speed, acceleration or handling: each year the specially selected finalists have been genuine driving giants.

Lotus Cars returned in the North American sports car market earlier this year, with the Evora 400, to critical acclaim. Demonstrating a very real desire for the lightweight and powerful cars which Lotus is world famous for, the Evora 400 was hailed by press and media as a landmark model.

Identified ahead of the Performance Car of the Year group test as the “underdog sleeper pick,” the Evora 400 went on to claim significant scalps, including the Audi R8 V10 Plus, BMW M4 GTS, Jaguar F-Type SVR coupe, McLaren 570S and Porsche 911 Turbo S. Ultimately, it was only beaten by the Acura NSX, as tested a car costing $202,960 - almost twice as much as the tested $103,585 Lotus.

Assessed on the roads of Tennessee and Kentucky, and then two days on track at the NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Road & Track put all cars through their paces, declaring: “The Lotus is a thrill at any speed. The steering is untouchable in this company; the pedals are weighted to perfection. Feedback is absolute and millimeter-precise.” When it came time to decide the result, it became clear just how well the car performed, with Road & Track stating: "Fully deserving of the ACBC badge on its nose, this brave and charming two-plus-two is perhaps the finest over-the-road enthusiast vehicle available for sale at any price.”

With a heritage of intelligent engineering that spans seven decades, no other car manufacturer can claim a better track record when it comes to honing road and race cars. In its 68th year, Lotus still remains true to the ethos of the company’s founder Colin Chapman, and his approach to design construction and ‘added lightness’.

Lotus re-enters the USA with a host of weight saving options on the Evora Coupe 400.

• New Carbon Pack, Lithium Ion battery and titanium exhaust options
• Lightweight options reduce the weight of the Lotus Evora 400 to 1,353 kg (2,983 lbs)
• Available on Lotus Evora 400 from now

Once again doing even more with even less, Lotus is pleased to announce a selection of new lightweight options, including a new Carbon Pack, Lithium Ion battery and titanium sports exhaust for the Evora 400.

No other car manufacturer can claim a better track record when it comes to light weight. Now in its 68^th year, Lotus still remains true to the ethos of the company’s founder Colin Chapman, and his approach to weight-optimised design and construction.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc said, “The Lotus Evora 400 is already the lightest car in its segment, with super car performance, benchmark handling and the purity of the driving experience expected of a Lotus. We are now giving customers an opportunity to drive an even lighter and more responsive car.”

Available in all markets, the new Carbon Pack uses a number of components already fitted to the ultra-lightweight Lotus Evora Sport 410 as standard. The Carbon Pack includes a front splitter section, roof panel, rear wing centre, rear diffuser finisher, front access panel and wing mirror caps.

The hand-made parts cut mass by 5kg (11 lbs) whilst at the same time providing a contrasting and aesthetically beautiful carbon finish. Reducing weight still further, a lightweight titanium sports exhaust and lithium-ion battery can be specified, which each save a further 10kg (22 lbs).

In addition, Lotus has introduced a cup holder and oddment tray to all Evora models. Fitted as standard to USA and Canada specification vehicles, it becomes an option for Evora 400 in EU and Asia. Weighing only 120 g (1/4 lb), the cup holder has an almost negligible effect on the overall weight of the car, and demonstrates perfectly how Lotus will bend to market demands whilst at the same time ensuring its core values of lightweight and purity are maintained.

The new lightweight options for the Evora 400 join a number of existing weight saving measures, helping customers make the most of the car’s already impressive power-to-weight ratio.

These include the deletion of the air conditioning system and specifying the 2+0 seating option. When combined, the lightweight options provide a combined saving of 42 kg (93 lbs) over the Evora 400’s already impressive low weight of 1,395 kg (3,075 lbs) * to 1,353 kg (2,983 lbs) and with 400 hp on tap, it offers a performance envelope that eclipses many of its substantially more expensive rivals.

The optional Carbon Pack costs £6,500, €9,000 (Germany), $10,000 (USD), the titanium sports exhaust £5,500, €7,000 (Germany), $8,000 (USD) and the lithium-ion battery £1,350, €1,890 (Germany), $1,690 (USD). The deletion of air conditioning and the selection of 2+0 seating is a no-cost option. All prices are MSRP.

* USA and Canada Evora 400 weighs 1,430 kg (3,153 lbs).

USA RECALL #4 - A number of Mercedes models are being investigated for possible rear seatbelt anchor bolt incorrectly installed

 RECALL Subject : Right Rear Seat Belt Anchorage Bolt Misinstalled

Report Receipt Date: JUN 16, 2016 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V442000 

Component(s): SEAT BELTS 

Potential Number of Units Affected: 423 

Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

SUMMARY:

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 ML250, ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML400 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and 2016 GLE450 AMG 4Matic vehicles manufactured from April 27, 2015, through May 19, 2015. The affected vehicles may have had the right rear seatbelt anchor bolt incorrectly installed.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a vehicle crash, the right rear seatbelt anchor bolt could fail to secure the passenger, increasing their risk of injury.

REMEDY:

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, correct the installation of the right rear seat belt anchor bolt, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in July 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Fans on Facebook and Twitter dictate the latest design colour scheme on the Lotus Evora 400 Limited Edition.

• Lotus fans select iconic blue & orange scheme for Evora 400
• Social media poll via Facebook and Twitter
• Highlights bespoke nature of Lotus Exclusive programme
• Latest limited edition sports car celebrating 50 years at Hethel

Car fans across the world have helped the Lotus Exclusive service by choosing one of the most famous racing colour schemes for a run of extremely limited Evora 400 Exclusive editions.

Challenging enthusiasts to pick their preference from a selection of carefully curated designs, penned by Lotus’ design team, the social media poll on Lotus’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, saw modern interpretations of classic automotive colour combinations, as well as some established Lotus liveries.

The outright winner was revealed as the Blue & Orange edition, recalling the famous racing colour scheme first seen in the 1960s, with a complementary palette inside, setting black leather upholstery against orange contrast stitching.

The new Blue and Orange limited edition Evora 400 is the latest Lotus sports car to help mark 2016 as the 50^th anniversary since the founding of the Lotus Factory and Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk.

With a special paint colour and orange and white decal stripes, the Exclusive design gave fans the opportunity to give the modern Evora 400 a thoroughly retro look. Black forged wheels and red brake calipers complete the car’s distinctive look.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc said, “Any one of the designs in the poll would have been a worthy winner. So now that the poll has finished and with thousands of votes cast, we have decided that the winner will make it into production. We only plan to build 10 of these Evora 400 sports cars in total so with their rarity, I expect them to quickly become very desirable.”

Developed by the team at Hethel, Lotus Exclusive inspires customers to further personalise the character of their Lotus cars. With the ability to tailor to their personal taste, it provides an alluring alternative to a standard specification sports car.

With such limited production numbers, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Exclusive edition is expected to sell quickly. However, customers can create their own, unique Lotus through the Exclusive programme today.

The ultra-low volume edition perfectly demonstrates the appeal of Lotus Exclusive, which offers buyers a unique ownership proposition by combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design. Tailoring one of Lotus’ high-performance sports cars to suit personal tastes, it offers a customised alternative to an off-the-shelf car, covering everything from colour coding through to race car preparation.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, commented, “A Lotus is all about the purity of the driving experience and benchmark handling and owning a Lotus is a statement that you value design, innovation and the skills of our craftsmen and women who hand build all Lotus sports cars in Hethel.”

About the Evora 400

As one of the most significant models in the company’s history, the Lotus Evora 400 drives home the company’s commitment to developing pure, driver-focused sports cars.

Developed through Lotus’ Lightweight Laboratory, the car’s low mass of 1,395 kg drastically enhances its performance.  As a result, the Evora 400 accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds) and continues on to deliver a maximum speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).

Combining a lightweight revised aluminium chassis with a high-output engine, to deliver remarkable performance, its supercharged and charge-cooled, mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine produces 400 hp and 410 Nm of torque. The car’s efficient composite body, flat-floor, rear diffuser, three-element rear wing all enhance aerodynamics, generating significant downforce of 32 kg at 150 mph (241 mk/h).

The Lotus Evora 400 enjoys a high specification as standard, including 370 mm composite two-piece brake discs from AP Racing, a Limited Slip Differential (LSD), automatic air-conditioning and infotainment system with satellite navigation. Options include automatic transmission and cruise control.

As an alternative to the 6-speed gearbox, with the torsen-type LSD as standard, a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic gearbox is available. With electronically optimised up-shifts. Drivers can change gears manually via forged aluminium paddles mounted to the steering wheel, or rely on the gearbox’s fully automatic mode.

As befitting a hand-built car, the cabin of the Evora 400 uses the highest quality materials, including Alcantara and leather, while the driver-orientated layout provides ergonomically optimised controls. Very much a usable 2+2 coupe, passenger space is improved on the previous model, with greater legroom and wider rear seats, and the chassis revisions have increased the size of the door aperture, making it easy to enter and exit the Evora 400.

Lotus Exclusive is available on all Lotus cars, including the new Elise Cup 250 and Exige Sport 350, and includes a full range of performance options making it truly “made to measure”. Lotus Exclusive is available for all Lotus customers through the Lotus dealer network.

The Lotus Evora 400, from track to road car, the most superior Lotus ever built, lighter, leaner, quicker and better.

• fastest and most powerful production Lotus ever
• 42 kg lighter with 55 hp increase on previous model
• Ergonomically and dynamically more capable than the previous Evora

The most powerful production Lotus ever – the new Lotus Evora 400 is a superior machine to the previous model in every aspect.

Over two thirds of the Lotus Evora 400 is new, including its supercharged and charge-cooled mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine. Power has been increased from 345 hp (350 PS; 257.3 kW) to 400 hp (406 PS; 298.3 kW) at 7,000rpm. Torque has also been increased to 302 lbs ft (410 Nm) achieved between 3,500 to 6,500 rpm.

42 kg lighter than the previous model, with a completely new aluminium chassis and significantly revised lightweight composite body front and rear. The new Evora 400 is also ergonomically more refined, with easier cabin exit and entry, enhancing everyday usability.

Dynamically more capable lighter and faster, with revised spring and damper settings, a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) and a downforce figure of 32 kg (70 lbs) at 150 mph (242 km/h), the new Evora 400 is one of the quickest cars in class A to B and offers a more involving, sharper and more focused driving experience compared with the outgoing model.

Lotus joins in the fun to celebrate Malaysian Culture in the UK with an event in London, with the Evora 400.

• The largest event celebrating Malaysian culture in the UK
• Lotus attended for the second year, showcasing the new Evora 400
• 53,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square, London

For the 6^th year, London hosted the most vibrant and important event for Malaysian culture in the UK. On Friday the 18^th September from noon to 10pm, Trafalgar Square became an open air market to celebrate Malaysian culture and its vibrant mix of music, food and entertainment.

As part of the DRB-HICOM Group, one of Malaysia’s leading conglomerates, Lotus renewed its participation in the event for the second year running, after a previous successful attendance in 2014.

Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, commented: “We were pleased to attend Malaysian Night once again in 2015.  Events such as this are extremely important to Lotus, not only to reinforce our link with Malaysia but also to showcase our products within the heart of London as part of a rich celebration of global culture.”

Funded by the Malaysian External Trade Department (MATRADE), the event saw 53,000 people converge on Trafalgar Square in the centre of London. The Malaysian Minister for Trade and Industry, Honourable Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, and The High Commissioner of Malaysia to the UK, His Excellency Dato’ Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi, were also present to welcome the thousands of visitors and took time to visit the Lotus display featuring the new Lotus Evora 400.

The new model from Lotus further enhanced the event as part of an impressive display on the North Terrace, in front of the National Gallery, overlooking Trafalgar Square. Visitors were invited to sit in the hand built car, experience the distinctive ambience and admire the handmade details within the cabin. Supported by the London-based Lotus dealer, Hexagon, interested parties also had the opportunity to enquire about booking a test drive and gain further information about how they might own a Lotus sports car, an iconic product of Norfolk, England.

Lotus backs up claims for the Evora 400 with facts, this car can really shift !!!!!

• Hethel Lap Time of 1:32 (six seconds faster than previous Evora S)
• Increased power, reduced weight and improved handling contribute to faster lap time
• Validates Evora 400 as the new Lotus supercar.

Having stated that the new Evora 400 supercar would exceed expectations, Lotus has now validated the claim. Early tests, carried out by Gavan Kershaw, Technical Manager for Lotus Motorsport, allowed Lotus to boast of a six seconds per lap advantage at Hethel. 

This validation drive of a standard road specification prototype Evora 400, running on road tyres and with standard road suspension supports the initial claim.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc stated: “Internally, we all knew that the Evora 400 would be capable of exceeding expectations. 

Our initial pre-production tests provided immense confidence and a SIX seconds lap time advantage at Hethel. The previous best time achieved in the Evora S model was 1 minute 38 seconds; the new lap time set by Gavan is 1 minute 32 seconds.

“Our commitment to reducing weight to create a lightweight and efficient supercar has paid off. The extra 55hp in conjunction with the 22 kg weight reduction and the tremendous traction from the Limited Slip Differential (LSD) lead to benchmark handling. 

We are delighted that our customers will soon feel the benefits, when the first examples are delivered in August of this year.”

The new Lotus Evora 400 is the latest pure and focused supercar from Lotus, combining high performance with the legendary Lotus signature benchmark handling. 

It is faster and dynamically more capable than the previous Lotus Evora leading to greater agility and a more involving drive.

Maximum speed is 186 mph (300 km/h) and acceleration 0-60 mph is just 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds). 

Over two thirds of the Lotus Evora 400 is new, including its supercharged and charge-cooled mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 410 Nm of torque. 

A new aluminium chassis incorporates a new interior and the lightweight composite body has changed significantly both front and rear.

The new Evora 400, which was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in Marchwill enter production for European markets in the summer and deliveries will commence in August this year. North American markets will receive the Evora 400 as a 2016 model year presentation in the Autumn, with China markets taking first deliveries in early 2016.

Group Lotus, Proton and Goldstar sign letter of intent to expand into China.

PROTON Holdings Berhad (“PROTON”) the ultimate holding company of Lotus Group, announced that it has signed a Joint Venture (“JV”) Agreement with Lotus Group International Limited, United Kingdom (“Lotus Group”) and Goldstar Heavy Industrial Co. Ltd. (“Goldstar”) for a possible business expansion of Lotus cars in the People's Republic of China.

The collaboration seeks to accelerate the development of Lotus cars in the premium sports segment in China, leveraging on the incentives offered by the Fujian Provincial Government. Both PROTON and Lotus Group are subsidiaries of DRB-HICOM Berhad.

Signing on behalf of PROTON was the Honourable Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chairman of PROTON and former Prime Minister of Malaysia and witnessed by Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON. 

Signing on behalf of Lotus Group International Limited, United Kingdom was Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer and witnessed by Mr Rohime Shafie, Director of Lotus Group and Chief Financial Officer of PROTON; and signing on behalf of Goldstar was Mr Zheng Qianghui, Chairman of Goldstar and witnessed by Mr Zhai Wenliang, President of Goldstar.

Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah said “The JV Agreement will see the establishment of a new JV Company for the purpose of undertaking research and development (R&D) activities in the use of efficient and advanced technology. 

The JV Company will then produce and sell Lotus branded passenger cars as well as provide after sales services in connection with its products in the People’s Republic of China.

“The automotive market in China is the single largest in the world today, and is still growing, therefore it is only natural for an established iconic company like Lotus to embark upon the possibility of expansion, venture into the market and seek the available opportunities, in light of the keen interest shown by the many enquiries received thus far. 

It is very difficult to ignore the market and Lotus will fill the gap in providing a lifestyle alternative to the growing demands of the affluent and market conscious local community,” Dato' Harith added.

"On April 7, 2015, Lotus announced 55% increase in car sales for its 2014/15 financial year, compared to the previous year with 36 new dealers appointed during the period 2014/15. 

And China has appeared to be the top key growth market for Lotus exports and is expected to grow at a very fast rate. Lotus Group is excited about the opportunities of this new Joint Venture," Jean-Marc Gales commented further.

Lotus will continue to manufacture its current range of Lotus sports cars (Evora, Exige and Elise) exclusively at its HQ in Hethel, England.

#itsnotforyou - Lotus challenges you to an online game, can you achieve it ?

Lotus’s intriguing ‘gamechanger’

All car companies, including unconventional specialists like Lotus, always make the most ingenious use of their resources, notably around the time of new car launches.

One such new car, the exciting Lotus Evora 400 supercar was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show recently. With a maximum speed of 186 mph (300 km/h) and acceleration 0-60 mph of just 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds), the new Evora 400 is the fastest car in the Lotus range.

With benchmark handling capabilities and a pure driving experience, it is lightweight and efficient and the envy of the supercar scene. So a thought-provoking launch campaign needed to be developed to direct new customers to this thrilling new offering.

The solution lies in an ingenious on-line game, accessed through both the Lotus website and ‘teaser’ banner advertisements. By clicking on the banner, which displays a photograph of the stunning Evora 400, a challenge is offered – “Can You Handle It?” along with the instruction to “rollover to discover”.

Having done so, the player is now confronted by an opportunity to “Take the Lotus Evora 400 Agility Test” - a timed challenge based on reaction time tests carried out in fighter pilots selection programmes. Then prompted by the on-screen command, “See If You’ve Got What It Takes”, the player feels encouraged to continue, and moving the cursor over an object starts the timer.

The test and the fun then starts. But, should the player fail, another unconventional statement highlights that the player is “Pretty good, but perhaps a Bavarian cruiser would be more comfortable?” - it is as unconventional as Lotus has always been – and the line #itsnotforyou a good natured ribbing to an underperforming participant.

The game is made all the more compulsive and competitive by the creation of a leader-board, which further encourages on-line participation. It is exciting, exceedingly addictive and very upbeat, appealing to the potential Lotus buyer and their desire for the unusual.

The goal is to qualify for an early test drive of the new Lotus supercar, to experience its pure driving agility, which any red-blooded individual is certain to want.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Lotus, says: “The game complies totally with Lotus’s brand values - pure, unconventional and competitive - and the ‘#itsnotforyou’ campaign is fun, addictive and inclusive. We recognise that Lotus is and always has been a challenger and a more effective and efficient approach to our marketing is vital. It encourages alternative thinking through our unconventional approach. Try it now, and if you’re good enough, it might just be for you.”

The typical Lotus buyer already knows about the car’s benchmark in handling and its pure driving experience. They want to drive a supercar every day but one that can also be taken to a track day and still perform, with minimal fuss. Light weight and efficient, a Lotus Evora 400 can achieve that, by its affordability and its class-leading performance figures.