Lotus Europa S
Encyclopedia
Lotus Europa S is a GT
-type two-seat sports car
, designed to complement the successful Lotus Elise
and its derivative, the Exige
. The Europa S is the continuation of the Europa
line of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Europa S is more "relaxed" than the Elise/Exige with a larger boot (trunk), greater soundproofing, and easier cabin access due to the lower chassis sides, and higher roof line. It also includes luxuries such as air conditioning, a sound system, leather interior, and plush interior carpeting as standard equipment in keeping with Europe
an Grand Touring (GT
) auto tradition.
chassis
with composite
body panels and front crash structure.
The Europa S is a derivative of the Lotus Type 111 Elise and Exige cars only in that they sport variations of the same bonded aluminum chassis, the Europa bears a separate Lotus model designation (Type 121) due, in part, to its longer chassis and completely new body type.
The mid-engined two seat coupe
sports a 2.0 L turbocharged
GM
Ecotec engine, the Z20LER, producing 147 kW at 5400 rpm using the M32 6 speed transmission. The torquey 272 newton metre engine allows the car to reach 60 mi/h in around 5.5 seconds, and 100 mi/h in around 13.8 seconds. Maximum speed is 143 mi/h.
This upgrade was also added to the later ‘SE’ models that had better interior and larger alloys.
factory in Malaysia, allowing for a significantly lower sale price, but ultimately the company chose the Lotus
Hethel
factory for its production.
Delivery of the Europa S began in September 2006 from the Lotus factory at Hethel, Norfolk
, UK
. The car is not expected to be offered for sale in the United States
or Canada
at first, as the Opel
/Vauxhall
-built turbo is not currently certified to meet emissions requirements
for those countries. MSRP is projected at approximately £33,000 (€49,000, $63,000).
The Europa S body and platform was also used by Chrysler
for their Dodge Circuit EV
electric car concept.
Initial reviews of the Europa S have not been in line with the sister models Elise and Exige, The Sunday Times
noting that while introducing a lower revving engine (General Motors 1998 cc, 4 cylinder turbocharged) creates a more comfortable level of sound, the performance is noticeably different from the higher revving Toyota engines, and with a heavier body shell, the performance isn't in line with the Elise or Exige. It has the same wheelbase as the Vauxhall VX220
, which is longer than that of the Elise.
Jason Plato
, from British TV show Fifth Gear
, tested the car and generally didn't find it good enough to be a proper GT car because he thought that the car needs to be more comfortable. Jeremy Clarkson
remarked on Top Gear
, "we won't even play [the review film] because it was such a dreary car."
However, Evo
magazine gave the car a generally positive review after being given the chance to test a production model in Belgium
's famed Spa-Francorchamps circuit, saying that the car was a "refreshingly mature and desirable sports car." During the same session, Evo group tested the Porsche Cayman S, BMW Z4 M and Nissan 350Z GT-S and "couldn't resist" comparing the Lotus to these three decidedly more expensive coupes. While the Lotus was slower than the three cars, Evo concluded that at around £33,000, it would be a very good match for the three cars' lower spec versions.
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
-type two-seat sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
, designed to complement the successful Lotus Elise
Lotus Elise
The 1996 Lotus Elise weighed . Because of its relatively low weight, it was able to accelerate 0- in 5.8 seconds despite its relatively low power output of...
and its derivative, the Exige
Lotus Exige
The Lotus Exige is a two-door, two-seat sports car made by Lotus Cars. It is essentially a coupé version of the Lotus Elise, a mid-engined roadster in production since 1996....
. The Europa S is the continuation of the Europa
Lotus Europa
The Lotus Europa was a two door mid-engined GT coupé built by Lotus Cars from 1966 to 1975. In 2006 Lotus began production of a totally new, Lotus Elise-derived design, a mid-engined GT coupé named Europa S....
line of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Europa S is more "relaxed" than the Elise/Exige with a larger boot (trunk), greater soundproofing, and easier cabin access due to the lower chassis sides, and higher roof line. It also includes luxuries such as air conditioning, a sound system, leather interior, and plush interior carpeting as standard equipment in keeping with Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Grand Touring (GT
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
) auto tradition.
Specifications
The Europa S is a light weight car of 995 kg (2,194 lb) with a 149 kW 2.0 L engine. It uses an extruded and bonded aluminiumAluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
with composite
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
body panels and front crash structure.
The Europa S is a derivative of the Lotus Type 111 Elise and Exige cars only in that they sport variations of the same bonded aluminum chassis, the Europa bears a separate Lotus model designation (Type 121) due, in part, to its longer chassis and completely new body type.
The mid-engined two seat coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
sports a 2.0 L turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
GM
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Ecotec engine, the Z20LER, producing 147 kW at 5400 rpm using the M32 6 speed transmission. The torquey 272 newton metre engine allows the car to reach 60 mi/h in around 5.5 seconds, and 100 mi/h in around 13.8 seconds. Maximum speed is 143 mi/h.
225 and SE upgrade
Lotus later offered an upgrade on the normal Europa S with an upgrade called the '225', This included drilled brake disks, hotter spark plugs and a different ECU map that can be retro-fitted. The upgraded engine made 224 bhp and 221 lbft, dropping the 0-60 time to 5.1 seconds and improving the top speed to 155 mi/h.This upgrade was also added to the later ‘SE’ models that had better interior and larger alloys.
Manufacture
The car was originally planned to be manufactured at parent company Proton'sProton (company)
Proton is a Malaysian automobile manufacturer headquartered in Subang Jaya and Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, with a manufacturing plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak. Founded in 1983, it was Malaysia's only carmaker until the establishment of its competitor and arch-rival, Perodua, in 1993...
factory in Malaysia, allowing for a significantly lower sale price, but ultimately the company chose the Lotus
Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics...
Hethel
Hethel
Hethel is a small village in Norfolk, England, near the historic market town of Wymondham, and approximately 10 miles south of the city of Norwich....
factory for its production.
Delivery of the Europa S began in September 2006 from the Lotus factory at Hethel, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The car is not expected to be offered for sale in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at first, as the Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
/Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
-built turbo is not currently certified to meet emissions requirements
Emission standard
Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. Many emissions standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles and other powered vehicles but they can also regulate emissions from industry, power...
for those countries. MSRP is projected at approximately £33,000 (€49,000, $63,000).
The Europa S body and platform was also used by Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
for their Dodge Circuit EV
Dodge EV
The Dodge EV development vehicle, also called Dodge Circuit EV sports car, was a two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive, all-electric sports car shown to the public at the 2009 North American International Auto Show....
electric car concept.
Press reaction
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
noting that while introducing a lower revving engine (General Motors 1998 cc, 4 cylinder turbocharged) creates a more comfortable level of sound, the performance is noticeably different from the higher revving Toyota engines, and with a heavier body shell, the performance isn't in line with the Elise or Exige. It has the same wheelbase as the Vauxhall VX220
Vauxhall VX220
The Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 is a British-built mid engined, targa-topped, 2-seater sports car introduced in the summer of 2000.It was built in both right-hand drive and left-hand drive versions at the Lotus Cars plant in Hethel, Norfolk, England. It was sold as the Vauxhall VX220 in the UK,...
, which is longer than that of the Elise.
Jason Plato
Jason Plato
Timothy Jason Plato is a British racing car driver currently competing in the BTCC for Silverline Chevrolet. He is a two time BTCC champion having previously won the series in 2001 when driving for Vauxhall and 2010 for Silverline Chevrolet. He has finished in the top 3 in the championship 8 times...
, from British TV show Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
, tested the car and generally didn't find it good enough to be a proper GT car because he thought that the car needs to be more comfortable. Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
remarked on Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
, "we won't even play [the review film] because it was such a dreary car."
However, Evo
Evo Magazine
Evo is a British automobile magazine dedicated to performance cars, from hot hatches to supercars. The first issue was produced in November 1998 as an unofficial successor to Performance Car, which had been closed and integrated into Car Magazine by publisher Emap. "Evo" is published 13 times a...
magazine gave the car a generally positive review after being given the chance to test a production model in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's famed Spa-Francorchamps circuit, saying that the car was a "refreshingly mature and desirable sports car." During the same session, Evo group tested the Porsche Cayman S, BMW Z4 M and Nissan 350Z GT-S and "couldn't resist" comparing the Lotus to these three decidedly more expensive coupes. While the Lotus was slower than the three cars, Evo concluded that at around £33,000, it would be a very good match for the three cars' lower spec versions.