Lotus Europa SE
Lotus Press Release - 6/March/2008
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Lotus Europa SE
This sexy European goes from 0-100km/h in
5.7 seconds thanks to its 165kW turbo engine
This is one of the finest cabins Lotus has ever crafted
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Geneva, Switzerland — Group
Lotus plc unveils a new updated and significantly enhanced range of
Europa's at the 78th annual Geneva International Motor Show. The new entry level Europa is priced at £27,950 / €37,500 with the range topping Europa SE available for a competitive £32,995 / €41,500. These
new Europa variants have been designed and developed especially for
European customers and will be sold exclusively across Europe from June
2008. The Europa is now available to
a larger target audience with the entry level car providing a more
accessible way to own a Europa and the SE designed to appeal to those
who are even more style conscious and want increased levels of
performance. Mike Kimberley, CEO of
Group Lotus plc commented: "As the true driver will know, this Europa
range offers access to Lotus’ unique DNA for those who perceive
the Elise and Exige as a little too uncompromising for everyday
use. "The new Europa SE sits at the
more refined end of the Lotus spectrum, providing a terrific mix of
performance, agility and style, but incorporates Lotus’s values
and heritage". The Europa has a
mid-mounted 2.0-litre turbo charged engine, tuned in the SE with an all
new calibration to 225PS (165kW) and with 300Nm of torque to offer
effortless cruising capability. Even
though the Europa is engineered with more relaxed driving
characteristics it provides amazing performance, with 0-60 mph in the
SE dispatched in 5.5 seconds (0-100 km/h in 5.7s estimated) and the
sprint to 100 mph (160 km/h) taking just 13.0s (estimated). Given the legal opportunity to stretch its legs, the Europa SE will hit a top speed of 143 mph (230km/h). The
Europa now offers increased levels of comfort over the Elise and Exige
whilst enhancing the focused driving experience that you would expect
from a Lotus. These models are both equipped with race car derived
double wishbone suspension to give an exceptional driving feel with
Lotus DNA. The sleek Europa body
work, together with the assistance of the flat underbody, generates
positive downforce to provide balanced handling at speed.
The Europa SE has attractive and light weight new wheels, which are
shod with wider, high performance tyres, for increased levels of grip.
These new high performance wheels are larger with 17" rims up front,
and larger 18" rims on the rear. The new wheels house high performance
AP Racing four pot brakes and larger (308mm) diameter discs. The
SE interior has been updated by Lotus Design with a stylish new design
that works in harmony with the premium avant-garde Ice White of the
Geneva Show car. The interior is finished using 4 hides of soft,
lightweight high-grade leather, to ensure that every surface has a
luxuriant tactile feel. As with all 2008
Lotus road cars, the Europa and Europa SE come with driver and
passenger airbags and an engine start button as standard. The Europa
interior is furnished with leather sports seats and comes as standard
with a high quality stereo system. Related articles:
- Lotus Exige Sport 240 (2007)
- Lotus
Europa S (2006)
- Type 72 Lotus
Elise (2002)
- Lotus
Elise (2001)
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