Choosing a sports car production is now so great that even the most discerning buyer can not uniquely select one of the models, which would have been better than everyone else. Each firm is a manufacturer trying to choose their own unique vision to create a sports car. Some try all the effort and resources directed to gain power and engine capacity, the other to improve the aerodynamic qualities of a car, others do not chase high-speed performance, and try to give the car more elegant and expensive look. In such a complex and ongoing struggle for leadership of the individual links are cars Lotus. In 1953, when Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman founded the company «Lotus Ingeniring Co» and created the first model of the Lotus Seven, no one imagined how far will the idea of ??the seller of used cars. Despite the unsuccessful attempts to Chapman to race the last are optimistic and increasingly keen on designing sports cars. Chapman's cherished dream was to create cars for the Formula-1, launched in 1957, when he created «Lotus-12" - the first car designed specifically for F-1. However, only in 1963 by Colin Chapman and the company «Lotus Ingeniring Co» is finally worldwide fame and notoriety. To set up in 1961 «Lotus-25", racer Jim Clark won the Formula-1 races and became world champion. Since then, Lotus cars have come to recognize in the world. Then followed many ups and downs, but one thing remained unchanged - Lotus cars always hit the audience with their design solutions and design innovations. For example, Lotus racing cars were the first to paint in the colors of the team sponsors Formula-1. In the early 90-ies, Department of Lotus car is experiencing its best times. Financial problems strangling the company and not allowed to bring a huge stock of design decisions in life. While at the factory, located in Norfolk, produces two models of Lotus - Esprit expensive sport and the first in the history of FWD model Elan. Despite the big PR company, Lotus Elan found no support among the potential buyers, so that this model was discontinued. Esprit also could not pay for themselves, much less keep the company afloat. Despite his more than 30 years of age, since 1972, when the first modification of the Esprit has been shown the public, the latter was still withdrawn from the market earlier this year. Esprit - is evidence on how far into the future of fixed ideas of designers Lotus, model, and now enjoys huge popularity, although during the whole period of their "life" Esprit looks almost unchanged. Due to financial problems became the owners of Lotus, companies such as General Motors and Bugatti, until finally, 80% of the shares not purchased in 1996 by the Malaysian concern Proton. Before the designers were tasked to create a fundamentally new car - with a unique, stylish and recognizable design, inexpensive, economical subcompact equipped motor, with superb handling and most importantly easy. So the car was created in 1995 Roadster Lotus Elise. At first glance, Lotus Elise began to attract his or incomparable design catches the eye, like a machine you will not find from other manufacturers. Smooth body lines gave the impression that the car is sculpted out of solid rock over the centuries by nature, affects the smoothness of curves, there is nothing superfluous - everything is absolutely perfect. Size of front discs Lotus Elise is less than the rear (5.5 "x16 and 7.5" x17, respectively), resulting in the impression that the car and wants "jerk" forward, if only the host pressed the gas pedal - a true racing combination. Suspension Elementary - double wishbones, springs and monotube high-pressure shock absorbers Koni. Space frame is made of an original - not made of steel pipes and alloy. Strips of aluminum-magnesium alloy, obtained by eksturzii with integrated seat belt anchorages and lightweight steel rear subframe, connected to each other using a special glue for forty minutes at dvuhsotgradusnoy solidifying temperature. As a result, the frame is obtained by half lighter than steel, and the stiffness of the collected body or is inferior to all-metal. All wheels have Elise independent double wishbone unequal length, shock-mounted Bilstein, springs Eibach. The absence of a vacuum brake booster is compensated by specially designed twin piston brake mechanisms Lotus / AP-Racing, mounted on the front wheels, rear mounted Elise odnoporshnevye Brembo, ABS on the Elise is absent, which, of course, reduces some comfort in the management. Pedals and support for the left leg is made of drilled to facilitate the metal. Speedometer and tachometer are made known in sporting circles by Stack Instruments. Five-speed manual transmission, as virtually all the details of Lotus Elise, made of aluminum. And finally the most important - the heart of the car - the engine. Cross in front of the rear axle in a Lotus Elise is a 4-cylinder 16-valve engine Rover K-series with dual overhead camshafts and variable valve timing system (VVC). In order to reduce the total weight of the engine completely made of aluminum. Engine capacity of 1796 cm3, which does not interfere with Elise in its overall curb weight of 756 kg. accelerated up to hundreds in just 5.9 seconds. At 5600 rpm. maximum engine power of 120 hp or 155 hp in the ratio of power / weight ratio. Many are inclined to see this roadster heir to the famous Lotus Super Seven. Although outwardly these cars are absolutely dissimilar, they share a common concept. Elise, as the famous Group of Seven, is a lightweight, inexpensive car, created for one purpose - to give pleasure to drive. For a relatively small amount of money the buyer receives almost a racing machine. And let not confuse the fact that the 1.8-liter engine Elise, borrowed from the Roadster MGF, has a capacity of only 120 hp because the whole construction makes the car so much easier for that he is able to reach the mark of 202 km / h. In all of this in the Elise does not have to pour tons of petrol to his heart's content to suppress the gas pedal, the fuel consumption per 100 km. in city mode is 9,7 liters, while suburban - only 6,1! At the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, has been shown more powerful Elise, received index 111S. Although outwardly they are virtually identical, the power of the same engine Rover could raise up to 158 hp at 7000 rpm. and maximum torque - from 168 to 175 Nm at 4500 rpm, resulting in a threshold of 100 km / h 111S overcomes for 5,3 seconds. And it seems quite extreme Elise 111R. This is - a real "urban racing formula. The engine was replaced with a 1.8-liter 16-valve toyotovskogo the Quartet »2ZZ-GE, with the valve gear« VVTL-i »and boost to 192 hp at 7800 rpm, which led to a very high rate of specific power to 223 hp per ton curb weight. So, for example, for acceleration to 100 km / h 111R spends only 5 seconds. Engine toyotovskogo docked with the same 6-speed manual gearbox C64, instead of a 5-speed on the Elise and 111S. Disc brakes equipped with an advanced 4-channel ABS. In all of this curb weight 111R remained unchanged - 756 kg. The car can accelerate to 241 km / h. Despite the fact that Colin Chapman had long been dead, we can safely say that his ideas are alive to this day, the success of Lotus is rooted in strict adherence to its original concept applied to cars Lotus - light weight, simple structure, the torsion and bending the body, well balanced and carried through the chassis, judicious use of serial components of other cars (this reduces the cost) along with original design solutions. I would like to finish the words of the developers: «Lotus Elise is not like other cars, it is - an amazing perfection. Perfection in the collection! ". It is difficult to disagree.
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