What a sleeper

Akira said:
Are you on drugs? It uses the running gear from a Lotus Carlton!
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Which was the worlds fastest production saloon designed for fast Autobahn cruising, doesn't mean it automatically handled amazingly :)
 
In the real world the Carlton's handling contains this power punch extremely well thanks to substantial suspension modification (including a Lotus-developed multi-link rear axle and twin-tube dampers), meaty Goodyear Eagle tyres (265/40 rear, 235/45 front) and massive ventilated disc brakes (330mm diameter fronts are clasped by four-pot calipers). True to Lotus tradition, ride quality is also impressive, combining fair suppleness with brilliantly tuned damping.

Grip and balance are superb in the dry, allowing undramatic cornering at outrageous speeds. The nose turns in eagerly and, through bends, the tail sits confidently with appropriate throttle pressure. Too much power through faster corners induces safe understeer, although, predictably, a bootful in a slow corner will kick the tail wide. As I found in a down-pour, cornering behaviour on wet roads becomes intimidating: a car that can spin its back wheels at 100mph in third gear demands great respect.
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:cool:
 
[TW]Fox said:
Which was the worlds fastest production saloon designed for fast Autobahn cruising, doesn't mean it automatically handled amazingly :)
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True enough, but I can't imagine Lotus allowing their name to grace anything that handled like a newborn deer.....mind, they did build a GP car with the BRM H16 engine in '66....and that had the same centre of mavity as a London bus....:)
 
But even so, simply transferring the running gear (Which I would imagine is simply the suspension and drivetrain?) to another car won't automatically transfer all the handling goodness, surely? You've still got the original cars chassis, centre of mavity, and suchlike...

True enough, but I can't imagine Lotus allowing their name to grace anything that handled like a newborn deer.....
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Surely you jest, look at the junk we've had with their name in recent years, anything from various Protons including the terrible new 'Gen2' to the Vauxhall Astra 1.4 LS..

Frankly I'd only take Lotus as meaning good handling when the actual car bears their name - ie, the Elise, Lotus Carlton itself, Exige and suchlike.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Surely you jest, look at the junk we've had with their name in recent years, anything from various Protons including the terrible new 'Gen2' to the Vauxhall Astra 1.4 LS..

.
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case in point

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ISUZU-BIGHORN...1927958QQihZ012QQcategoryZ52636QQcmdZViewItem

I give you the Isuzu Bighorn

lotus edition


hmmm..

its real as well, google it and it does exist. I only know of it cos i see one on my drive to work quite a few times, and googled it to see if hed just put the lotus badge on the back.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Frankly I'd only take Lotus as meaning good handling when the actual car bears their name - ie, the Elise, Lotus Carlton itself, Exige and suchlike.
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Which is what I was referring to when I said "Lotus allowing their name to grace anything" :)


***edit***

And that said...MrLOL would find an exception...:)
 
gurdas said:
Excellent, reminds me of the SLK55 with SLR engine........;):D
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:confused: Hardly a sleeper then really, people don't generally look at the SLK55 and think its an underpowered overweight bag o' crap like they will with the Omega.
 
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