Frankfurt Motorshow 1999 - Lotus M250

Today at the 58th Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (I.A.A.) in Frankfurt, Lotus presents the Project M250 Concept Car - the latest sportscar development from Lotus.

This two-seater, mid-engined, high performance supercar possesses world leading aerodynamic downforce combined with unrivalled chassis stiffness to give a unique driving experience. By being exceptionally lightweight, the M250 Concept Car achieves sensational performance: a true Lotus.

Powered by a mid-mounted Lotus-developed 3.0 litre V6 engine that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox, the M250 would, if it was to be built, slot into the Lotus line-up between the Elise and the Esprit.

Instead of aiming for ultimate top speed, Lotus has placed the emphasis on driving pleasure in the M250. That said, it will be brutally fast in everyday driving conditions  0-100km/h (0-62mph) in less than 5.0 seconds, 0-160 km/h (0-100 mph) in less than 11.0 seconds. Top speed will be electronically limited to

250km/h (155mph), a move which gives Lotus engineers tremendous freedom to optimise the rest of the car's dynamic qualities and give it impressive high-speed stability and superb handling.

As it's a Lotus, the M250 is a light car  its unladen weight will be less than 1000kg  which brings tremendous benefits in terms of driveability and response to the throttle and steering wheel. Its power-to-weight ratio will embarrass many rivals, as will its agility and its levels of driver satisfaction.

Even though the M250 will be equipped with all the standard luxury items you expect in a car in this price bracket, it isn't lumbered with the intrusive electronic driver intervention devices that are taking the fun out of many other sports cars. Although intended as more of an everyday car than the Elise, the M250 remains a true instrument for driving.

The concept car on display at the I.A.A. is fresh from the Lotus Engineering's Styling Department's modelling division, based at Lotus-Coventry, England. The M250 shows the design philosophies for Lotus cars of the future: a cabin-forward design and short overhangs, front and rear to create a mean, purposeful look.

Russell Carr, Head of Styling and Design at Lotus, explains: "The M250 blends sensuous lines with contemporary, crisp design elements, to give it what we like to refer to as 'attitude'.

"Although it's a ground-up design, we've chosen to give the M250 visual bond with the Elise and the 340R  you can see the links in the top-exiting front radiators, the distinctive side air vents, and in the general proportions of the car; it's compact, agile and athletic.

"But the M250's overall look is very much its own and we're extremely proud of the design, particularly the wrap-around windscreen, which is very similar to a visor on a motorbike helmet."

Today at the 58th Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (I.A.A.) in Frankfurt, Lotus presents the Project M250 Concept Car - the latest sportscar development from Lotus.

This two-seater, mid-engined, high performance supercar possesses world leading aerodynamic downforce combined with unrivalled chassis stiffness to give a unique driving experience. By being exceptionally lightweight, the M250 Concept Car achieves sensational performance: a true Lotus.

Powered by a mid-mounted Lotus-developed 3.0 litre V6 engine that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox, the M250 would, if it was to be built, slot into the Lotus line-up between the Elise and the Esprit.

Instead of aiming for ultimate top speed, Lotus has placed the emphasis on driving pleasure in the M250. That said, it will be brutally fast in everyday driving conditions  0-100km/h (0-62mph) in less than 5.0 seconds, 0-160 km/h (0-100 mph) in less than 11.0 seconds. Top speed will be electronically limited to

250km/h (155mph), a move which gives Lotus engineers tremendous freedom to optimise the rest of the car's dynamic qualities and give it impressive high-speed stability and superb handling.

As it's a Lotus, the M250 is a light car  its unladen weight will be less than 1000kg  which brings tremendous benefits in terms of driveability and response to the throttle and steering wheel. Its power-to-weight ratio will embarrass many rivals, as will its agility and its levels of driver satisfaction.

Even though the M250 will be equipped with all the standard luxury items you expect in a car in this price bracket, it isn't lumbered with the intrusive electronic driver intervention devices that are taking the fun out of many other sports cars. Although intended as more of an everyday car than the Elise, the M250 remains a true instrument for driving.

The concept car on display at the I.A.A. is fresh from the Lotus Engineering's Styling Department's modelling division, based at Lotus-Coventry, England. The M250 shows the design philosophies for Lotus cars of the future: a cabin-forward design and short overhangs, front and rear to create a mean, purposeful look.

Russell Carr, Head of Styling and Design at Lotus, explains: "The M250 blends sensuous lines with contemporary, crisp design elements, to give it what we like to refer to as 'attitude'.

"Although it's a ground-up design, we've chosen to give the M250 visual bond with the Elise and the 340R  you can see the links in the top-exiting front radiators, the distinctive side air vents, and in the general proportions of the car; it's compact, agile and athletic.

"But the M250's overall look is very much its own and we're extremely proud of the design, particularly the wrap-around windscreen, which is very similar to a visor on a motorbike helmet."

A major achievement in the M250's design is that it has excellent aerodynamic properties 'straight out of the box'. Lotus engineers and designers have used the knowledge learned from designing competition cars to create a shape with an extremely well balanced aerodynamic package. Downforce and high speed stability were given priority over a very low drag coefficient in the design of the M250, and to manage the airflow underneath the car to conjure up even greater downforce resulting in a Cz of 0.15.

The M250 wouldn't be a proper Lotus unless lightweight was an important part of its genetic make-up; it's an integral part of Lotus Car's whole philosophy. The concept's chassis improves and develops upon the bonded extruded aluminium technology used to such great effect in the Elise.

Lotus engineers are continually investigating new construction techniques and technology as well as new materials, though such advances will only be introduced when proven to offer a genuine advantage  it isn't the Lotus way to use things just because they look pretty or are fashionable.

There are several innovative options regarding what materials the body should be made from. All possibilities are being explored including aluminium/composite construction. In addition to being lightweight, the body material will support high quality manufacturing techniques.

Rather than enter the horsepower race, Lotus has opted to follow the more rewarding "power-to-weight" path. Target unladen weight for the M250 is less than 1000kg, and the expected power output from the Lotus-developed 3.0-litre V6 is 186kW (250bhp).

Electronically limited to 250 km/h (155mph), the M250 flexes its muscles at the lower, and more often used, end of the performance spectrum  standstill to 100km/h (0-62mph) will be achieved in less than 5.0 seconds, while its sub-11.0 seconds 0-160 km/h (0-100 mph) time takes it firmly into supercar territory.

"If we decide to build the M250, it will be the best handling car ever from Lotus," according to Lotus Cars' Managing Director, Graham Peel, "Throttle response will be superb and the car will feel agile and truly special to drive. It will sound great, have a first-rate gear change and excellent ABS-assisted brakes.

"The concept behind the M250 is to produce another superlative driver's car, in the same mould as the Elise, but with technical refinements and enhancements made possible through what we've learned from over 50 years of sportscar development."

However, the M250 will be more of an everyday car than the Elise. It will have 'creature comforts' such as air-conditioning, central locking and electric windows. But there won't be any unnecessary electronically controlled stability aids or traction control devices  Lotus prefers to produce a responsive and well-behaved chassis in the first place.

If the car were to go into production and become the next new Lotus then it would be in European dealers in the first half of 2001, built in similar volumes to the Elise (currently over 3000 cars a year).

Engine: Transverse mid-mounted naturally aspirated 3.0 litre V6

Double overhead camshafts

Electronic fuel injection

Electronic engine management system

Maximum Power: 186 kW (250 bhp)

Suspension: Independent upper and lower wishbones Co-axial springs and dampers

Steering: Rack and pinion (power assisted)

Wheels: 6 spoke aluminium alloy

Front: 8J x 18

Rear: 10J x 19

Tyres:

Front: 225/40 ZR18

Rear: 285/35 ZR19

Brakes: 320mm-diameter cast iron ventilated discs

4 piston racing callipers all round ABS

Weight: less than 1000kg

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 2518mm

Length: 4137mm

Width: 1817mm

Height: 1166mm

Performance:

Acceleration: 0-100km/h (0-62mph)  less than 5.0 seconds

0-160 km/h (0-100mph)  less than 11.0 seconds

Top speed: 250km/h (155mph) - Electronically limited