Again, the boys at Dubspeed cash the check their second syllable wrote, getting the press shots of and specs on Lotus's new circuit car to us faster than Lotus's own PR folks. The racer will get the Elise's Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four, with VVTL-i (Variable Valve Timing and Lift intelligent), aspirated by a Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger with air-to-air intercooler — boosting horsepower from 190 to 243 hp at 8000 rpm, with 174 ft/lbs of torque at 7000 rpm. (An entry-level version will get a normally aspirated, 190hp version). Lotus's T4 software handles engine management duties, and the car gets a drive-by-wire electronic throttle, six-speed C64 close ratio gearbox, open-slip differential and a prototype traction control system. The yet-to-be-named circuit car will likely go on sale in mid 2006, with volumes of around 100 cars per year at a base price (normally aspirated version) of around 25,000 ($45,000) in the UK.

Specs:

Engine
Supercharged 240:
2ZZ-GE Supercharged engine, developed by Lotus Engineering
Capacity: 1,796 cm3
Max Power 243 hp (181 kW) @ 8000 rpm (DIN 70020)
Max Torque: 174 lb ft (236 Nm) @ 7000 rpm (DIN 70020)
Option - 190:
2ZZ-GE, 4 cylinder, dohc 4 valves per cylinder with variable valve timing and lift
Capacity: 1,796 cm3
Max power: 190 hp (141 kW) @ 7800 rpm (DIN 70020) Integral ducts to provide engine air feed and
cooling
Max Torque: 138 lb ft (181 Nm) @ 6800 rpm (DIN 70020)

Transmission
C64 Gearbox, all aluminium lightweight construction
6-speed
Close ratio
Constant mesh helical gears
Open differential
Limited Slip differential (optional)

Chassis
Lotus designed lightweight structure of epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions and lightweight steel
rear subframe

Bodywork
Lightweight composite body shell
Bolt on exterior body panels for ease of service and repair
Integral ducts to provide engine air feed and cooling

Suspension
Fully independent suspension utilising unequal length wishbones
Coaxial mono-tube gas damper
Eibach coil springs at each corner
Front anti roll-bar
Bilstein dampers
Ohlins 2-way adjustable dampers (optional)

More at Dubspeed Driven.

Related:
Lotus s New Circuit Racer; Lotus to Unveil New Circuit Car at UK Event [internal]

Contact information for this author is not available.