Lotus LMP2, and 2 Lotus GT2's?

[gucom]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87050

closed-top LMP2 by Paolo Catone, designer of the Peugeot 908, in 2012
GT2 of the Evora
GT2 of another car, which will be at Paris motorshow (elite? doesn't really seem suitable...)

wow... if this all materializes, I'll be stunned and very happy!

[HJJ]

I sure the Lotus/Toyota production car connection will generate a lot of rumors.

[Tim the Grey]

Lotus GROUP are the Road Car ans specialist engineering folks, based in the factory at Hethel, and owned, wholly, by Proton of Malaysia.

They have nothing whatsoever to do with the F1 team, apart from maybe a spot of sponsorship.

There now seems to be some dispute as to whether James' brother, David Hunt, ever owned the rights to Team Lotus, which seems odd to me, as there was no dispute over this for nearly 15 years! Team Lotus was run completely separately by Chapman, so the racing wouldn't kill the road cars, and vice versa...
Team Lotus, and Group Lotus are 2 separate entities.

Meantime, I look forward to a Lotus LMP2. Not so sure about GT2. Do they have an engine to suit???

[Speed-King]

Here we go again... a manufacturer in LMP2, where have we seen that before?

[JAG]

Lotus reportedly have access to the Lexus V8 and maybe even the V10.

The Evora GTE could use a turbo/supercharged V6 while the Esprit replacement, and subsequent GTE, the V8.

Lotus are increasing production from 2500 to 8000 cars per year so big things are happening.

[The Badger]

Paolo Catone , what was he responsible for ? It just wont come to my head , but if I remember correctly , he is bloody good .

Lovely livery , the colors I mean . Be great to see them back . Does Hunt still have something to do with Lotus ?

[Simmi]

I was hoping they would go beyond the GT4 project but that is beyond my wildest dreams. Hopefully it does come to fruition.

[gucom]

from what I understand of the whole Team Lotus / Group Lotus controversy / legal battle, Hunt has given his blessing to Team Lotus, as in, Tony Fernandes' F1 team that's not related to Lotus Group.

Catone; other than the Pug 908, I believe he was responsible for some Courage models, including the LC75 which ofcourse also formed the basis of the Acura ARX-01...

[marcel82]

from that (tiny) picture, it looks a lot like the lola's

[Valker]

Originally Posted by marcel82

from that (tiny) picture, it looks a lot like the lola's

Yep. The car in the pic sure looks like a Lola.

[I Rosputnik]

Maybe we might see a Lotus Elite GT1 in the future? (Maybe not done by Group Lotus, but by someone.)

[pablocomics]

LMP2 isn´t suposse to be a private class and the lmp1 a class reserved to works teams?

[JAG]

I would have thought a Lotus P2 would be a customer car.

Lotus Elite roadcar announced with 600bhp+ V8.

http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/def...?storyId=22500

[Bentley03]

The LMP part of the announcement seems a little strange. The description and subsequent quotes in the article suggest LMP1 to me, not LMP2. This is also the first time I've heard Lotus mentioned in conjunction with an LMP2, but I've heard mention of a Lotus LMP1 on several occasions during the last year or so.

[FIRE]

GT4, GT2, LMP2...Isn't that to much on their plate?

[JAG]

When Mowlem came on board as a test driver he talked of plans including a prototype.

The last I read was a P1 would only come along after the P2.

Lotus are launching upto four new roadcar models and ramping up production.

They have a supply of engines from Toyota and a deal with Cosworth to develop them.

The base Evora can use various engines in GT4, GT3 and GTE with the latter able to slot straight into the P2.

[pederb]

Originally Posted by FIRE

GT4, GT2, LMP2...Isn't that to much on their plate?

Sounds a bit like MG's comeback, does it not

[KA]

Originally Posted by FIRE

GT4, GT2, LMP2...Isn't that to much on their plate?

At first sight, it does look like they're taking on a hell of a lot- it does sound a bit like MG's return to motorsport after the 'Phoenix 4' took over- and look where that ended...

Howver, looking at this, I reckon it's largely going to be customer car-based programmes, and it's not all going to happen at once.

As we're already discussing, an LMP2 means customers rather than a factory effort, and if they're looking at the Evora for GT3/GT4, then surely that's going to be aimed purely at the customer/gentleman driver market.

The 'new GT2 car based on one of our eagerly anticipated future road cars, set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show..' sounds like it's going to be based on the forthcoming new Elite- and everything I've read about that so far suggests it's intended to reach the markets in 2014- So this sounds like it might be a long-term project that we won't see race until after the LMP2 has debuted in 2012. In that context, the GT2 development of the Evora sounds like it might be a fill-in until the Elite is ready...

[JAG]

There is a rumour the new Esprit will also be announced at Paris.

They could have name checked the Elite as it's already public knowledge.

[courageous]

Funny how this news is released just as Proton are trying to stiff Team Lotus & Lotus F1 in the courts eh?

Group Lotus make road cars, Team Lotus make racing cars - it's like Apple music & Apple computers.

This won't happen

[TWRv12]

How long before Paolo Catone knocks out an LMP1. Won't be long before Group Lotus announces talk with British Lawn Mower Racing Association about entering the 24hr race, and surely a 24 Hours of LeMons entry has to be on the cards now.

[I Rosputnik]

CAUSE LOTUS MUST BE EVERYWHERE!

Seriously, I'd be amazed if Lotus isn't broke by the end of this year with all these motorsport plans.

[HORNDAWG]

Not from the front. Here






L.P.

[jc_nl]

Ok let's add few things up (feel free to shoot if it doesn't make sense):

1 There is an engine link between Lotus and Toyota

2 Toyota will do a LMP1 engine next year and it seems very quiet about their LMP2 engine (which according to the LOLA LMP2 press release does exist)

3 The Lotus LMP2 engine is in effect the Toyota LMP2 engine, and the project should be called "Lotus LMP2 Engine" in stead of "Lotus LMP2" (this would also potentially explain the use of a LOLA in the press material)

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by jc_nl

Ok let's add few things up (feel free to shoot if it doesn't make sense):

1 There is an engine link between Lotus and Toyota

2 Toyota will do a LMP1 engine next year and it seems very quiet about their LMP2 engine (which according to the LOLA LMP2 press release does exist)

3 The Lotus LMP2 engine is in effect the Toyota LMP2 engine, and the project should be called "Lotus LMP2 Engine" in stead of "Lotus LMP2" (this would also potentially explain the use of a LOLA in the press material)

Both EI and SPEED are sources of this story from Lotus and state it as being a coupe for 2011 rules P-2 customer program. It does not mention engine at all!



L.P.