Lotus Evora

Lotus Evora, originally uploaded by Aaron in Denver.

So yesterday was the turn of Ferrari of Denver to host the Lotus Evora coming out party. Although they've been released over in Europe, you still can't buy one over here until the beginning of next year, so this was the first time for many to see one first hand (including me).

They're actually really nice - it seemed smaller that I thought it was going to be - they're not really that much bigger than an Elise, although definitely easier to get in and out of. The back seats, hmmm. The Lotus guy told me that he'd had people in the back, but I'm not sure - they're definitely of the plus 2 variety, and I couldn't see any legroom with a reasonable sized person in the front.

No-one got to drive them, but I was chatting with the Lotus guys who had driven them cross country - much more comfortable than an Elise was what I got out of them, while still handling well on the track.

Based on the estimated price over here, they're going to come in around the same price as a base 911, but in reality I think they're more likely to compete with the Cayman S form what I've read of the reviews.

Oh, and if you've got a spare $300k lying around, the guys at Ferrari of Denver just took delivery of an F430 Scuderia - it's sitting in the showroom right now with your name on it.......

Lotus Advanced Driving School

There's going to be a big post on this when I get some time, but for now you'll have to make do with the photos here, and the video below, that Todd took on our instructor demo laps. I think I was in the car in front, but the whole two days was a bit of a fantastic blur.

I'm now a much better driver than I was when I went, and of course am trying to work out the finances for a trip back there sometime soon.

Excitement is building

Lotus School - Group Photo, originally uploaded by losborne.

Only a week to go, and I have the privilege of joining up with some of last years attendees (at least the ones who avoided breaking their ankle snowboarding in Vail....) of the Lotus Driving School, just outside of Vegas. Judging from the emails that have been flying around (and the fact that I'll be spending 2 days on a track in a Lotus), it's gonna be a lot of fun.

This is probably the furthest in advance I've booked anything for a good number of years (as you would know if you've ever seen me a few weeks before a planned trip back home without flights booked yet), so I've been trying to put it out of my mind. But now it's only a week away, flights are booked, hotels are sorted and the final plans are being put in place. Now I just have to find out where I put my helmet for the winter.....

Lotus Eagle

Some people leaked the details before the planned British Motor Show release, so here you go. Somewhere in the middle of this car is a 3.5 V6 from Toyota pushing out over 280 bhp. Hopefully it's gonna keep the traditional "corners on rails" handling of all the other Lotus's, and very little weight to ensure it goes and stops quickly and easily.

Official press conference is tomorrow, so there's likely to be lots more pretty pictures and details then - stay tuned.

One week to go

And just when I thought I had the excitement level under control, Leslie goes and posts about her Lotus driving school.

Still, I need the week to try and get my heel and toe'ing to a decent enough level not to kill me next week. That means if you're in front of me this week on my drive to work, be warned.

(and if you don't know what I'm taking about in this post, you obviously haven't spoken to me in the last 6 months ;-)

New Esprit

If you ignore the dodgy paint and mismatched wheels, you at least get a little idea. I'm sure it's going to look a lot prettier when it finally emerges. This has got to be one of the longest time periods for a car in development ever (after the first ever car I guess) - Lotus has been talking about building this thing since Pretty Woman came out (or something like that.

Anyway, more pics are here (all with the same dodgy paint scheme of course).

Lotus Esprit Spy Shots

It's still early yet (2010 release date apparently), but the signs are promising.....

More pics and details here (and I'm sure they're not going to offer the camo paint as an option).

Will it "corner like it's on rails?". We'll have to wait a little longer to find that out, but given it's a Lotus, I'm betting the answer will be in the positive.