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Mercedes C220 C-Class

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YW electric kiddy car race

Electric BMW & Mini - We hold our first electric kids car race - follow the race and tantrums!

That Old Weight Vs HorsePower Question

On December 8, 2011, In Cars, Roadsters, Sportscars, Supercars, Trackday, Yellow, by yellowwheels

Lotus Elise - a light weight contender

That Old Weight Vs HorsePower Question

A guest post by Neill Watson, photographer-writer-blogger

Yellowwheels editor Timtim posed me a really intriguing question today over a quick email chat – which is best, a lightweight car with minimal horsepower or a car with a bit more weight but a lot more power? A very good question and one that I believe I’ve answered to my own personal satisfaction this year. However, as the Americans are fond of saying, “your mileage may vary”

BMW M3

To put this into perspective, let me explain one of my day jobs. In addition to being a car photo-journalist, I’m also a track instructor. I spend a significant slice of my waking hours sitting in a variety of cars, from a 640BHP Lamborghini LP640 to a 120 BHP Lotus Elise and pretty much everything in between, either driving or imparting my limited knowledge. From BMW E46 M3 (a personal favourite) to Ferrari 458 Italia, I have a fair bit of seat time in them all. So, which is best? A 640 Bhp projectile or a 120 BHP mountain goat?

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Tagged with: cornering • driving • Elise • handling • Lotus • power to weight • racetrack • suspension

Paris Motor Show 2010 – Lotus Elise Concept

On October 29, 2010, In Auto Shows, Cars, Concepts, Motor Shows, News, Sportscars, by yellowwheels

Paris Motor Show 2010 - Lotus Elise Concept

Lotus stun the world with ambitious model launch program: Lotus Elise Concept

If the Paris Motor Show threw up a couple of headline grabbing supercars you’d be happy, curious and envious. Jaguar delivered with their amazing C-X75 electric/turbine hybrid and Lamborghini with their carbon-with-everything Sesto Elemento concept. You’d be stunned if any manufacturer launched two concepts. But five? That’s what Lotus did and blew the press’s mind in the process. Much has been written about the feasibility of this production plan and we don’t have a view other than it seems over-ambitious. The bucket principle says that if you work in a company and ask for ten buckets of whatever to match your needs you’ll get five delivered. Is this the case with Lotus? If we get to see even three of these in the real world within the proposed time schedule we’ll be amazed and happy. All five and we’ll be stunned and elated!

Paris Motor Show 2010 Lotus Elan Concept

Paris Motor Show 2010 Lotus future model lineup

Don’t forget though, that the first model to go on sale is the Elan a whole 3 years away, so there is plenty of time for the designs to evolve or change substantially. Also the show cars may have been part of a giant focus group rather than a fixed agenda.

Schedule:
Elan 4.0 litre V6 – summer 2013
Elite 5.0 litre V8 – spring 2014
Elise 2.0 litre straight 4 – spring 2014
Esprit 5.0 litre V8 – spring 2015
Eterne 5.0 litre V8 – spring 2015

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Tagged with: 2010 • Concept • Elise • Lotus • Paris Motor Show

Lotus Elise gets a fresh face this spring

On February 17, 2010, In Cars, Convertibles, News, Sportscars, Yellow, by yellowwheels

Lotus Elise gets a fresh face for 2010

Spring is (nearly) in the air, so it must be time for some fresh new faces in the automotive world. This being 2010, Lotus bring you the 2011 Elise, with refreshed nose and rump. Neatly evolving from the previous iteration, you’ll spot the re-profiled mouth and repositioned gills, but maybe not notice the other subtle detail changes.

New look Lotus Elise

Most of the air in-and-outlets have lost their black slats, and the engine cover humped up to accommodate the taller new engine. Front LED indicators move into the main light clusters. Overall a less fussy, smoother, rounder design. Under the skin a ton of minor changes, but a new 1.6 litre engine mated to an equally new close ratio gearbox, stands in for the previous entry level 1.8 litre lump. Losing 200 cc hasn’t affected performance but significantly improves fuel economy and emissions.

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Tagged with: Elise • Geneva Motor Show • Lotus

Hire a Yellow Lotus Elise this summer

On July 10, 2009, In Cars, Convertibles, News, Sportscars, Yellow, by yellowwheels

090709-a-lotus-

Flying to Italy this summer and fancy swanning around in a Lotus? Hertz just added a fleet of yellow Lotus Elises for hire! They are clearly hoping you’ll be so smitten that you’ll be at the local dealer ordering your own within minutes of dropping your rental keys back! The photo shows five Elises, but Exiges are promised too. Availability from mid July.

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