Says Lotus of its front-drive, $34,000 sports car, "We didn't want to make another MR2."
No one believed it at first. The folks who brought us the Elite, the Elan, and the Esprit were going to build an entry level sports car with front-wheel drive. Well, so much for General Motors' policy of nonintervention in the activities of its recently acquired subsidiary in Norfolk, England. Moreover, the new Elan's engine and five-speed transaxle were to come from Isuzu, another GM associate. Lotus, it seemed, had sold out - in more ways than one.
The truth, according to Lotus's chief executive Mike Kimberley, is somewhat different. Lotus started work on its new small car way back in 1981. Back then, the two-seater was to have a front-engine/rear-drive layout, just like its nimble namesake from the sixties.
In 1983, with Colin Chapman dead and new financing on the way - including a 22-percent stake from Toyota - the project was rethought. Following a comparative assessment of similarly powered Toyotas - including front- and rear-drive Corollas and a prototype mid-engined MR2 - Lotus decided that front-wheel drive was the best choice for a sports car of this size and power. Besides, as Kimberley points out, "We didn't want to make another MR2."
After General Motors arrived on the scene in early 1986, however, there was more second-guessing. The styling of the X100, as the project was then called, was not exciting enough, and a Toyota engine was no longer appropriate. Lotus began again, this time hatching the M100, which three years later became the handsome car shown here.
In the meantime, of course, the Mazda MX-5 Miata arrived, very much in the style of the original Elan. Lotus is surprisingly relaxed about the Miata's instant success. The company asserts that it makes half of its livelihood carrying out advanced engineering for the world's motor industry, and, for the sake of its reputation, Lotus did not want to be seen offering a replica of a car from the 1960s.
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Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Front Wheel Drive. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Front Wheel Drive. Mostrar todas las entradas
jueves, 28 de enero de 2010
viernes, 9 de octubre de 2009
Flex Marks the Spot: The Box Ford's Future Comes In
New York, N.Y. - It is, hands down, the best new product to emerge from Ford of Canada's Oakville assembly plant in years. Globally it is Ford's boldest, most original and refreshing new vehicle.
With a long-list of innovations and style unique to its class, Ford's full-sized 2009 Flex crossover might at first glance appear to be on a collision course with rising gasoline prices. Gas-sipping microcars aren't ideal for everyone, however, especially those who regularly carry up to a half dozen passengers and their luggage or sports equipment.
Among the current crop of SUVs' pickup trucks and even cross-over-utility vehicles, the Flex is an out-of-the-box front-runner.
Offered in Canada in two trim levels, it starts at $34,999 MSRP for the well-equipped front wheel-drive SEL, and runs to $42,999 for the all wheel-drive Limited.
Designers opted for radically distinctive styling in as two-box design with signature horizontal side grooves, 'all-black' green-house and two-tone roof in white or silver.
Power is delivered via Ford's smooth 3.5-litre V6 Duratec engine linked to an equally smooth, six-speed automatic transmission that it shares with the Taurus X. It makes 262 hp at 6,250 rpm and 248 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 revs.
Ford projects fuel economy numbers of 12.6 L/100 km (city) and 8.4 L/100 km (hwy) for the front-wheel-drive Flex and 13.5 (city) and 9.5 (hwy) with AWD. Flex will be available next year with the turbocharged ecoBoost engine.
Inside, the Flex seats six (or seven, with the no-cost optional second row 60/40 folding bench seat) with ample space and comfort and upscale features and details. Thoughtful features include coat and grocery-bag hooks and storage compartments throughout.
Class-leading technologies include SYNC, voice-activated navigation with reverse camera system, premium Sony sound system and 'surprise-and-delight' features like Ford's EasyFuel cap-less refueling nozzle and exclusive, compressor-driven refrigerated console.
With a long-list of innovations and style unique to its class, Ford's full-sized 2009 Flex crossover might at first glance appear to be on a collision course with rising gasoline prices. Gas-sipping microcars aren't ideal for everyone, however, especially those who regularly carry up to a half dozen passengers and their luggage or sports equipment.
Among the current crop of SUVs' pickup trucks and even cross-over-utility vehicles, the Flex is an out-of-the-box front-runner.
Offered in Canada in two trim levels, it starts at $34,999 MSRP for the well-equipped front wheel-drive SEL, and runs to $42,999 for the all wheel-drive Limited.
Designers opted for radically distinctive styling in as two-box design with signature horizontal side grooves, 'all-black' green-house and two-tone roof in white or silver.
Power is delivered via Ford's smooth 3.5-litre V6 Duratec engine linked to an equally smooth, six-speed automatic transmission that it shares with the Taurus X. It makes 262 hp at 6,250 rpm and 248 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 revs.
Ford projects fuel economy numbers of 12.6 L/100 km (city) and 8.4 L/100 km (hwy) for the front-wheel-drive Flex and 13.5 (city) and 9.5 (hwy) with AWD. Flex will be available next year with the turbocharged ecoBoost engine.
Inside, the Flex seats six (or seven, with the no-cost optional second row 60/40 folding bench seat) with ample space and comfort and upscale features and details. Thoughtful features include coat and grocery-bag hooks and storage compartments throughout.
Class-leading technologies include SYNC, voice-activated navigation with reverse camera system, premium Sony sound system and 'surprise-and-delight' features like Ford's EasyFuel cap-less refueling nozzle and exclusive, compressor-driven refrigerated console.
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