lotus

Two anonymous sources have told Automotive News that Lotus is courting both Bob Lutz and retired BMW executive Tom Purves to become advisors to the British brand.

A Lotus Exige-based mule has again been spotted out and about wearing tacked-on fender extensions to facilitate a significantly wider track than current versions. Sources suggest that this machine is drawing power from the same Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 found in the new Evora due to the fact that this particular Exige had a very similar exhaust note to an Evora that was running nearby.

We're not so sure that stuffing the V6 into the Elise/Exige would be such a positive move given the extra bulk it would add. Newer direct inject injected and boosted inline fours can easily match the output of the V6 in a smaller package.

Lotus founder Colin Chapman had a mantra he followed with almost religious fanaticism: “To go fast, add lightness.” He saw cutting mass as a key to performance. It’s also a key to fuel economy and reduced emissions.

A study by Lotus Engineering finds cutting the mass of a car — Lotus used an ordinary Toyota Venza — by as much as 38 percent would add just 3 percent to the cost of the vehicle while reaping big benefits in fuel economy and emissions. Why? Because lighter cars can use smaller engines and therefore less fuel.

2011 Lotus Elise - Click above for high-res image gallery

Particularly given its performance capabilities, the Lotus Elise has always been remarkably fuel efficient. The Elise (and its hardtop Exige sibling) have long been a rolling testament to the benefits of light weight. Thanks to a new 1.6-liter, 136 horsepower inline-four and a new lower drag nose, the European-spec 2011 Elise S is now officially rated at 46.7 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the EU highway cycle, and the carbon dioxide emissions are just 149 grams per kilometer on the combined cycle.

We love Lotus for many reasons. Yes, the thought of lightweight track heathens with more grip than horsepower sends our hearts all aflutter, but there are other reasons to be smitten with the British brand. Like how occasionally the engineers get bored and decide to turn an otherwise pedestrian vehicle into an all-out rocket. Cars like the Dodge Spirit R/T and Isuzu I-Mark have all gotten a healthy dollop of help from Lotus, and now it looks like the Proton Satria Neo can count itself among those lucky souls.

Ham and eggs. macaroni and cheese, chocolate and bacon (a new personal favorite!). Some things just naturally go together. Such is the case for Lotus and Cosworth. In 1967 when Keith Duckworth, Mike Costin and Ford got together to create the DFV Formula One engine, Lotus was the first team to install it in a car. Ultimately, the DFV won 12 world drivers championships and 10 F1 constructors titles.