Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Ask And Ye Shall Receive Edition

Oh come on, you had to know I was going to jump on this one!

A wonderful discussion sprung up during last night’s Last Call, regarding all the different “side projects” that Lotus has done over the years. Little known fact, every project Lotus has ever worked on has been assigned a number; many of those numbers remain completely unknown, with Lotus never revealing their involvement in some projects for other manufacturers who feel they would lose face by calling in outside help. In many cases, these projects have been carefully covered up or explained away as generic “Formula One research”.
One wonders why they’d ever feel any shame about it at all, however; Lotus has had their fingers in so many different automotive pies over he years that there is certainly no shame in bringing them in as a subcontractor. Their work with improving a car’s handling is nothing short of artistic. Most cars wear the Lotus name as a badge of pride.
And there are quite a few of them that do. So that’s your Encyclopedia Hoonatica challenge for today. Name all the cars that are not built by Lotus, but do have some Lotus-designed or Lotus-built components in them.
DIFFICULTY: So easy that if this post doesn’t reach 100 comments by the end of the day, you’re all getting beatings.
Posting duplicates will get you shot, and not resizing your images appropriately will get your body fed to Hoonibbles. Alive.

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  1. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    <img src="http://www.lotusespritturbo.com/Lotus_Sunbeam.jpg&quot; width=500 /img>
    Chrysler Sunbeam Turbo – proof that North America didn't get the only cool Mopar hatch.

    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      Actually, it was no longer a Chrysler by the time it was released. It was a Talbot, which was Peugeot's short-lived marque to handle the leftovers inherited when they bought Chrysler Europe. The car was officially called Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and it was RWD. Good car, but it was priced so high that few people bought it.

      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        Right you are – my memory was just fuzzy enough that when the Wikipedia article was titled "Chrysler Sunbeam," I took that at face value without skimming the content.

      2. earlofhalflight Avatar
        earlofhalflight

        Also, it was naturally aspirated – no turbo.

  2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    Isuzu Impulse Turbo coupe and Stylus XS sedan.
    <img src="http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f120/144736d1271348554-lotus-xr4-ti-1989-isuzu-impulse-turbo.jpg&quot; width="450">

      1. chrystlubitshi Avatar
        chrystlubitshi

        when those first came out… i really wanted one (i remember loving the ads– i was 8 or 9).. dad dismissed it as a crappier version of the geo storm (which he admitted wanting for his road-warrior type job (gas mileage)) but he could not give up comfort.. (thank god— because i fell in love with the Ford Panther cars and the GM B-body/platform… (of the 80s/90s))

      2. TurboBrick Avatar
        TurboBrick

        Now that's what I'm talking about, LS bodykit with the 13" steelies & turbine wheelcovers and honeycomb tail lights. My family had one for 8 years, except it was blue on top and silver on the bottom as was popular at the time. No AC, no PS, no tach, 5 speeds and 1.5 liters of Mitsubishi sourced "power". Close ratio gears so you had something to do while you waited for the speed to pick up, yet it delivered between 30 – 45 MPG. They imported only a handful of them before Hyundai pulled out of the Finland and the recession hit, so no one had a clue of what it was and generally though that it was something more impressive than a reskinned Excel.
        It was a lot of fun for that environment back then… I'd imagine that trying to drive one of these around the larger cities in the US would be a whole different animal as every freeway onramp would be a near-death experience.

  3. M44Power Avatar
    M44Power

    Corvette ZR-1.

    1. skitter Avatar
      skitter

      To clarify, most of the engine design of the C4 ZR-1, as well as the Corvette Active Handling Concept.

  4. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Dodge Spirit R/T – engine designed by Lotus.
    <img src="http://www.relentlessracing.com/images/customer_larry_spirit.jpg"&gt;

      1. muthalovin Avatar

        I had one once, and I never knew that. It was even a Shelby. So, it was like, uh, hmm. Shit, I don't even know.

        1. tonyola Avatar
          tonyola

          The only Daytonas with the Lotus engines were the 1992-1993 IROC R/T models, and only around 500 or so were produced.

          1. muthalovin Avatar

            Damn. Well mark me down as a non-Lotus Daytona.

          2. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            Maserati did some work on a DOHC Chrysler 2.2 for the TC, don't know if that went in anything else. I know some of the Daytona race cars used it.

  5. mdharrell Avatar

    "Name all the cars…."
    Nah, I'm posting the Sinclair C5 again anyway. Not a car, but street-legal and chock full of work undertaken by Lotus.
    <img src="http://www.thejimbambercollection.com/bamberblog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/sennasinclair1.jpg&quot; width="350">

    1. mdharrell Avatar

      Just dial 100 and ask for Freefone C5 now!
      [youtube 0EQetm_qWDg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EQetm_qWDg youtube]

  6. dragon951 Avatar
    dragon951

    I haven't got a lot of time today, so I will go with some low hanging fruit:
    <img src="http://image.automobilemag.com/f/preview/6667429+w440/0611_z+Tesla_Roadster_Preproduction+front.jpg&quot; />

    1. Deartháir Avatar
      Deartháir

      Hmm. Now does that count, since it's built by Lotus, but rebadged by unicorns and leprechauns Tesla?

      1. dragon951 Avatar
        dragon951

        Lotus didn't design the whole thing, plus it doesn't install the drive train. So Tesla does have some hand in it's construction. Mainly birthing and hooking up the unicorns. Oh yeah, and bottling up rainbows.

  7. retro Avatar
    retro

    <img src="http://ploader.net/files/12d7ac7f46e63b9377cd2aa664fac328.jpg&quot; width="500">
    Still lots of cool ones left…

  8. dustin_driver Avatar
    dustin_driver

    GM's Ecotech engine was almost completely developed by Lotus Engineering. So, tons and tons of cars there.
    <img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/10/26/22/39/2004_saab_9-3-pic-3738146220731427155.jpeg"&gt;
    <img src="http://organisatie.cdokortrijk.be/docs/vervanging/AUTO/9.jpg&quot; width="500">
    Saab 9-3
    Opel Astra, Zafira, Roadster, Speedster
    Pontiac Solstice, Pontiac Sky
    Heck, even the 2011 Buick Regal
    <img src="http://media.il.edmunds-media.com/buick/regal/2011/ns/2011_buick_regal_actf34_ns_12110_717.jpg&quot; width="500">

  9. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Opel Lotus Omega
    <DIV style="OVERFLOW: auto"><img src="http://www.carsplusplus.com/pictures/1990/97726/photo.jpg&quot; width=500>
    If only THIS had been "the Caddy that Zigs".

    1. ChuckyShamrok Avatar
      ChuckyShamrok

      Wasn't that actually badged as a Lotus Carlton though?

      1. retro Avatar
        retro

        It was the Lotus Carlton in England, the Lotus Omega in mainland Europe, and the Type 104 in the Lotus design office.

      2. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
        FuzzyPlushroom

        That was the UK model (née Vauxhall Carlton). Same car, different market.
        EDIT: Bollocks. It didn't show me retro's post when I refreshed for some reason.

  10. Slow Joe Crow Avatar
    Slow Joe Crow

    Chevy Corvette ZR-1's LT5 engine
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/GMLT5.JPG/800px-GMLT5.JPG&quot; width="600">

    1. LTDScott Avatar

      I thought Mercury Marine made them.

      1. skitter Avatar
        skitter

        They handled the assembly.

  11. LTDScott Avatar

    And when looking up the I-Mark, apparently the Isuzu Bighorn (aka Trooper) had a Handling By Lotus edition!
    <img src="http://www.isuzu-bighorn.info/gallery/photos/1998/isuzu-bighorn-photo-3.jpg"&gt;

    1. Deartháir Avatar
      Deartháir

      So it could clumsily fall over at even greater speeds!

  12. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    The AW11 MR2 had suspension design tweaked by Lotus.
    <img src="http://www.mr2club.gr/documents/94/htmlimport_Imgp1140.jpg&quot; "width=500">

  13. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    And in honor of two-wheeled Tuesday, the Triumph T595 Daytona's 3 cylinder had head design help from Lotus.
    <img src="http://www.net33.com/triumph/t595co.jpg"&gt;

  14. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    Because I'm a petty person, I must note I had the Bighorn/Trooper, I-Mark, Omega, and Speedster/VX220, but I took too long to find images for all these so somebody else got them 'first'.
    Isuzu Piazza/Impulse / Asüna Sunfire:
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/1990-1993_Isuzu_Piazza_01.jpg/800px-1990-1993_Isuzu_Piazza_01.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    Kia Elan:
    <img src="http://www.indoto.com/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/KIA/1998_kia_elan-1.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    Toyota Supra MA63:
    <img src="http://i.pbase.com/u15/suprafiend/large/4528333.85atMorieneLake.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    I don't know what they did, but it was something. Toyota owned most of Lotus around this time, so there's probably more.
    The Excel used the transmission and door handles from these cars, and the Esprit had AE86 Corolla taillights.
    Proton Savvy:
    <img src="http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/02/23/211406.3-lg.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    Proton Satria Neo:
    <img src="http://media.carblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/proton-r3-satria.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    And the old one.
    Proton Waja:
    <img src="http://www.allcarpictures.com/pictures/proton/waja/proton-waja.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    Wah-ha-ha-ha
    Proton Gen.2:
    <img src="http://media.paultan.org/mme/mme_gen2_side_large.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    Yes, Proton's getting their money's worth out of this.

    1. Black Steelies Avatar

      A brief google search yielded the proton site for me too. Looking at the site, the mere association with the Lotus brand seems to be their main selling point!

  15. CJinSD Avatar
    CJinSD

    I don't see the Jensen Healey mentioned yet, which had the dubious honor of being the development mule for the Esprit's engine.

  16. muthalovin Avatar

    Now, its been quite a while since I have done a Hoonatica comment, but I am positive this does not count:
    SHO powered Esprit:
    <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/01-esprit.jpg&quot; width=500>
    <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/08-esprit.jpg&quot; width=500>

    1. Deartháir Avatar
      Deartháir

      Doesn't count one bit, but I don't give two shits. I love it.

    2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      As a lover of the Esprit (especially the original body)…and of Yamaha…and of groovy-looking engines, I must say that this thing gives me a severe case of Tingly Sensations™

  17. CJinSD Avatar
    CJinSD

    [youtube JguZD-y_vlY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JguZD-y_vlY youtube]

  18. NMUSpidey Avatar
    NMUSpidey

    [youtube P4Y_rAFmlEA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Y_rAFmlEA youtube]
    I'm pretty sure this counts (at least on a technicality), it is after all, a Renault with a Lotus badge on it.

  19. Black Steelies Avatar

    I just read about the new Hennessey supercar dubbed the Venom GT. Apparently it's based on the Exige. In fact it's pretty obvious. It's easy to tell which cars have the golden seal just by looking at them.
    <img src="http://www.gotbroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2011-Hennessey-Venom-GT-Front-Side-Top-Picture-588×391.jpg"&gt;

    1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      I was just going to post the Venom GT, so here's a picture to go with your suggestion:
      <img src="http://www.speedlux.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/hennessey-venom-gt-5w-650×433.jpg&quot; "width=500">

    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      Rumour (see what I did there?) has it that Lotus were dissatisfied with this design and were quick to flush it away. Too bad, as the proposed tagline (Now with extra lightness built in) was a winner.

  20. nitroracer Avatar
    nitroracer

    While I don't have a new car to add I do think this game would be fun with Cosworth and Yamaha as well.
    <img src="http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/60179-a-sub-625×406.jpg&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/3114/601/7782800195_large.jpg&quot; width="600">

    1. Black Steelies Avatar

      Cosworth seconded. I almost posted a Cosworth until I realized the question involved Lotus.

  21. jim-bob Avatar
    jim-bob

    A little bit of LHF (The Proton Savvy and Isuzu I-mark were sadly already taken…), but the Lotus Eclat. It, along with the Elite, were I believe the first cars to use Lotus' twin cam engine.
    [img ]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOGE4r6c2SpIg51RfQldNa3i_sE0O0q0qKqHTCjHava4XQWf_FqQ[/img]
    [img ]http://www.exoticcarsite.com/pictures/Cars/lotus/elite-1973/lotus-elite-1973-1.jpg[/img

    1. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      The syntax is [img src="link-to-image" width=500], except you need to use less than and greater than instead of the square brackets.
      <img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOGE4r6c2SpIg51RfQldNa3i_sE0O0q0qKqHTCjHava4XQWf_FqQ&quot; width=500>
      <img src="http://www.exoticcarsite.com/pictures/Cars/lotus/elite-1973/lotus-elite-1973-1.jpg&quot; width=500>

  22. Foolish Avatar
    Foolish

    YES!! no one beat me to this:
    Lotus Type 108 carbon fibre monocoque time-trial bike
    <img src="http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f120/28499d1148139464-lotus-super-bike-lotusbike1.jpg&quot; width=500>

    1. Foolish Avatar
      Foolish

      …though I guess it DOES "say name all the CARS…."

      1. Lotte Avatar
        Lotte

        Just as long as we get to that magic 100-post mark we will evade the wrath of Dearthair be fine!
        Huh, never knew Lotus dabbled in bicycles, though in retrospect it seems pretty obvious. Nice find!

        1. ptschett Avatar
          ptschett

          Now I'm reminded of when I first bought my bicycle. One of my buddies advised me to add lightness by taking off the reflectors and fenders. I asked how he'd managed to ignore my beer gut all these years.

          1. joshuman Avatar
            joshuman

            He was just thinking of you after several thousand miles on the new bike.

        2. ptschett Avatar
          ptschett

          >poof?<

    2. JeepyJayhawk Avatar

      I like it. You get a point.

  23. Lotte Avatar
    Lotte

    <img src="http://www.motoiq.com/Blogs/Eric/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/fuji12.jpg&quot; width="500">
    I think the current GTR has chassis and suspension input from Lotus; it ways here but it's difficult to cross check: http://www.hitachi-c-m.com/asia/products/rigid/eh

      1. Lotte Avatar
        Lotte

        Whoa. Tab shall stay open for near-future reading.

  24. Lotte Avatar
    Lotte

    Went out on a limb and googled 'Lotus Engineering' along with the name of my favourite car since last week and lo! I present the Jaguar XJ Hybrid (not the exact picture but it looks the same anyway)!
    <img src="http://api.cdmdata.m7z.net/ImageServer/d_10490/SAJWA2GB0BLV01497-0.jpg&quot; width=" 500'=" '="">
    Reportedly, the hybrid system received input from a couple of companies, one of which was Lotus. Who knew?

  25. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    They've done suspension setup for the past and upcoming Astra VXR:
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/VauxhallAstraVXR.jpg&quot; width="500">
    Come full circle from the Kia Elan to this current Kia toaster:
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/KiaSoul.jpg"&gt;
    And helped Mahindra with the Scorpio to the point that they may buy Lotus outright:
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/MahindraScorpio.jpg"&gt;
    Aside: Holy pillar lights! Cross reference, away!

    1. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      I never would have imagined anyone would ask the question of "what would it look like if we combined a Volvo wagon's tail light with a 2nd generation Durango's", let alone put the answer into production.

  26. Syrax Avatar
    Syrax

    I don't know about all the side projects but the "Type" list is known, you can see it here.

  27. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    Something came to me in a dream and told me Lotus might have had something to do with early Caterhams.
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/Caterham7A.jpg&quot; width="500">

  28. engineerd Avatar

    The Hennessey Venom GT is based on the Lotus Exige, if we're allowing platform selling.
    <img width=500 src="http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Hennessey-Venom-GT-101.jpg"&gt;
    Image from Caradvice.com.au.

  29. engineerd Avatar

    Also, considering Lotus used the Ford Kent engine for the early Elans, and then modified it for the Twincam, I have to assume that Lotus had a hand in further development of the Kent engine, including the Crossflow. Therefore, Lotus touched the Capri, Pinto, Reliant Anadol and whatever the TVRs were that used the Kent engine.