The young and talented engineer Anthony Chapman began his career in 1947 with the creation of a sports Austin Seven, and in 1952 decided to establish his own company called Lotus. The first development of a new company in 1953 became the lightweight sports Lotus 6. At its base almost immediately appeared double open Lotus 7, better known to the world as Seven, Markets, and Ford engines Coventry-Climax. Serial production of the same car only started in 1957. Actually, this unpretentious name patterns typical for virtually all cars Lotus, assembled under the direction of Chapman. In 1954 he appeared sporting Lotus 8, built for racing. Behind him almost immediately followed by a lighter and shorter model - 9. In 1955, Chapman took part in a 24-hour race in Le Mans, but it has failed - the car flew off the track. This did not stop an engineer and an amateur speed, and he concentrated efforts on racing sports cars. Lotus - British company specializing in the production of sports and racing cars. Founded in 1953 by Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman called Lotus Engineering Co. In 1955 he created a sleek Lotus 11 with a four-cylinder engine (1098 cm3) with capacity of 84 liters. with. At an average speed of 160 km / h the car spent 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers. It is on this car started his career as a famous racing driver Graham Hill, then a double world champion in the class "Formula 1". Already in 1957, built the first dedicated car racing Lotus 12, marked the beginning of a successful company in the field of cars racing for the Royal. Rivals blamed Chapman, neglecting the basic rules of safety, the use is not very durable lightweight units reduced size and miniature pendants. Despite the fact that Chapman actually brought their cars to victory largely by facilitating the assembly and application of new materials and technologies, his work paid off. Today no one doubts that Anthony has made a significant contribution to the development of racing cars of all types. October 16, 1957 at the London Motor Show was presented road sports model Elite with a sleek body coupe fiberglass. It was the first Lotus car with closed body. Motor Coventry-Climax (4 cylinders, 1216 cm3) developed the 76 l. with. at 6100 rpm. (Version GT - 104 hp..). Lightweight car easily reached a speed of 200 km / h and has excellent handling. The drag coefficient of 0.29 - better than most modern cars. Chapman admitted to the European automotive circles, but he sought in the world of racing and started building machines Formula Junior. In 1961 appeared the first of the machines, Chapman brought worldwide fame. It was one of the lightest and most elegant F-1 cars of its time - the legendary Lotus 25. Until now, he is considered one of the most elegant "formula" cars. It replaced Chapman lattice frame made of pipes on a well-known in aviation welded-dimensional structure. As a result, a lot of machines was reduced by 20 kg, increasing body rigidity and giving the car greater stability and reliability of control. At the same racer in the bolide was located reclining, as a pilot in the plane, holding the wheel arms outstretched. Behind the wheel of a 25-ki sat Jim Clark, and in 1963 became the world champion. That same year, the company's history was marked by the double Elan - the successor to Elite. Its engine with dual overhead camshafts was also used on passenger Lotus Cortina, developed based on a standard Ford and intended mainly for the rally. The first Lotus Cortina produced at the plant in Chizhante (Hitfordshir), where the company moved into the late 50's. In 1965, followed by another victory Clarke - piloting Lotus 38, he won the famous Indy 500 race in the United States. In 1966 a new plant in Hitele (Norfolk), Chapman began production of the Europa c coupe and the central location of the engine. In 1967, Chapman won exclusive rights to the great engine of the Ford Cosworth DFV Keith Duckworth, who was fitted with a Lotus 49, designed in conjunction with Philip Morris. A year later, in 1968, saw the light Lotus 56 - four-wheel racing car with gas turbine, designed by Philip Morris. By car, there was no clutch or gearbox. Multilayered circuit Morse force is applied to the center differential to Ferguson, who shared it equally between the axles. Disc brakes located on the main transmission. The same year brought another sports team wins Chapman - race a Formula 1 Graham Hill won the 435-strong Lotus 49V. True, and the loss, too, were - Jim Clark crashed on the track at Hockenheim April 7, 1968. 1970 season brought a new tragedy. In the championship of Formula 1 "Jochen Rindt was leading unequivocally to the Lotus 72, but in training at Monza when approaching a turn at a speed of 280 km / h, Rindt car flew off the track and hit the fence, bringing the rider killed. In the early 70-ies of XX century, a new sports car with the Elite body coupe fiberglass, equipped with a two-liter four-cylinder engine. Independent suspension provides excellent handling. However, the novelty was the use of all-aluminum engine Lotus 907 with two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, which became the first of its kind in the world engine offered to customers in a free market. And this time is the know-how has taken root in centuries - drawing on the car advertising sponsor! It was Chapman Lotus JPS painted in the colors of the tobacco company John Player Special. I must say that the car it brought good luck - Emerson Fittipaldi, who spoke on the Lotus JPS, became the champion of 1972. Until 1973 was released about 2900 cars of four series. And further because of new tax license for the production model was sold to Caterham Car Sales, which is already six years sells Lotus. In 1974, as a concept car was featured Lotus Esprit with the famous Italian design studio Giugiaro Design. The car was so enthusiastic that he was immediately put into production. Generally, Esprit, has incorporated all the technological innovations of the time, was very economical. Even in the city spent no more than 9.5 liters of fuel per 100 km. Season 1978 saw the release of the Lotus 79-th model with a completely new aerodynamics: the car-wing has the effect of suction to the road could quickly take turns. Engine developed 475 hp. with. at 10,750 rpm. And here again the tragedy - September 9, at Monza in the beginning of the race had an accident copilot team Ronnie Peterson, who died the next day. In 1982 Colin Chapman died at the age of 54 years, and in January 1986 the company acquired Lotus American concern General Motors. However, lacking ideological inspirer and energetic charismatic leader, the company experienced a downturn. J. Dyukaruzh and P. Wright designed a model of 99m. This car is a twin-turbocharged one of the first equipped with active suspension, computer-controlled. On it in 1987, a young Aerton Senna in the top three winners in the races on the Formula-1 ", and the team won third place in the Constructors' Championship. But later things got worse and worse. In 1989, a new front-drive four-Elan with 1.6-liter turbocharged engine Isuzu, but was expensive and unpopular. As a result, in 1993 the company was sold to a group Bugatti. In the same year he released a more powerful version - Elan S-2, but soon, and production was discontinued. In 1994, the Lotus sports team bought out his brother racer James Hunt - David, a year later, she does no longer exist, having united with the Pacific Grand Prix. In the season of 1995, the company has released a compact roadster Elise, and next, in 1996, Esprit model was equipped with two new engines - a two-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V8, the latter of which develops power of 354 hp. with. From the same 1996 Lotus is owned by Proton of Malaysia, which favorably affected the affairs of the company in 1997 - was collected in 2248 cars that are three times more than in 1996. With the majority of sales came in double roadster Elise. To date, around the world sold more than 10 thousand cars a Lotus Elise. In the new millennium, the company entered with the updated Lotus Exige Lotus Elise and the second generation. In 2002 began the production of an updated Lotus Esprit, and in 2003, was presented a special modification of the Lotus Elise under the symbol 111R. In 2004, the premiere of the new Exige. Just recently, July 22, 2008, at the motor show in London presented a new model - Eagle. This is the first novelty of the company for 13 years. The car accelerates to 100 km / h in 5 seconds, top speed limited to 258 km / h. Sales will begin in spring 2009, the year is planned to produce 2 thousand cars on Eagle. This gives hope that the brand is not only viable, but will continue the glorious traditions of British motorsport.
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