Lotus prototype

Press, 1 March 1984, Page 20

Lotus prototype

Lotus, the British highperformance car maker, will launch its new small sports car, currently codenamed the XlOO, at this year’s Birmingham Motor Show, but the car will be a prototype version and production is not expected to begin until the end of 1985. That means the car will probably go on sale about March, 1986. This c3r will use Toyota mechanicals including, probably, the Japanese com-

pany’s excellent 1.6-litre, 16valve, fuel-injected twin overhead camshaft engine and five-speed gearbox. It is expected that the engine will be mid-mounted behind the passenger compartment Originally it was expected that drophead coupe bodywork would be used, but now it seems likely that it will have a fixed head body in the 2 plus 2 configuration. iThe fixed head layout would give the car greater rigidity

than would be the case if a drophead body was used. Lotus plans to build 5000 of the new small sports car annually. It is aimed unashamedly at the lucrative Porshce 924 market.

Lotus is now backed by Toyota and British Car Auctions, but it is understood that even more money is needed to get this new car off the ground. That is why the prototype will go on show this year. It is hoped that it will attract potential backers.