Lotus Exige Cup 380

A truly race car!

The new Exige Cup 380 provides the perfect balance between fully type approved road car and genuine race car to deliver the ultimate track-and-back street-legal Lotus. With a purity of drive unheard of in road cars, and a power-to-weight ratio of 355 hp per tonne, the Exige Cup 380 delivers genuine race pace, with 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds) and top speed of 175 mph (282 km/h).

 
However, unlike some rival’s cars, the Exige Cup 380 really can drive to a track, set the fastest lap and take the win, before heading home. Indeed, the Exige Cup 380 is not just unbeatable point-to-point and capable of winning highly competitive races: it is also a car that can be used and enjoyed every single day.

Aerodynamics

Honing the Exige Cup 380’s high speed abilities was paramount in its development, and the inclusion of new wind tunnel developed aerodynamic elements allow this road-going Exige to deliver up to 200 kg of aerodynamic downforce at a top speed of 175 mph. Making their first appearance on a road-going Lotus, heavily revised bodywork elements contribute to this increased downforce. Located over the wheels, the front louvers equalise the pressure differential within the wheel arches, increasing downforce at high speed and under hard braking, whilst the cut-out sections behind the rear wheels work with the aero blades mounted either side of the race diffuser. Even the Exige’s windscreen wiper has been aero tuned - now resting in a vertical position to avoid disrupting air flow.  

Low weight is key

Key to the Exige Cup 380 reaching its low weight of 1,057 kg is the comprehensive adoption of carbon fibre and extreme engineering. The high-gloss, hand-made carbon fibre components of the car include new front splitter, front access panel, bargeboards, roof, diffuser surround, new larger aperture air-intake side pods, a new one-piece tailgate reducing weight by 6.5 kg and a straight-cut high efficiency motorsport derived rear wing. Inside the Exige Cup 380, the carbon continues with visible-weave, handmade sections including beautifully detailed carbon race seats and door sills as standard. Cumulatively these composites contribute to the Exige Cup 380’s low weight, but every part of the car has been considered, even down the removal of the boot carpet, to reduce mass.

Optional carbon fibre components include one-piece inner door panels, HVAC console and face-level vent surrounds, which together offer an additional 1kg reduction over the standard car. In addition to the Exige’s strong, stiff and durable aluminium chassis architecture, the Exige Cup 380 comes with a T45 steel roll over bar as standard. Tremendously strong, yet light compared to alternatives, its cost means that it’s only used in the highest of motorsport applications. The substantial Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (285/30 ZR18 rear and 215/45 ZR17 front) are fitted to ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels, available in red, black or silver as standard. The optional full exhaust system in titanium enables also to remove 10 kg from beyond the rear axle.

Racing performance

Extremely quick off the line, the Exige Cup 380 laps the Hethel track in 1 minute 26 seconds – a record for a road-legal Exige. Packing the same 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine as the Exige Race 380 and featuring a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission as standard, the new Exige Cup 380 boasts 375 hp at 6,700 rpm and 410 Nm (302 lbft) of torque at 5,000 rpm. Stopping power is provided by AP Racing forged, four-piston brake calipers and grooved performance two-piece brake discs. The Exige Cup 380 features as well four user selectable ESP modes (Drive, Sport, Race and Off). Sport, Race and Off increase throttle response, lower traction slip thresholds and remove understeer recognition to provide a finer degree of driver control before intervention and utilises an engine exhaust bypass valve which reduces exhaust back pressure at higher engine speeds.



To harness the huge hike in downforce, and provide increased mechanical grip, the Exige Cup 380 features larger rear tyres (285/30 ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2) as standard. In a new development, the Lotus Exige Cup 380 includes a variable traction control function which is linked directly to the ECU and allows the amount of wheel slip to be set by the driver. The six-position rotary switch is located on the steering column and is only available with ESP switched off, with the percentage of target wheel slip from 1% to 12% in five settings and “off”, displayed via the instrument cluster. The Exige has long been regarded as delivering benchmark handling, but owners of the Exige Cup 380 can configure the set-up, thanks to the Nitron two-way adjustable dampers and Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars fitted as standard. Other racing additions include a towing eye at the front and a fabric tow strap at the rear. Buyers can also specify a number of additions and deletions, including FIA compliant roll cage, full race harness, electrical cut-off and fire extinguisher controls as well as airbag deletion and a non-airbag steering wheel.

Interior

Specifications

PERFORMANCE*

	Manual
Max power	375 hp at 6700 rpm (380 PS) (280 kW)
Max torque	302 lbft at 5,000 rpm (410 Nm)
0-60 mph	3.4 seconds
0-100 km/h	3.6 seconds
Max speed	175 mph
Aerodynamic downforce at max speed	200 kg
Kerb weight	1105 kg
Dry weight	1071 kg
Lowest possible dry weight	1057 kg
EMISSION AND FUEL CONSUMPTION (l/100 km*)
Urban	19.5 (14.1)
Extra Urban	37.2 (8.3)
Combined	28.0 (10.4)
CO2 emissions, Combined	242 g/km

Source: http://www.lotuscars.com/exige-cup-380

Toroidion - new electric concept car from Finland

The quest for an innovative electric supercar

 Toroidion was established in 2011 to develop an entirely new electric powertrain that would be competitive at the Le Mans 24-hour race.

The founder Pasi Pennanen has spent the past 20 years in the automotive industry developing and building concept cars and production models.

“There is no such thing as “it cannot be done”. I believe in pushing the boundaries in product development and design.”

The Toroidion engineering team has now produced the first proof-of-concept electric supercar powered by our revolutionary high-performance powertrain. The Toroidion 1MW Concept car is street-legal and has been designed, developed and built entirely in-house in Finland.

As soon as the tests have been performed, we will reveal more about the performance of our innovative patented powertrain and lightweight concept car.

 The Toroidion all-new electric powertrain has been designed to be scalable in power for different applications while remaining safe to use and service.

The high-performance battery of the Toroidion powertrain is as easily replaced in the pit-lane as it is in the home garage.

The Toroidion 1MW Concept car and our revolutionary powertrain were launched on 16 April 2015 at Top Marques Monaco by H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The Interior

Source: http://toroidion.com

New all-electric concept car MG E-motion

Meet the all-electric concept car MG E-motion

MG Motor has unveiled an all-new electric supercar concept at the 17th annual Shanghai International Automotive Show (19 April, 2017) – the MG E-motion. Offering a glimpse of the future, the next-generation vehicle aims to push the boundaries of innovation and technology, while meeting the needs of today’s trend-setting car buyers.

Styling

Perfectly blending style, sophistication and elegance, the E-motion embodies MG’s vision for the future. With a slender sportsback-style design paying tribute to the brand’s hundred-year heritage, starlight matrix front grill and headlights bringing inspiration from the London Eye, and vertical tail lights developed using decades of world-leading design experience, the ground-breaking concept brings MG’s sense of fun and aspiration to the low emission marketplace.

Performance

Below the surface, the MG E-motion sets the standards in plug-in vehicle capability, with the latest pure-electric modular architecture platform developed in-house and delivering 0-100kmph in less than four seconds, despite boasting a range of more than 500km. Equipped with an intelligent infotainment system, the supercar is fully internet-compatible, which MG believes will position it perfectly for the younger market.

 

Interior

 In addition to the E-motion concept, the Shanghai International Automotive Show also saw the brand unveil a fully-customised version of the MG ZS compact SUV. Positioned as the first intelligent SUV, the model is already proving hugely popular with drivers worldwide.
With an 8” super control panel and the most powerful intelligent interconnected system ever developed, the MG ZS pushes the boundaries of innovative vehicle technology. Worldwide, the MG ZS has already experienced unprecedented sales demand, with upwards of 20,000 registrations being reported every month.

About MG plans for the future 

For the MG brand, this has helped to drive a 76% increase in year-on-year sales figures, alongside a 51% increase in sales compared to the previous quarter – easily surpassing the industry average.
Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, commented: “The MG E-motion electric supercar concept demonstrates our global vision for the future. Alongside leading the way in design and capability, the next-generation model is the latest step in achieving the ultimate driving experience.


Source: http://mg.co.uk/media-centre/press-releases/mg-motor-unveils-vision-of-the-future-with-emotion-concept-car/

Best time for Miguel Oliveira (KTM) - Moto2 First Practice Session of the 2017 Americas GP - Austin

 Miguel Oliveira (KTM) with an impressive begin of the 2017 Moto2 Championship

The Portuguese Miguel Oliveira (KTM) registered the best time in the final seconds of the first session ahead of Franco Morbidelli for just 35 thousandths. Also very close Luthi got the second best time. In great shape even Pasini, Baldassarri and Corsi.

Continue to astound Miguel Oliveira and KTM. The duo, after getting the first pole in Moto2 during the last Grand Prix of Argentina, got the top of the timesheets ended the first session of free practice on the track of Austin.

Oliveira was involved in a perfect lap in the final seconds with a T4 amazing and stopped the clock on time of 2 ' 11 '' 606 ahead of Morbidelli, the Championship leader.

Marc VDS team rider, having found it in third place in the first half of the session, placed the claw on the 11th step turning in 2 ' 11 '' 641 resulting in the fastest time before Oliveira jumped in front of him for only 35 thousandths.

Very close to the first two is Thomas Luthi, just 66 thousandths from the mark obtained by the Portuguese and preceding a Alex Marquez, fourth at one tenth distance, in search of redemption after the disappointment suffered in Argentina.

2017 Americas GP - Austin

The Timetable of the Top five - Moto2 First Practice Session 

 

 POS     #     RIDER            GAP

1             44 M. OLIVEIRA                         2:11.606
2             21 F. MORBIDELLI                     +0.035
3             12 T. LUTHI                                   +0.068
4             73 A. MARQUEZ                          +0.108
5             54 M. PASINI                               +0.252
  

New BMW HP4 RACE - 215HP to fly 171 Kg

Advanced technology and innovation in development especially performed to the maximum performance in circuits.

Fascinating technical solutions for maximum performance in circuits always distinguished the selected factory competition bikes with special care and made according to criteria of perfection down to the last detail. BMW Motorrad presents the new HP4 a thoroughbred racing in a limited edition of 750 units. High quality is guaranteed by the manufacturer and by a small team of highly skilled technicians.

 Considering the motor, the electronics and suspension, the new HP4 RACE has a level equivalent to the official motorcycle World Superbike Championship. Thanks to the new carbon frame even exceed them. Considering the weight with a full tank of 171 Kg, HP4 RACE is even lighter than the bikes used by the brand in the Superbike Champ and just exceeds the weight of the MotoGP motorcycles.

Monocoque main frame manufactured industrially, picture self-supporting carbon wheels and rear.

BMW Motorrad, considering  this new HP4 RACE, is the first manufacturer of motorcycles in the world to mount a completely carbon main frame with just 7.8 kg and produced in a limited series, putting this futuristic technology available to any buyer (...well, almost, because only 750 unit will be produced). Also front and rear wheels are from this same technology, with the same level of rigor and with 30% less than the wheels made of light alloy.

Öhlins dampers, lower alloy tipper and Brembo monoblock brake calipers from the Superbike World Championship. The new HP4 Race also shines by the maximum technology competition in suspensions and brakes. Both suspension inverted telescopic type FGR 300, as the kind of support the Öhlins TTX36 GP Swedish manufacturer. Both are identical to those used in the World Superbike Championship and MotoGP Championship. The lower light alloy swingarm consists of milled parts and metal parts, is also a copy of the used in the Superbike World Championship.

The braking system of HP4 RACE also has two Brembo monobloc calipers GP PR, used only in World Championships. In combination with the T-Type steel discs-Racing with 6.75 mm and 320 mm in diameter, the braking is extraordinary.

Performance

The new HP4 RACE mounts a competition engine in all similar specifications 6.2 and 7.2 endurance World Championship and Superbike World Championship. The nominal power is your 158 kW/215 hp at 13,900 rpm, with maximum torque of 120 Nm at 10,000 rpm.

In comparison with the BMW S 1000 RR engine, the maximum revs are 14,500 rpm instead of 14200 rpm. In order to optimize performance, the bike is equipped with a gearbox "close-ratio" of competition with optimized and comes with several secondary relationships (includes the supply of various pinions and racks).

Weight optimized electrical system, 2D instrument panel, DTC dynamic traction control, engine brake control EBR, wheelies and other electronic functions. The new BMW HP4 RACE is equipped with various electronic systems of regulation and support, and has an optimised weight electrical system, designed for use in races. the Council. The dashboard with data memory (2D Logger) allows access to multiple information.

The dynamic traction control system, works by cutting off the ignition, the engine braking system, Engine Brake EBR and power control offer numerous possibilities for adjustment, depending on the road conditions on the circuits.

These functions can be programmed for each speed according to the driver's preferences, which can be exploited optimally all the enormous potential that mounts the new HP4 RACE. Pit limiter to respect the maximum speed permitted in the Pits, as well as the perfect match function to ensure the best start of racing, are other electronic functions are available.

See it in action in the track

Sources: BMW Motorrad and https://www.motosport.com.pt/motomais/nova-bmw-hp4-race-serie-limitada-competicao-cliente/