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All You Need To Know About Lotus's Confusion


by Cecilia Mercedes Evans


Lotus's Confusion centers are so rare only twenty vehicles will probably be created. The Lotus Exos Kind a hundred twenty five race car. This car is going for a cool million and that includes a training program taught by former F-1 drivers.

Lotus Automobiles, the renowned British manufacturer of sports activities and racing automobiles, is not related to the Lotus F1 group. Wait - what?

The F1 crew is, despite christening similarity, not owned by Lotus Automobiles. It really is owned by a Malaysian consortium, which, confusingly, has Proton, the owner with the British Lotus, as a member. Bamboozled? So is Lotus Vehicles. Their new track toy, the Lotus Exos Type a hundred twenty five race vehicle, screams F1 from top to bottom. Uh - Lotus? You're not F1. But right after viewing this slim, gorgeous blue and black rocket, it appears Lotus's infringement really should be forgiven.

A number of pick business insiders and automotive enthusiasts snapped a sneak peek on the 125 at the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion. Lotus presented the 125 on the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for its worldwide debut.

Lotus didn't mince words during presentation. It claimed, "The Lotus 125 is becoming engineered and developed to provide its pick few house owners the absolute ultimate in a trackdriving and racing encounter." Few owners? That's right; a number of filthy wealthy aficionados - with the correct connections, of course - will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase the a hundred twenty five and join the Exos Racing program, a 5-race coaching course taught by former F1 drivers. The training begins in 2011. To get in, shell out $1 million. How many tickets? As many as you can find automobiles: twenty-five.

The 125 sneers at posh accoutrements like stereos and heated cupholders. Its 3.5-ltier Cosworth GPV8 sports activities a mind-blowing 10,300 rpm redline and packs 650-hp. The engine is set in the back with the 1,433-lb vehicle, which is constructed from a carbon fiber monocoque chassis with ceramic brakes, a carbon fiber pushrod suspension, downforce inducing wings, paddle shifters and an interior multi-function control screen. The cabin is a close rendition of an actual F1 cabin, which looks incredibly cold but might prove unpleasant for those employed to heated and cooled synthetic leather seats.

This all begs the question, why? Why invest so significantly time, cash and publicity on a limited edition automobile with a mere twenty-five house owners? Rumors abound that Lotus is merely attempting to circumvent the F1 in-season testing ban, but most likely, Lotus is basically marketing. After all, what might be cooler than taught the tricks from the track by former F1 drivers? And if the driver's seat is slightly unpleasant, the 1 million spent for it ought to make it really feel spectacular.




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