Symphonic Exhaust: Jay Leno's Lotus Elan

If you read my posts about Lotus (see HERE and HERE), then watching this video might help you further understand my appreciation from the quirky little English manufacturer.

If nothing else, the sound the twin-cam in this little Elan makes is simply unearthly.

Enjoy!

Lotus: the future of car-building philosophy?

To be more accurate, Lotus' car building philosophy is not new. But it is simple, and even 50-odd years later, it's a refreshing outlook. The founder of Lotus cars was an Englishman named Colin Chapman, and his idea was that if you kept the weight of a car down, you could be faster than the competition despite using smaller engines. A smaller, lighter car also handles (that is, can take turns faster, brake harder, and change directions faster) better than a heavier one. If you remember the old Newtonian laws, this will make sense - there is less mass moving about, and so changing the motion of that mass takes less energy. Another upshot is that small, light cars invariably are more fuel efficient, and that is as important on the racetrack as it is on the street. But more on that last point in a bit.

One of his earliest and most iconic cars was the Lotus 7. This was about as minimalist as you get - two seats, a steering wheel, and four wheels. There was really no top to speak of, and most of the parts were taken from inexpensive donor cars (for example, the tiny motor was came from a small, inexpensive Ford sold in Britain). It was wildly successful as an inexpensive weekend racer, and it is still made to this day by successor companies who bought the rights to build the model (ie, the Caterham Se7en).

Why I am going on about this manufacturer? The New York Times just published a great review of one of Lotus' current offerings, the Exige S240. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/automobiles/autoreviews/21lotus-exige.html?8dpc) As the review explains, this car really takes the "add lightness" philosophy to heart. At just over 2,000 lbs. and making 240 hp, it goes 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds and gets 26 MPG on the freeway. And it does this without a huge V8, or a complex and expensive exotic engine. It uses a Toyota four-cylinder motor that came out of the decidedly unexotic Toyota Celica, with a supercharger bolted on.

What's the bottom line? I know that not every car can weigh 2,000 lbs, or go really fast with a tiny Toyota motor. And trust me, not every person could even fit inside a Lotus Exige (they're tiny!). And while safety is a really big concern for me in recommending cars, advanced safety technology can render even ludicrously small cars like the Smart ForTwo fairly safe. It's refreshing to realize that small, light cars carry lots of benefits, and can be fun to drive too.

How do I feel about domestic cars?

That’s a fair question, and it’s one that I think I should answer on this blog so you can understand if there is any bias that I have that you should know about. I work really hard to remain unbiased when I advise you, and I’ve had a lot of training as an attorney in advancing positions impartially. I consider it an ethical duty.


But I’m also going to tell you how it is. And the domestic manufacturers, for the most part, haven’t been putting the best cars on the road for a long time now. Does that mean if you are asking for a super-duty truck, I’m going to steer you away from a domestic? No, of course not. The domestics make the best light trucks in the industry. That’s a fact. Do they make the best mid-sized FWD sedan? No, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll always tell you to get an Accord or Camry. The Saturn Aura and Chevy Malibu are really great cars, they are just up against some really insane competition. Do you want to buy a car without negotiating, from an American company? Well then the Saturn is definitely your car, and I’d love to tell you to get one.


People have lots of reasons behind their purchase preferences. I respect all of them, and as a professional consultant, your preferences become MY preferences. Of course, as an advisor with strong ethics, I will disclose any information that I think you should know in making a decision. That’s a lot different than imposing my will on clients.


My philosophy is, I tell you about both sides of the coin, empowering you to make a better decision. I want you to be happy with your car. For many folks, buying a car is a little like getting a new pet. You’ll be spending a lot of time with it, it needs attention, and it will live for a long time. You can settle for something that’s ok but is more of an appliance, like the dishwasher, or you can get something you’re proud of. Usually the latter is the better option. But you tell me. It’s going to be your car, you can get something boring if you want!


So the bottom line is that I’m going to recommend the best car for the job, but the “job” is going to be your “job,” not mine.