KAS-118

This is the 'other side' of the Electric Coin - the Hydrogen Fuel Cell. Not sure why the Toyota Miria is only available in Hawaii or California? https://www.kbb.com/articles/reviews/2020-toyota-mirai-first-review/ However, the comparison of this with a BEV is quite interesting: Headline figures for the Toyota are $58,550, 312 mile range, 5-minute re-fill; 157bhp and 247lb-ft torque. That compares with a Tesla 3: Long Range $48,990, 348 mile range (WLTP) - but real-world is probably more like 270-280 miles ; 346bhp and 376lb-ft; or Performance $56,990 329 mile range (WLTP) 450bhp and 471lb-ft Of course the 'refill' depends upon the charging facilities you've got - but using Tesla's Supercharging Network you can 'fill' from 10% to 80% in 20 mins

@MyEvora- blimey; the cheapest Unleaded near me at the moment is Tesco at 99.9; with the most expensive being BP at 108.9

The Faded Beauty of Abandoned Cars Across Europe and the US These are quite nice - and thankfully not a Lotus in there https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52632396#_=_

I think the actual production of New Cars/New Editions has been delayed because of Coronavirus - hence its necessary to resort to CGI - but at least we can appreciate what they'll look like to a greater extent. Perhaps I'm an optimist - but I see this all as somehow building momentum to a big reveal - by getting the Lotus name i front of the public again. The Evija was a big 'spike' in the Lotus interest levels when it was announced - and there has been 'updates' on that. Popham is giving interviews hinting at the future direction of Lotus (albeit I'm still unclear if its hybrid or EV - I personally hope the latter), the the 'leaked' new Esprit Photo's, the Heritage Elise Collection, the announcement with Centrica and then some more about the Evija's aerodynamics. It's all keeping the 'Lotus' name in the news which can help build momentum for the new car. Hopefully, the recent activity and announcement will mean that a reveal isn't too far off 🤞

Interesting trial that's going to start in Milton Keynes - where the intention is to try and balance 'peaks' and throughs in the demand for Electricity. https://www.drivingelectric.com/news/1766/milton-keynes-electric-car-owners-invited-charging-technology-trial In one method your Electric Car is used to store Electricity and that is then sold back to the grid when required in peak times.

As you say, they’re a new company - so have to out-Tesla Tesla

That would be interesting to see. I mean, although I think he's rather immature in the way he throws his toys out the pram and cries about how he's the victim all the time and come's across as a narcissistic egomaniac - you can come across such people in all walks of life...🤔🤔🤔...he's still a great driver - and I think it would be good to see him in the sport with a team that wants to get behind him. Of course, the big question would be - is the Renault going to be any good?

It looks a very 😎😎😎 Car Osku 👍

Hmmm... 🤔, I guess that is a fair point - and I do appreciate the distinction between a genuine sound and a synthesised sound. But on the basis that the petrol ICE is unlikely to survive in cars over say the next 15-20 years, and you left with a choice of a pure electric engine sound - or a synthesised V8 sound - I'm not so sure its such a bad thing - and the ability to turn on or off the sound does have its own benefits.

Yeah. I agree, its a shame Ricciardo isn't in one of the 3 top teams at the moment 🙂

True - but isn't an engine with a valve that opens up to make more of a noise also a tad artificial? I can appreciate what you say - but most the noise that we associate with cars are merely because it was a by-product of the propulsion system - so we've got used to it. New systems creates new sounds - which eventually people also get used to. Ultimately, you have to weigh-up the benefit of having a true noise from a finely tuned Internal Combustion Engine - that you may not be able to quieten down, even if your neighbours or even you, wanted to - plus the other environmental effects; a more 'environmentally friendly but almost noiseless EV; or an EV which makes am artificial sound that say is 95% of what your favourite ICE is? Given that there are proposals (which indeed may have already been passed) that requires EV's to make a noise when travelling at low speed, you could do a lot worse than choose an (artificial) sound of a rumbling V8 🙂

I think you make a very fair point - although I still believe there are some areas that have unrestricted speed limits, it does make you wonder if any country should permit that in todays environmentally astute world? I believe Volvo have recently limited their cars to 112mph?

Lots of cars now use valves etc to 'enhance' the noise artificially - so IMHO it's not such a big step to have a fairly silent car that 'plays' an exhaust note to you - if you so wish - indeed I think the BMWi8 did that. So, if the 'driving experience' is increased to the better by an exhaust noise - why not? I believe a number of Lotuses can't be used at certain tracks because they exceed the noise limit - clearly cars with quite engines solve those problems - and if you have the oppertunity and desire to have it louder else where - then surely that's a win win?

I see Lucid is ramping up for the launch of the Air. https://www.teslarati.com/lucid-air-prototype-fleet-video/ 1,000bhp, 217mph top speed, 400 mile range. It will be interesting to see how accurate these figures are - as it will its projected price of $60,000!!! 🤔

Yeah...he may not be 'all bad' - but I guess he's not 'all good' either. Clearly he's not 'above the law' and if he opens that in defiance of the States prohibition then he should be called to account for that. The cave-rescuing submarine thing I have mixed feelings about. Clearly Elon Musk may think he's a mixture of Tony Stark/International Rescue - but at the end of the day he was offering to help. I can't help but think a bit of diplomacy from Vernon Unsworth could have lead to greater things - and the defamation action was ill-advised and risky. A lost opportunity for both Parties...and perhaps the general public.

A very positive review by Automobile Mag 😎 https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2020-lotus-evora-gt-test-drive-review-price-specs-0-60/

Looks like Geely may have saved Smart - for now https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/mercedes-smarts-future-bright-thanks-geely-deal

No real surprise I guess - but 2020 is Sebastian Vettel's last at Ferrari (for now at least) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52612216

Interesting article on the BEV v Hydrogen Fuel Cell arguments for Cars http://Why We Still Can't Deliver on the Promise of Hydrogen Cars

As you say - it looks like Lotus are aiming for 10K plus https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/lotus-ceo-outlines-ambitious-production-expansion-plan-electric-future. I think Ferrari sold over 10k for the first time last year - and Aston Martin about 6.5k; so I can't help but think Lotus will need to aim at a majority of cars below the £100k range to get those kind of figures.. I agree that they will need to increase the dealer network, but I guess they could share some Volvo garages? Having said that Tesla see to be doing OK with few dealers - and I think (in the UK at least) Polestar are primarily looking at on-line sales - at least initially.

Interesting video about how its possible to side-step some of the European Emission Regulations. Must admit I never knew that entirely separate companies could 'pool' their emissions. Looks like Elon Musk may not be all bad after all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwXsY7IcrO8

🙄🙄🙄

I'm game for being shown to be completely wrong - so I'll guess 1:00:0

Well to answer your first question I suggest you look at the 'Future of Lotus' and 'Is Electric the Answer' threads. Indeed, even your post suggests its a negative thing. Whist I agree that change isn't always for the better - it doesn't necessary mean its for the worst either. I find your analogies are somewhat missing the point. CD's contain music - what makes music 'fun' is usually the music on the record, tape, CD or indeed electronic file. The format of how you listen to it may affect the experience the user has - but the format is, IMHO, only a small part of the 'fun' of listening to a piece of music. As to your 'look back at nostalgia' you seem to forget Steaming and Downloading is now king nor that Tapes have not had a revival. Whilst the sales of 'Vinyl' may have increased - it is remains very much the minority - as can be seen form the graphs here https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jan/01/uk-music-purchases-hit-highest-level-since-2006 You can also spend £10's of 000's on HiFi equipment to listen to music in electronic format too. Turning to your book example - as with music, the enjoyment of a book is mainly the content - not the format. Whilst it may be 'fun' thumbing through pages - it is not fun having to carry say 10 books on your back-packing holiday - when you could put them on your phone or iPad. Likewise, its no fun having to wait for Regulations or Scientific Papers to be sent to you in the post, when you could otherwise get documents by downloading. And so with cars - what makes a car fun is its driver involvement, feeling part of the machine instead of remote from it. But its just a possible to have a 'boring' Internal Combustion Engine Car (indeed look back at history - there are LOADS of them) as it is possible to have a 'fun' electronic vehicle. Sure the noise and smells may be different - but you can get new noises and new smells what all add to the experience. A rocket sounds and smells different to a propeller plane - but a Rocket can be fun.......

I agree that it makes more sense of Lotus to go for an all Electric powertrain - you may as well get a purpose built chassis for that now, rather than take a short term view of incorporating an Internal Combustion Engine. I find it disappointing that before they've even put out any proposals (other than the Evija - what in my mind is bl**dy fantastic) people are already assuming the new cars aren't going to be any fun. The initial reviews of the Porsche Taycan are very favourable https://www.forbes.com/sites/markewing/2020/05/10/porsche-taycan-turbo-s-mountain-drive-if-this-is-the-future-i-want-to-live-forever/#8f075bb7356f - and if Porsche can make an Electric car that is fun to drive - then I have every confidence that Lotus can too .