Dany Bahar joins Lotus as Chief Executive Officer

Dany T. Bahar has been appointed as the new CEO of Group Lotus effective 1st October 2009, replacing Michael J. Kimberley, who retired in July.

Prior to this appointment, Dany Bahar was Senior Vice President, Commercial & Brand for Ferrari SpA where he was responsible for worldwide road car sales and after sales business, overall road car and F1 marketing activities, licensing, and merchandising business.

Before joining Ferrari SpA, Dany Bahar was the Head of Corporate Projects Business in Red Bull GmbH. He was responsible for the overall corporate project business development, with emphasis on diversifying the business such as setting up their F1 strategy with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso and the US based Nascar Team operations, acquiring football clubs in Salzburg, New York and Ghana for commercial purposes.

On his appointment, Dany Bahar said, “I am looking forward to taking on the challenges as CEO of this legendary and iconic company with a peerless motorsport history. Lotus has a worldwide reputation for innovative engineering and superb sportscars that lead the world in efficiency, design and dynamics. With the recent launch of the award-winning Evora, there is proof that Lotus is better placed than many to capitalise on the rapidly changing automotive market. I can’t wait to get my plans underway in October.”

In welcoming Dany Bahar, Dato’ Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, the Chairman of Lotus Group, stated “With Dany’s track record in motorsports and Ferrari, we strongly believe that we have found the right CEO to enhance the Lotus image, brand and reputation as a world class sportscar and engineering company. With a strong management team already in place, we are confident this objective can be attained.”

Dany Bahar, a Swiss National, holds an MBA and is married with two children.

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About Lotus
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd, which has two operating divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global facilities include those in Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany and Japan, with rapid expansion in new territories such as South East Asia.

Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party 'niche vehicle' engineering and manufacture worldwide.

Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, and the Exige and Europa. Lotus’ latest model, the Lotus Evora, goes on sale from Spring 2009. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has been developed from the award-winning Evora road car and is built to FIA regulations and safety standards.

The Type 124 (pronounced One Twenty Four) Endurance Racecar is the next step in the evolution of the Evora. The car will make its 24 hour racing debut at the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours which provides a great test for the Evora’s performance, efficiency and durability under tough and demanding endurance race conditions.

At the heart of the Lotus Evora are fundamental racecar elements: mid-engine layout, high-tech and super-stiff extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and very strong lightweight forged aluminium wishbones. All these elements mean that it is a natural evolution from the road going Lotus Evora to a competitive endurance racecar.

From the outset the design team had intentions to take the Evora racing and the chassis was designed with this in mind. Endurance races are the perfect events to showcase the efficiency, handling and durability characteristics that have been fundamental to the concept of the Evora.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has a race-tuned version of the mid-mounted Toyota V6 engine, with power increased to over 400 ps (depending on race regulations). Vehicle mass is expected to be reduced by up to 200 kg, bringing the weight of the racecar to less than 1200 kg (depending on race regulations).

Further changes for the Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar include a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox, full FIA specification roll cage, FIA-compliant 120 litre ATL fuel system, FIA fire extinguisher system, competition carbon fibre rear wing, diffuser and front splitter.

The racecar is fitted with AP Racing 6 piston callipers front and rear, with a race-tuned Bosch ABS system, 4-way adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. The racecar runs on 18” rims shod with Pirelli racing slicks and the wheels widths have been increased over the roadcar to 9 ½ J on the front and 11 J on the rear.

The aerodynamically efficient Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar body design, made from lightweight composite and carbon fibre panels, remains predominantly unchanged from the road car, with the only modifications being to the lower sections of the front and rear clamshells and the side sills.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, said, “Motorsport has been in our blood ever since our founder, Colin Chapman, built the first Lotus back in 1948. We are proud of our motorsport history, which includes victories in Formula One, Le Mans, saloon car, rally car and sportscar racing around the world; more recently, we won the British GT3 Championship in 2006 with the Lotus Exige. The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar is from the same unique stable and we expect it to be a competitive racecar when we enter various endurance races next year.”

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director for Group Lotus Plc said, “Every Lotus car is designed to be at home on the race track as well as the road, and the Evora is no different. Designed primarily as an everyday road car, the Evora’s lightweight and stiff structure, its aerodynamics and performance means that it is perfectly suited to taming race tracks around the world, and we are looking forward to seeing the new Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar line up on the grid for the 2010 season.”

The racecar is expected to compete in a number of endurance races in 2010/ 2011 forming part of a factory-supported race program. The races that are targeted are: The 2010 ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours (Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany) in May 2010, Merdeka Millennium 12 Hours (Sepang, Malaysia) in August 2010, BritCar 24 Hours (Silverstone, UK) in October 2010 and the Dubai 24 Hours (Dubai Autodrome, UAE) January 2011.

The Lotus Evora road vehicle was first revealed in Australia at the Melbourne International Motor Show in February 2009. The Lotus Evora 2+0 road vehicle is priced at $149,990 (plus dealer and government charges), with the Lotus Evora 2+2 being priced at $156,990. While the first customer deliveries are currently taking place in, Australians will get the chance to experience the Lotus Evora for themselves in the coming months through the Lotus Cars Australia official dealer network.

ENDS

NOTES

About Lotus

The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Limited, which has two operating divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global facilities include those in Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany.

Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party 'niche vehicle' engineering and manufacture worldwide.

Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, Exige, Europa and the new award winning Lotus Evora. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.

New look for the new decade, Lotus Exige S is lean and green

• Aggressive new GT3 styling, reduced aero drag
• Improved fuel economy to 8.5l/100km
• Down to 199g/km CO₂
• Australian pricing unchanged

Lotus looks into the new decade for the Exige S with a newly designed front end and wing package, improved fuel economy and impressive emissions of just 199g/km of CO₂.

The Lotus Exige is a renowned high performance coupe with a well-deserved reputation for uncompromised performance, both on the road and the track.

Lotus has always pursued efficiency and fuel economy and for the 2010 model year Lotus Exige S, Lotus has reduced the emissions to only 199g/km CO₂, combined with improved fuel economy, to an impressive 8.5 litres/100km (combined cycle) and a frugal 6.5 litres/100km on the highway cycle.

The 2010 Lotus Exige S also sees the introduction of a few key changes to enhance the look and improve aerodynamic performance. A restyled front end and new larger, rear wing that not only reduces drag, but also gives a more muscular stance enhancing the lightweight shrink-wrapped look of the whole car.

The composite rear wing is based on the design from the Exige GT3 road car concept, shown at the Geneva Motorshow in 2007. Compared to the 2009 Exige tailgate-mounted wing, it is 181mm wider, mounted 46mm higher and 61mm further back. It is attached to the rear bodyshell clam via rear end plates, which not only increase the stiffness of the whole structure; it ensures maximum airflow over the rear wing. This careful airflow management increases stability, reduces drag and, most importantly, maintains the impressive downforce figures of 42kg at 160km/h.

The restyled front end includes a larger, more angular air intake mouth to help funnel more air through the radiator, to improve the efficiency of the engine system. On either side of the main aperture, two larger air intakes increase the airflow to the twin oil coolers, with bisecting horizontal vanes to stabilise the airflow for ultimate cooling efficiency.

Since the Exige S2 was launched in 2004, power has increased from 141kW to 163kW, up to 179kW in Sport 240 and optional Performance Pack guises, peaking at 192kW in the track-centric Exige Cup 260 form, and the new larger air intakes improve engine cooling for these current high-powered Exige variants.

Mounted below the three new air intakes is a new aerodynamic splitter. Made from a lightweight composite, the splitter is now extended to wrap around the whole of the front end and chiseled side lips are raised to deflect air around the tyres to reduce drag.

Jonathan Stretton, General Manager at Lotus Cars Australia said: “Over the years, the Lotus Exige has developed a hardcore fan base around the world and its popularity has placed it as one of the legendary sports cars of the 21st century.

“So far, over 5000 Exiges have been hand-built at our high-tech manufacturing facility making it a significant contributor to our global production. The lightweight Exige has one of the highest specific power outputs of any globally emissions certified car and 107kW/litre is a perfect demonstration of Colin Chapman’s philosophy of performance through light weight and of Lotus’ relentless pursuit of efficiency.

“The same technology that makes a lightweight car a high performer also makes it efficient – how many cars have performance figures of 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds but produce only 199g/km CO₂?�?

Like all Lotus cars, the functional components of the car are also beautifully designed as Russell Carr, Chief of Lotus Design, explains: “For 2010 we have taken the already extreme Exige and given it even more visual drama. The changes we have integrated into the front and rear of the Exige signal an even clearer and purposeful intent. The new rear wing is race inspired, the new angular air intakes and full width splitter gives a more hard-edged and aggressive look.

“Overall, the Exige appears more planted and gives the illusion that both the front and rear of the car are wider than they really are without losing its agile and lithe character.�?

Roger Becker, Director of Vehicle Engineering said: “Taken as a complete package the updates make significant improvements to aerodynamics and the overall look of the car. The Exige is a classic fit-for-purpose performance machine, the design tweaks we have made have reduced the drag, cleaned up the airflow around the front and rear of the car, whilst retaining the impressive balanced downforce figures, to give an exciting high performance drive.�?

The 2010 Exige S is available to order now through the Lotus Cars Australia dealer network. Prices remain unchanged, starting from $114,990 plus dealer delivery and on-road costs.

The 2010 Exige in detail
Driver and passenger airbags are standard on all models.

The instrument pack in the Exige contains two main stylishly backlit dials, in addition to a high-definition LCD message panel that can display a scrolling text message with vehicle systems information.

The instrument pack always displays the fuel level, engine temperature and odometer, however it can also display time, trip distance or a digital speed in the opposite calibration of the speedometer, in km/h or mph.

Warning symbols are ‘secret until lit’, keeping the instrumentation free from visual clutter and distraction until necessary. Gear change shift lights similarly remain hidden until required, with three sequential red lights, flashing simultaneously just before the rev limiter.

The 2010 Exige continues with the unified key and alarm/immobiliser system with central locking, with the famous Lotus roundel. The key features separate locking/unlocking buttons and a third for a panic alarm.

The Exige S optional Touring Pack includes:

• Full leather or Microfibre suede-effect interior
• Leather trimmed centre console
• Leather handbrake gaiter
• Sound system iPod* connection
• Full carpets, with embroidered logo
• Auxiliary driving lights
• Noise insulation paneling
• Aluminium retractable Cup holder

The Exige S optional Sport Pack includes:

• Bilstein sports dampers
• Lotus switchable traction control system
• Adjustable front anti-roll bar
• T45 roll bar, with integrated harness mounts
• ProBax Sports seats

The Exige S optional Performance Pack includes:

• 308mm front cross-drilled and vented discs with AP Racing four piston callipers
• Uprated front and rear brake pads
• Full-length upsized roof scoop
• Variable slip traction control and launch control system
• Uprated clutch plate and cover
• Uprated vehicle performance through enhanced power and torque delivery

With the Exige Performance Pack, the power is raised to 179kW at 8000 rpm courtesy of a Magnuson/Eaton M62 supercharger, new faster flowing injectors and higher torque clutch system and an upsized roof scoop to feed more air to the supercharger intercooler system. This hike in power, together with an increase in torque to 230Nm at 5500rpm from the standard 215Nm at 5500rpm, helps whisk the Performance Pack Exige S from 0-100km/h in 4.77 seconds, and on to 160km/h in 11.97 seconds. Top speed rises to 232km/h.

The power and torque of the 179kW engine is increased across the rev range giving even more flexibility. Despite these high levels of performance the fuel economy is impressive with a new combined figure of 8.5 litres per 100km and 199g/km CO₂ – reduced from 9.1l/100km and 216 g/km CO₂ for the 2009 Model Year Exige.

Of course the increased power and straight-line performance are only a couple of elements of the Performance Pack option. The clutch is uprated and a clutch damper fitted; there are thicker, 308mm diameter cross-drilled and vented discs at the front clamped by AP Racing four-piston callipers; the standard brake pads are replaced by uprated pads.

The Performance Pack also includes the Exige GT3-race developed launch control with variable traction control. From the driver’s seat, the system allows the selection of revs for the optimum standing start in all road conditions. A clutch damper cushions the severity of the clutch/transmission engagement to minimise stresses to the drivetrain.

Above 10km/h, the launch control hands over duties to the traction control system, which can dial in the amount of rear-tyre slip retardation required.

The amount of traction control can be varied in over 30 increments from an optimum seven-percent slip to completely off, indicated by a reading on the dash.

The beauty of all the packs is that they can be combined so a customer can select the additional interior and exterior equipment from the Touring pack with the sport-focused equipment from the Sport pack.

A torque-sensing limited slip differential is available as stand-alone options, along with options such as Bilstein one-way and height-adjustable adjustable dampers and lightweight forged alloy wheels.

Lotus Cars Australia has shown the new face of sports cars today, with the first local unveiling of the stunning new Evora.

The design of the Evora breaths athleticism and performance, from the signature Lotus nose to the crisp and flowing lines that focus attention to the muscular rear end, accentuating the mid-engined language and unmistakeably Lotus styling.

The Evora’s interior is dynamic, highly functional and contemporary with front seating designed to comfortably accommodate occupants up to six-foot five.  The option of a further two seats in the rear add practicality, and mark the Evora as a true 2+2 mid-engined sports car. 

Underpinned by Lotus’s Versatile Vehicle Architecture technology, offering an adaptable, extremely strong, stiff and lightweight chassis, the Evora weighs just 1350kg. With a 3.5 litre V6 engine, it’s capable of 0-100 km/h in just five seconds.

Lotus Cars Australia has detailed an estimated price for the Evora at $162,990 plus dealer delivery and government charges and the 2+2 variant at $169,990 plus dealer delivery and government charges.

Jonathan Stretton, General Manager Sales & Marketing announced the pricing at the Melbourne Motor Show today and commented: “The Evora is quite possibly one of the most relevant sports cars of the moment. In a time where carmakers are striving to produce lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles, Lotus is already there – and it always has been.

“In addition to its excellent performance and unquestionable Lotus handling, the Evora offers a more refined Lotus ownership experience. It’s a car that has been developed to suit many different minds and attitudes. It is perceived as the next logical step for the owners of current Lotus sports cars, whilst it will also welcome a new group of customers to the brand: those who seek market leading Lotus driving dynamics with cutting edge design and increased functionality. The Evora is a car that generates an emotional response and a sense of occasion. It’s very much the car for – and of – the 21^st century. The Evora is the evolution of Lotus.”

For more information on the Lotus Evora and full specifications, please refer to previous press release postings.