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Enyaq to Wingle: The worst car names ever

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These days, the automotive industry is littered with daft and unpronounceable names. No self-respecting crossover would leave a showroom without a random group of letters that would be worthy of a double word score on Scrabble. Here, we reveal 40 of the worst names from motoring history. We’ll spare you the trauma of seeing another Qashqai, Kadjar or Captur.

Skoda Enyaq

Skoda says the name of the Enyaq is derived from the Irish name ‘Enya’, meaning ‘source of life’. That’s as maybe, but as a name for a car, we wish it would sail away, sail away, sail away…

Ford Probe

What were they thinking? The Ford Probe. Really, Ford? REALLY?

Great Wall Wingle

Head over to the Urban Dictionary to discover why Wingle isn’t a great name for a supposedly butch pick-up.

Daihatsu Applause

The Daihatsu Applause was little more than a mediocre car of the 1990s. Probably worthy of a slow hand clap, but a round of applause? Nope.

Ford Aspire

Would anyone really aspire to owning a car that looked like this? Of course they wouldn’t, so put away the book of motivational speaking, Ford.

Renault Wind

Only the Brits would find this amusing. The idea of a car called the Wind appeals to our end-of-the-pier sense of humour.

Ferrari LaFerrari

Even Ferrari can get it wrong. Essentially, this is called the ‘Ferrari The Ferrari’. It’s the kind of stunt you’d expect from a cosmetics firm. Not Ferrari.

Honda Lagreat

Ah, that’s better. Give yourself a pat on the back if you owned a Honda Lagreat (known in the UK as the Shuttle) and called it Alexander.

Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard

The ‘MU’ in Isuzu MU stands for Mysterious Utility. Quite where the Wizard bit came from is anyone’s guess. Sadly, in the UK we had to make do with the Vauxhall Frontera.

Daihatsu Naked

What do Avril Lavigne, Leona Lewis, Neneh Cherry, Reef and the Spice Girls all have in common? They’ve all written a song about the Daihatsu Naked. True dat.

Peugeot Moonster

It’s a crazy concept, so we can kind of excuse the stupid name. But Moonster, really? Next you’ll be telling us about a Skoda Roomster. Oh, wait…

Honda Joy Machine

In order to appeal to a younger audience, Honda marketed the original HR-V as the Joy Machine. And you thought a Joy Machine was something you ordered from Ann Summers.

Datsun Fairlady

The Datsun Fairlady. Named in honour of a musical starring Audrey Hepburn. Probably.

Kia Provo

Kia has given the world some pretty cool motor show concept cars in recent years. But the marketing team should have spent some time on Wikipedia before settling on this name.

Yamaha Pantryboy Supreme

It’s easy to find the Yamaha Pantryboy Supreme. Just take a look down aisle three, in the baking section, next to the ready-roll pastry.

Suzuki Every Landy

The Suzuki Every was bad enough. But with the Suzuki Every Landy, you’re really spoiling us.

Mazda Bongo Friendee

Ah, everyone’s favourite stupid car name. The Mazda Bongo Friendee can often be seen surrounded by a haze of blue smoke in your local Morrisons car park.

Honda Life Dunk

Well slam dunk the funk, it’s the Honda Life Dunk. Yep, we can rap with the best of them.

Geely Beauty Leopard

The Geely Beauty Leopard. Not to be confused with Brian Fantana’s Sex Panther eau de cologne – 60 percent of the time, it works every time.

Isuzu Bighorn

You can understand why Isuzu would want to associate their rugged off-roader with a US canyon. But it kind of gets lost in translation. Hey, can anyone remember where I parked my bighorn?

Oldsmobile Achieva

Straight out of the middle management textbook. The perfect car for over Achievas – it’s the new Oldsmobile.

Nissan Hardbody


Again, this probably sounded sensible in the focus group. But announcing over dinner that you’ve just bought a Hardbody may result in a few titters.

Vauxhall Movano and Vivaro

Vauxhall had clearly been watching too much of Vic and Bob’s Shooting Stars when they came up with the Movano and Vivaro names.

Nissan Cedric

Rumour has it the Nissan Cedric was going to be called the Nissan Terry in the UK…

Nissan Gloria

And the Nissan Gloria would have been called the Nissan June.

Growler E 2011

Top Gear’s favourite: the Growler. And you thought the Swiss didn’t have a sense of humour.

Subaru Brat

The Subaru Brat was OK until you damaged the bodywork. Then it became a Spoiled Brat.

Honda That’s

Is that your car? No, that’s my car. Oh, never mind…

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Petrol and diesel ban could be brought forward to 2030

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Electric cars could save drivers £40,000

It’s reported that government ministers may bring forward the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars yet again. While originally set for 2040, it was recently moved to 2035. Now, a 2030 cut-off could be possible.

This follows yesterday’s rumours of a 2032 deadline, after transport secretary Grant Shapps discussed that possibility. Sources close to the Times newspaper have since confirmed that an earlier date of 2030 is on the cards.

Peugeot offers six months free electric car charging

The 2030 date isn’t plucked out of thin air, either. It’s the recommendation of the government’s expert advice group, the Committee on Climate Change. Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark all have their sights set on 2030, too.

The Department for Transport has said that it would be ‘consulting on a range of possible dates’. There was no comment on the possibility of a leap to 2030, however.

Troubling for the industry and consumers alike was the announcement that hybrid vehicles, plug-in or otherwise, would be included in the ban. Car sales website Auto Trader said the government is ‘changing the goalposts for manufacturers’ and that ‘2035 is a stretch, considering where we are today, let alone 2032’.

2035 petrol and diesel ban could be brought forward to 2030

  • Motorists could save £41,000 by switching to electric

The AA has warned that putting drivers off hybrids could mean they stick to older, more polluting vehicles, limiting short-term emissions reductions.

As it stands, electric cars made up 1.6 percent of new car sales last year. Overall, electric cars are just 0.2 percent of the total population of cars on the road.

The government’s plug-in electric car grant of £3,500 is due to end after Match, with no hint of an extension.

  • 84 percent of drivers oppose city diesel bans

Electric cars demand and value 2019

Car buyers are very much aware of electric cars, though, and have their own ideas on when is best for them to switch. A survey recently revealed that many UK buyers want to go electric for their next car, with 11 percent of respondents saying so. That’s a rise from five percent in 2018 and six percent in 2019.

Just 48 percent that their next car would be petrol- or diesel-powered, compared with 63 percent in 2019 and 73 percent in 2018. Electric cars are becoming more popular in the second-hand market, too. Auto Trader has reported on multiple occasions that the Renault Zoe EV was the fastest seller on its site. 

The consultation on bringing forward the ban will have to consider these trends. Exactly how quickly will new car buyers adapt of their own accord? What incentives will they need, and will the infrastructure, both in terms of charging and power generation, be ready in time? All of this comes into consideration when assessing what ‘as soon as is feasible’ means.

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Forza Horizon 4 update adds eclectic mix of new cars – even a Rover SD1

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Forza Horizon 4 Series 19 Update

The latest update for the open-world Microsoft Xbox One racing game, Forza Horizon 4, sees a host of new vehicles added.

As part of the free Series 19 update for the game, five special new models have been included as prizes for various challenges

Along with classic British vehicles, there is also a Japanese supercar, and even a Bugatti Chiron made out of Lego!

Specialist Division 1

Forza Horizon 4 Series 19 Update

An icon of the British Leyland-era of Rover cars, the SD1 was produced in England between 1976 and 1986. The car included in Forza Horizon 4 is a later Vitesse model. This makes use of a 3.5-litre V8 engine with 190 hp.

It may have been an executive motor, yet the rear-wheel drive SD1 saw considerable motorsport success across the globe. Used in both rallying and touring car racing, achievements included winning the 1984 British Saloon Car Championship.

Forza Horizon racers will be able to get their hands on the SD1 by completing the “It’s Never Over With a Rover” seasonal championship in the game. Other paint choices are available, but brown seems most apt. 

Supercars and even a Supervan

Forza Horizon 4 Series 19 Update Update

Another notable vehicle for the Series 19 update is the addition of the crazy Ford Transit Supervan 3. Ford may have made a number of Supervans, but this one from 1994 featured the Cosworth HB V8 engine used in a Benetton Formula 1 car. 

Also new is the ludicrous 2019 Aston Martin Vulcan AMR Pro. Horizon 4 has already included the regular Vulcan, but AMR Pro specification brings a 27 percent increase in downforce for the 820 hp supercar. 

Slightly less mad, but still wonderful, is the 2010 Lexus LFA. Only 500 examples of the V10-powered coupe were made, meaning unlocking one in Forza Horizon 4 is a much easier way of getting behind the wheel.   

New ways to be eliminated

Forza Horizon 4 Series 19 Update

The Eliminator mode, Horizon 4’s battle royale-style competition, has also gained a variety of extra vehicles to make use of. 

A total of 13 new models have been added. These range from the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, through to the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. 

All of the cars are fitted with performance upgrades for maximum potential, and come with patrol lights added as well. 

Brick by brick

Forza Horizon 4 Series 19 Update

There is also another new Bugatti in Forza Horizon 4 this month. The Lego Speed Champions expansion pack gains a new model, and it is rather special.

Those who own the Lego add-on content get a new challenge this month. Completing it unlocks a Lego Bugatti Chiron. It joins the Ferrari F40 Competizione and McLaren Senna in the roster of brick-based supercars, and features notably fewer pieces than the full-size Lego version.

Other changes for Series 19 include a slew of system updates. These are aimed at making life more enjoyable for those playing the game. In particular, sharing custom liveries is said to be easier, whilst a patch has fixed various minor technical issues.

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Peugeot offers six months free charging for new EV and PHEV buyers

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Peugeot offers six months free electric car charging

Peugeot is offering six months of free charging to buyers of its all-electric and plug-in hybrid models. The offer applies to everything from the new e-208 to the 3008 PHEV

The Polar Plus subscription gives electrified Peugeot buyers access to 7,000 charging points across the country. The company is rolling out 150kW DC rapid chargers, usable by Peugeot’s BEV models.

Peugeot e-208 free six months charging

These will allow a 0-80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. Not all of Polar Plus’s chargers will be absolutely free to use, however. A select few will still charge at a rate of 12p per kWh.

Your Peugeot dealer will give you a key fob or RFID card to use with the charging points. This should simplify the process of plugging in and juicing up.

Peugeot offers six months free electric car charging

Once the six-month period is up, drivers will be able to continue their subscription for £7.85 per month. Alternatively, a per-use basis is available, with Polar Instant.

“With more than 7,000 public charging points across the UK, Peugeot’s collaboration with Polar Plus is a great way to encourage drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles,” said David Peel, managing director of Peugeot UK.

Peugeot offers six months free electric car charging

“One of the main hesitations around EVs is access to charging points, and drivers who subscribe to Polar Plus when buying a new fully-electric or plug-in hybrid Peugeot model will find it far easier to access the energy they need when travelling throughout the UK.”

The electrified Peugeot range starts with the e-208, and continues through the e-2008 all-electric crossover, which is now available to order. PHEV versions of the 3008 SUV, 508 and 508 SW are also available. The e-208 is good for 217 miles of range, under the WLTP rating, while the 2008 can go 206 miles.

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James Bond’s Aston Martin Valhalla hypercar teased on Instagram

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James Bond No Time To Die Aston Martin Valhalla

With two months to go until No Time To Die hits cinemas, we’ve got our first look at James Bond’s flagship ride.

Blowing the DB10 of Spectre into the weeds is the Aston Martin Valhalla, with a hybrid twin-turbo V6 mounted in the middle and Valkyrie-influenced aerodynamics. This is 007’s first hypercar.

‘Bring it back in one piece‘

James Bond No Time To Die Aston Martin Valhalla

The tease came courtesy of Aston Martin director of design Miles Nurnberger, who posted pictures of the Valhalla on his Instagram at an event at Silverstone. How do we know this is the Bond car? Well, the first clue for us was the company it was keeping.

Joining it at the circuit, as pictured on Nurnberger’s Instagram, were the DB5 – complete with Bond-specific plate – the classic DBS V8, and the new DBS Superleggera, as driven by the ‘new 007’ played by Lashana Lynch. Of the group, the Valhalla is the only car not seen in the movie trailer.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Straight from the movie set….. 7 —— #astonmartin #astonmartinvalhalla #valhalla #cardesign #design #luxury #instacars #carsofinstagram

A post shared by Miles (@milesnurnberger) on

Secondly, Nurnberger’s captions weren’t exactly subtle. “Straight from the movie set… 007”, and “Bring it back in one piece…” require little decryption or detective work.

Nurnburger also revealed that he got to drive “one of the DB5s from No Time To Die”, so there’s a definite Bond flavour to this event.

The only question that remains is what will the villains be driving, if Bond has a multi-million-pound prototype hypercar? Not even the Jaguar C-X75 from Spectre could hang with the Valhalla, we suspect. Plus, the Jag is a bit old hat now. We’ll leave you to wildly speculate.

We also wonder what gadgets the Valhalla will be packing. It’s a high tech thing in standard form. Quite where the machine guns are going to be packed in that shrink-wrapped body, we’re not sure. 

James Bond No Time To Die Aston Martin Valhalla

We expect to get a quick look at the Valhalla in action when the final trailer drops in the coming weeks, immediately prior to the film’s release. Until now, this is our first and only look at Bond’s craziest and most expensive company car to date.

It’s coming up to a year since the Valhalla debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019. Affectionately nicknamed ‘son of Valkyrie’ by Aston Martin, the marque’s second mid-engined hypercar is limited to 500 units. First deliveries aren’t expected for another two years at least.

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LDV van brand will die in Britain – again

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LDV brand is dead

It’s one of the most famous commercial vehicle names in Britain, but the LDV brand is about to die – again. As of April 2020, LDV will rebrand as Maxus across right-hand-drive Europe.

In 1987, the Leyland Trucks division of Rover became Leyland DAF when it merged with the Dutch truck maker. Six years later it became an independent firm following a management buy-out. As the official LDV website points out, ‘the company has had many highs and lows’.

After going into administration, the company was purchased by Sun Capital Partners in 2005, before being acquired by the Russian company Gaz in 2006. Plans to increase production at its Birmingham plant and to create new export markets failed to materialise, and by 2008 the factory had closed. The intellectual property rights were sold to a Chinese firm in 2009, before they were acquired by SAIC Motor in 2009.

LDV builds a range of commercial vehicles, including panel vans, tippers, minibuses and EVs. UK distribution is handled by the Dublin-based Harris Group, which is also responsible for Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.

In left-hand-drive markets, such as Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, the vans are distributed under the Maxus banner. Now, the LDV vans will be re-branded to follow suit.

‘Much-loved by many’

LDV at the CV show

Denise Harris, CEO of The Harris Group, said: “When it comes to changing a brand name, you have to think very seriously about the benefits and also the possible consequences, and decide if it really is the right thing to do for the brand and the wider business. The LDV brand is much-loved by many loyal customers but, with the advent of new models on new platforms that will undoubtedly change brand perceptions, I am confident that the market will welcome the transition.

“As the Maxus brand grows, both in China and across Europe, and with more and more models and variants being introduced to the market, it makes sense for us to align with the global Maxus brand. As a company and main distributor, we are really excited to be part of this evolution and I think that our enhanced offering will inject new life into the LCV market.”

By 3 April, all elements of the rebrand will be complete, with new Maxus signage and collateral installed across dealerships. The company will also unveil two new commercial vehicles in 2020.

‘On another level’

Maxus logo

Mark Barrett, general manager of Maxus UK and Ireland said: “2020 is going to be the brand’s biggest year ever with the impending launch of our game-changing diesel panel van, the Deliver 9 and the arrival to market of Maxus’ second EV model, the E Deliver 3, which was unveiled last year at the Commercial Vehicle Show.

“With cutting edge design, a brand-new platform and 2.0-litre engine, the LDV Deliver 9 will be the brand’s most comprehensive and versatile offering to date. Available in a choice of three lengths, three heights and a choice of front or rear wheel drive, this van really is on another level.”

Full details will be revealed at the Commercial Vehicle Show in April, when it will line up alongside the E Deliver 3.

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Dacia is bringing back LPG on new cars

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Dacia brings back LPG to the UK

Dacia is launching a factory-fitted dual-fuel system across its range, with availability covering the Duster, Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Logan MCV and Logan MCV Stepway. It’s the only car manufacturer to offer an LPG system in the UK.

The new 1.0-litre bi-fuel 100 engine can use either petrol or LPG. This delivers reduced fuel costs, lower emissions and improved performance. Dacia claims drivers could save near-on £600 per year if they buy the bi-fuel model over standard petrol variants, when covering an average of 12,000 miles per year.

In ‘LPG Mode’, a Sandero Stepway will deliver 39.8mpg and emissions of 116g/km. This represents a drop of nine percent compared with the petrol model. The Duster saves even more, improving its CO2 figure by 11 percent, returning 129g/km and 35.3mpg. 

Dacia brings back LPG to the UK

  • Father Duster: the Pope takes delivery of a Dacia

What’s needed to ready a car for LPG consumption? There’s now a large high-strength steel LPG tank where the spare wheel used to be. It’s 32 litres in the Sandero and Logan, and 34 litres in the Duster. None of the above suffer in terms of boot space for having an LPG tank.

If you combine both petrol and LPG with full tanks, a combined range of over 600 miles is possible. The popularity of the technology was first seen in Europe. In Italy, one in three Dacia vehicles is fitted with the system. 

Given that it’s an in-house offering, work is done on the production line and no delays are expected. Servicing intervals remain similar to those of petrol or diesel variants. Bi-fuel models will come with a 60,000-mile three-year warranty as standard, similar to other Dacia models. 

  • Motorists could save £41,000 by switching to electric

Dacia brings back LPG to the UK

The system will be on sale this month. The Sandero starts from £9,095, the Logan from £10,595 and the Duster from £12,895.

“The Dacia range is all about delivering value for money without compromising on quality and running costs, and the introduction of LPG models to the UK reinforces this ethos,” said Luke Broad, head of brand for Dacia UK.

“The technology is proven in Dacia products and the new 1.0-litre bi-fuel engine is an impressive piece of engineering which has been developed to fulfil all of the criteria expected of models like the Duster, Sandero and Logan MCV. With this new LPG engine, plus our petrol and diesel powertrains, we have the perfect Dacia model for any customer, no matter what they are looking for.”

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Storm Ciara damages race circuit’s famous ‘Scary Tree’

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Storm Ciara Snetterton scary tree

A post on the Snetterton circuit’s website is titled ‘Motorsport in mourning’ after Storm Ciara damaged the famous trackside ‘Scary Tree’.

The Scary Tree was christened as such by motorsport fans and racing drivers, as it looked like a giant person with arms in the air. Some also referred to it as the ‘Victory Tree’, given the arms could be outstretched in celebration. 

Storm Ciara Snetterton scary tree

The reaction to the damage has been widespread, with characters from across motorsport expressing their sadness. The BRDC British Formula 3 Championship called it ‘tremendously sad news for a popular landmark’ on Twitter. W Series racer Alice Powell simply remarked ‘NOOOOOO’.

The tree was suffering somewhat before Storm Ciara blew through on February 9, liberating it of its arms. The circuit’s press release referenced ‘years of poor health’, saying ‘the tree’s once-mighty arms were already beginning to suffer a little before the winds of Storm Ciara brought them crashing down’.

  • Some drivers would prefer to be with their car on Valentine’s Day

Storm Ciara Snetterton scary tree

Snetterton’s closing statement reads: ‘We approached the tree for comment, but it refused to say anything’.

In all seriousness, it’s never nice for a landmark, to lose a defining feature. In any racing shots, if the Scary Tree could be seen in the background, you knew it was ‘Snetty’. Is it up there with the tragedy of the Notre Dame cathedral? Probably not. But it’s a loss nonetheless. 

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New Czinger 21C is a hybrid hypercar for the Netflix generation

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Czinger 21C on highway

The Stranger Things vibe is too overt for it to be a coincidence. Watch the 60-second teaser video for the Czinger 21C and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into Hawkins, Indiana.

Not that there’s anything remotely retro about the 21C. As the name suggests, this is a hypercar for the 21st century. It’s also built in Los Angeles, which is around 2,000 miles from the Scarcourt Mall. As for its premiere, the Czinger will be fully revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

For the benefit of any doubt, Czinger is pronounced with a silent ‘c’, so it’s the first supercar to sound like a chicken burger at KFC. It’s also named after the founder and CEO Kevin Czinger, the co-founder of Coda Automotive. More on the CEO in a moment. What do we know about the car?

In truth, not a lot. The company has released a selection of images and an atmospheric video, but specs and details are as thin on the ground as a healthy snack at Scoops Ahoy.

Czinger 21C hybrid engine

It represents a ‘paradigm shift in the way vehicles are designed, developed, engineered and manufactured’, says the short press release. It’s a reference to the 3D printing techniques showcased by Divergent 3D, the company Kevin Czinger founded three years ago.

Previously, Czinger has said the manufacturing process for every mainstream car “is fundamentally broken”. In an interview with Road & Track, Czinger said: “In a car company, they’re in all of their silos. They’re not trying to work with people outside or develop new commercial equipment. They’re looking at what technologies fit into and improve their existing production capability.

”We’re looking to combine computing power, science, and additive manufacturing into one system.”

To this end, Czinger enlisted the help of senior execs from Apple, Boeing, Google, Koenigsegg and SpaceX, while Dave O’Connell, formerly of Mitsubishi, was brought in to work on the design.

Czinger 21C: ‘Super-cool car’

Czinger 21C rear

You might recall the Divergent Blade – a 700hp, 3D-printed supercar that was given the Jay Leno treatment in 2017. It represents Czinger’s “fantasy of what a super-cool car would look like”, one in which the driver sits in the middle position, with a passenger sat behind. A kind of 3D-printed two-person bobsled on four wheels, if you like.

Czinger also references the Lola T70, and the influence of the Can-Am racer is clear to see. The CEO was raised in Cleveland, Ohio and he built hotrods with his brothers.

The Divergent Blade lineage in the Czinger 21C is obvious, but even from the video, it’s clear that the company has moved on. The images hint of a car that’s more production-ready, with styling that’s part-Lola, part-McLaren and part-Batmobile.

A low weight is guaranteed. The Blade tipped the scales at just 630kg, which gave it a power-to-weight ratio of 1,142.8hp per tonne. It used a 2.4-litre engine from the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. The company has confirmed the use of a hybrid powertrain developed in-house for the 21C, but while the output is unclear, the video suggests a redline of 10,000rpm.

There’s swathes of carbon-fibre, a full length LED light strip at the rear, a rear-view camera, a large rear wing, a central exhaust, stacked LED headlights and a central driving position.

More information will almost certainly be released ahead of the Czinger 21C’s global debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Will the full details be leaked or revealed ahead of 3 March? Stranger things have happened… 

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Lotus produces special Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition – just for Oz

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Lotus Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition

Lotus has announced a new special edition model, intended to celebrate the famous Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race.  

Intended only for Australian customers, the Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition also honours the association between the Lotus brand and the Bathurst circuit. 

It means the Bathurst race will maintain a strong British association during 2020. This new Lotus follows the success of the Bentley Team M-Sport Continental GT3 winning the recent endurance race in dramatic fashion.

Motorsport pedigree included

Lotus Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition

Although Lotus did not enter the 2020 Bathurst 12 Hour race, various models have competed at the Mount Panorama event. This has included class wins for the Exige Cup R model at the 2014 and 2015 races. 

The new Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition has less power than those racers. But it still maintains a healthy 181 kW (245 hp) from the mid-mounted 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine. 

That is sufficient to allow the 931 kg Elise to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 4.2 seconds. Shifting through the six-speed manual gearbox can see a potential top speed of over 248 km/h (150 mph). On a track, of course.

Ready for track use

Lotus Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition

Being used on track is the prime motivation for the Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition. After 150 Lotus fans watched the racing at the 2020 Bathurst 12 Hour, many then took to the track in their own cars to experience Mount Panorama. 

On-site mentoring allowed drivers to get the most out of their cars, with hot laps also on offer from professional Lotus drivers. 

Australia was the sixth-largest market for Lotus cars during 2019, with David McIntyre, Regional Director, Asia Pacific & China, commenting that with “stand-out events such as the Lotus-only track day, we will continue to build the brand across Australia”.

Exclusive upgrades

Lotus Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition

For the few lucky buyers who grab a Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition, there are notable upgrades over the regular Cup 250 model. 

Special decals can be found on the exterior, incorporating an outline of the iconic Mount Panorama circuit. Black forged alloy wheels are also included for the Bathurst Edition, fitted with sticky Yokohama Advan rubber.

Most important of all is the numbered plaque fitted to each of the finished cars. The press image suggests just six examples will be built, meaning interested Lotus fans may need to move quickly. 

Lotus Elise Cup 250 Bathurst Edition

Lotus has not confirmed the exact number of Bathurst Edition cars to be built, or pricing for them. At present, the regular Elise Cup 250 has a retail price of $107,990 in Australia (around £56,000). 

All Lotus cars supplied in Australia come with the ‘333’ package. This includes free servicing and roadside assistance for three years, along with a three-year warranty. 

The Bathurst Edition is exclusively for customers Down Under. Having recently tested the Cup 250 in the UK, we can only look on in envy.

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