2005 Lotus Circuit Car Prototype

(from Lotus Press Release)  The prototype Lotus “Circuit Car” will run for the first time at the oldest motorsport venue in the world, the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, during the Centenary celebrations.

Based on the strong, stiff and lightweight aluminium chassis first seen on the Lotus Elise, and
weighing in at around 650 kg, the single-seater car (with an option of two seats) has been designed and engineered solely for Track Days and Club Racing. The prototype car was designed and built in an incredible eleven weeks and production versions are scheduled to be built from mid 2006 in the world class production facilities at the Lotus headquarters in Hethel Norfolk.

The Following Information Describes the Prototype Lotus “Circuit Car”

The visually dramatic open-topped prototype “Circuit Car” has lightweight composite bodywork and a very powerful supercharged and intercooled 1.8 litre engine.

The innovative and technologically advanced extruded and bonded aluminium chassis has high
side sills that reduce the complexity of the chassis structure.

The engine with VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing and Lift – intelligent) is mated to a Roots-type
Eaton M62 supercharger with air-to-air intercooler to give a maximum power output of 243 hp
(181 kW) at 8000 rpm and a maximum torque of 174 lb ft (236 Nm) at 7000 rpm. On production
versions, an entry-level naturally-aspirated VVTL-i engine will also be available with 190 hp (141
kW) at 8000 rpm and 138 lbft (181 Nm) at 7000 rpm. Engine management control is provided by
the bespoke - mapped Lotus T4 system and a drive-by-wire electronic throttle.

The 6-speed C64 close ratio gearbox is linked to an open slip differential and a prototype traction
control system perfect for the tight and twisty Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb course.

The power to weight ratio, of course a key Lotus engineering principle and core brand value, for
the supercharged engine is around 373 hp/tonne (278 kW/tonne) with a torque to weight ratio of
267 lbft per tonne (363 Nm/tonne). It is estimated to achieve the 0 – 100 mph (160 km/h) sprint in
less than 9.0 seconds. This exciting combination has allowed for a dynamic racing package
producing higher performance to that of existing Elise-based products, powering the car from 0 –
62 mph (0 – 100 km/h) in under 4 seconds.

Braking is provided by a servo-assisted, track tuned 4-channel Antilock Braking System (ABS)
with Lotus/AP-Racing twin-piston fixed aluminium alloy front brake calipers, Brembo single-piston
sliding rear calipers and 282 mm diameter, 26 mm thick front and rear, cast-iron ventilated &
cross-drilled discs.

The lightweight GRP composite bodywork is bolted to the chassis for easy removal for
maintenance and race / track preparation. The bodywork has been designed by the Lotus Design
team led by Russell Carr, Chief of Design for Lotus. Russell Carr, explains the design philosophy
of the new Lotus “Circuit Car”: “The design captures the essence of the other Lotus based products and combines it with a functionally correct bodywork to give a racecar that is not only
beautiful to look at but aerodynamically and structurally as effective as it possibly can be,”

The small frontal area with no windscreen is combined with flat, unsculptured sides with no airintakes,
for minimal drag; and a deep front splitter and a large rear wing (single plane as standard
and dual element as an option) and a rear diffuser to attain maximum aerodynamic downforce.

For the Shelsley Walsh Event, the “Circuit Car” uses Lotus Sport 5 spoke forged wheels, which
are shod with Yokohama A005 Hill Climb specification racing slicks (Yokohama A006 racing wet
tyres are an option). For production versions, other tyre options will also be available.

Suspension and damping is provided by fully independent unequal length wishbones, Eibach coil
springs, Ohlins 2-way adjustable dampers and an adjustable front anti-roll bar.

Tony Shute, Head of Product Development at Lotus Cars will be driving the Lotus “Circuit Car” for
its premier at the Shelsley Walsh Centenary celebrations. Tony explains what makes the Lotus
“Circuit Car” a leading high performance track car:

“This new product has allowed Lotus to once again apply its key “performance through
lightweight” philosophy. This is in order to achieve an innovative product for the track day and
club racing Lotus enthusiast whilst staying true to the key design attributes of the Elise and Exige
products. They are considered to be amongst the finest existing road and track day cars by
thousands of owners around the world, and the “Circuit Car” will build on this formidable
reputation, helping to further underline Lotus as the ultimate driver’s choice.”

The Lotus “Circuit Car” is scheduled to go on sale by mid 2006 with volumes of approximately
100 units per year.

The name of the “Circuit Car” and the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices will not be
confirmed until closer to production but it is expected that the production versions of the Lotus
“Circuit Car” will start at around £25,000 for the 190 hp version in the UK. Prices in other markets
will be release over the next few months.