Passenger Cars
Perhaps unsurprisingly the 134bhp 1.6 litre engine has been carried across from the cheapest Elise. While it may not be a great deal to shout about, this piece of kit will enable the lightweight vehicle to cruise around at high speeds.
Experienced Lotus drivers might have a little difficulty remembering to press the all new ’sport’ button, which puts the Dynamic Performance Management System into operation. However, they will undoubtedly enjoy utilising the adjustable anti-roll bar.
This car handles like a dream, carrying speed through test track corners, instead of piling it on after travelling through apexes. The dainty steering wheel writhes around as the car rapidly accelerates, and the driver is given a great deal of road level feedback.
While Lotus have had to make cutbacks in some areas of the Club Racer, they have also chosen to use quality parts, including Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers. They are offering motorists the choice of six vibrant colours ((Sky Blue, Saffron Yellow, Ardent Red, Aspen White, Matt Black and Carbon Grey), as well as bespoke design to reinforce the vehicle’s individuality.
Wolf Zimmerman, Chief Technical Officer of Lotus Cars, said, ‘The traditional Lotus approach of reduction and purity has lead to one of the most zeitgeist and contemporary sports cars around. For over 15 years the Lotus Elise has become an icon in the sports car market, carving out a niche market with a dedicated following of lightweight fans.’
‘The new Club Racer will definitely give these people something extra to get their teeth stuck into. This car epitomises everything that’s cool about the Elise – it’s fast, raw, responsive and a huge amount of fun to drive.’
Anybody who is prepared to spend a little extra for the ‘Club Racer Power Pack’ will enjoy the benefits of a new intake and . However, they will only be able to use these special add ons on track days. People who are more keen on the Lotus luxuries will probably be interested in the ‘comfort pack’, which includes an assortment of technical goodies.
http://www.longlife.co.uk/blog/index.php/tag/lotus-elise-club-racer/
Horsepower vs Star Power as Stars And Pros Hit The Fast Lane For The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
(NAPSI)-Danny McKeever, championship racer, veteran instructor and renowned stunt driver, has had many loves in his life, but none is a match for his long-standing love affair with motorsports. After a long and prosperous racing career, McKeever turned his passion for the fast lane-also the name of the racing school he owns and operates-into an opportunity to teach others. In 1986, he became the official chief instructor for the Toyota Pro/ Celebrity Race, part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, training every participant for this coveted annual charity event.
Since its inception in 1977, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has grown into the largest, longest-running corporate-sponsored celebrity racing event in the world. The historic 10-lap race takes place every April on a 1.97-mile circuit through the streets of downtown Long Beach, Calif.
The charity event benefits the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. It pits high-profile celebrity personalities against professional drivers. Keanu Reeves, Adrien Brody, Cameron Diaz, George Lucas, Ashley Judd, Jay Leno, William Shatner, David Hasselhoff and Patrick Dempsey are but a handful of the more than 540 celebrities who have revved their engines for the admirable causes.
According to McKeever, racing is a humbling experience, especially the first time on an actual racetrack. “The straightaways and turns go by in a blur as the car bounces around and the wind blows past the open top,” he says. “It’s definitely an adrenaline rush.”
To hear the roar of the engines as cars thunder past awestruck fans…the thrill…the excitement-”no wonder celebrities are attracted to the electrifying world of race-car driving,” he adds. McKeever has learned that the drivers who come out on top are not necessarily the fastest out of the gate in practice. Rather, it’s the drivers who excel at focusing on learning the techniques. “Race-car driving is a mental exercise,” he says. “Perhaps the biggest lesson is to find your limits and stay within them.”
The allure of fast cars and high-performance racing is stronger than ever in Hollywood, driving film, television and sports stars alike to the thrill of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. As head instructor, McKeever is challenged every year with turning more than a dozen celebrities-most of whom have no racing experience at all-into bona fide race-car drivers in just four days.
People often ask McKeever how celebrity drivers compare with drivers who are professional athletes in terms of natural ability. With a smile, McKeever replies that athletes have coaches and actors have directors, so both respond well to a guiding force. But make no mistake, he adds, “they take their craft very seriously, and there are no large egos on the track.”
To learn more about the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, go to www.toyotaracing.com/motorsports/proceleb/index.html.
ROAD TEST This Old House: That the Bentley Mulsanne costs as mush as a decent condo doesn’t mean it works as one. Can your drawing room go 187 mph?
QUICK TAKE More power and better fuel economy? Also downsized for growth. Well, okay.
SHORT TAKE ROAD TESTS Not what you’d call the most cost-effective option.
Solving the Camaro’s visibility problem in 17.7 seconds.
FIRST DRIVE REVIEWS A Horse With No Name: We finally get behind the wheel of Ferrari’s worst nightmare and find it’s surprisingly pleasant.
Godzilla goes on a power trip.
Mercedes gets further and further from meaningful nomenclature.
This softtop 6-series is not at all silly-looking.
The car that hates its half-shafts.
Restoration of Chrysler’s modern masterpiece.
SPECIALTY FILE Hennessey & Speed: More remarkable than its ZR1-baiting speed is this 707-hp CTS-V’s decorum.
FEATURES We work through the maze of myth, speculation, and rumor to bring you the future on four wheels.
Lilliput’s Travels: Exploring the little Italian with our intrepid car-culture correspondent.
Aston, Transformed: The British bulldog mashes up with the German zeppelin.
BYOB: Scissors and tape required.
Contrary to popular belief, America still builds a lot of cars.
Billed for Speed: Twenty years’ worth of speeding-ticket wisdom from attorney Casey Raskob.
Mind the hilarity index—and the giraffe outfits. Wouldn’t you rather be looking at a clown dressed as a skunk?
TECH DEPT.
Stop and Go All The Way: A hybrid staple trickles into normal cars with modest initial success.
COLUMNS His cheeks are pinkish from capillaries that ruptured when employees made the same mistake twice.
Amateur racing goes the way of cable television.
Ford’s hot Fiesta, GM’s party pooper.
INTERVIEW Legendary F1 engineer, automotive futurist, and the man behind the world’s most compelling supercar—the McLaren F1—Murray, 64, wants you to drive a car made from glass.
Article source: http://www.caranddriver.com/information/april_2011-table_of_contents
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Article source: http://www.caranddriver.com/information/digital_magazine_subscriptions-subscriptions/what_is_a_digital_magazine_3f_page_5