Last Call: This Japanese inspired widebody Lotus looks amazing!

Colby Buchanan

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Apart from the fact that every photo that comes from Speedhunters is gorgeous, this widebody Lotus still looks amazing. The wide fenders, the wing, the TE37s, it all works together so well. The exposed exhaust with the Japanese plate is a really nice touch too.

I really like how Lotuses look even normally but it’s crazy how small they are. All the ones I’ve seen as a valet are so hard to drive. It kind of feels like a first-gen Miata in that way. It’d still be breaking my neck if I saw it rolling down the street. Thoughts?

Last Call indicates the end of Hooniverse’s broadcast day. It’s meant to be an open forum for anyone and anything. Thread jacking is not only accepted, it’s encouraged.

About

Colby Buchanan

Colby Buchanan

My name is Colby Buchanan and I love all things car-related all the way from rusted 240sx’s to McLaren Senna’s and of course I have a soft spot for American Muscle. You can spot me in my bone stock ’06 350z named MackenZ.

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17 responses to “Last Call: This Japanese inspired widebody Lotus looks amazing!”

  1. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Chapman’s philosophy doesn’t translate well to Japanese.

    https://media.dayoftheshirt.com/images/shirts/xKtvY/blipshift_add-lightness-vi_1509034383.large.png

    Reply
    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Lotus was never adverse to slapping a turbo on stuff themselves and the arches probably add less weigh than a “touring pack”. The mirrors are smaller than stock, and TE37s are a ridiculously light wheel, I think the Japanese understand the zen thing better than most. 😉

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        The purpose of over-fenders is to allow for wider wheels/tires, so the TE37 and Advans are likely larger and therefore heavier than stock. And while carbon fiber is admittedly light, the extra lips, diffusers, and sill extensions will invariably add more mass. That said, I don’t think the modifications add significant weight, and any upgrades to the engine probably more than make up for it. I’m not a fan of wings, but I usually think fender flares are worth it from an aesthetic perspective if nothing else.

        Regardless, I generally don’t think the Japanese fail so much on the “lightness” part of the equation as they do the “simplify”. Case in point is the Civic Type R– holy hell, that thing is a mess of unnecessary tacked-on garbage. I will give strong exception to Mazda, though, who probably carry Chapman’s torch better than any other mainstream auto maker.

        Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Lotus was never adverse to slapping a turbo on stuff themselves and the arches probably add less weigh than a “touring pack”. The mirrors are smaller than stock, and TE37s are a ridiculously light wheel, I think the Japanese understand the zen thing better than most. 😉

      Reply
      1. nanoop Avatar
        nanoop

        I wonder what a touring pack would consist of – at Lotus: a tiny ashtray and window seals?

        I looked up TE37, which managed not-to-be-seen by me until now. Wow, TE37 those are 3.7kg in 15″, allegedly! 7×15 Fuchs wheels, the gold standard for classic, light wheels on P-cars, are ~50% more. I am intrigued to see if they are available in 7×15 and 5×130 (and cheaper than 3.7kg of gold…).

        Reply
    3. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      Doesn’t it? Not that many more syllables.

      簡素化して明るさを追加

      Kanso-ka shite akaru-sa o tsuika

      Reply
  2. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Why do you consider them “hard to drive”? Small to get into? I have never driven a Lotus. My expectation though would be a bare bones, direct driving experience.

    But, you know, I would be perfectly content with a Korean sports car:
    https://images.cdn.circlesix.co/image/1/640/0/uploads/articles/kia-elan-53f22024a4dc1.jpg

    Reply
    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Easy to drive, at least within its limits, maybe he’s just a big lad? Getting in and out of an Elise/Exige is tricky with the roof on, you’ve got to remember the correct order of getting in – Arse, head, legs and the reverse getting out or the entire process becomes very undignified and may result in pavement faceplant.

      Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Easy to drive, at least within its limits, maybe he’s just a big lad? Getting in and out of an Elise/Exige is tricky with the roof on, you’ve got to remember the correct order of getting in – Arse, head, legs and the reverse getting out or the entire process becomes very undignified and may result in pavement faceplant.

      Reply
    3. 0A5599 Avatar
      0A5599

      I had spent a fair amount of passenger seat time in a GM/Isuzu M100, with an occasional stint behind the wheel. If you are not extremely tall, you will fit fine, without acrobatics. The interior is appointed as other cars of the era and is suitable for daily driving–padded leather seats that adjust for comfort and hinge for access to storage, It has HVAC, sound system, carpet, and adequate trunk to transport groceries home from the store.

      Reply
    4. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      My 14-year old is pushing 6’3″ and thinks his ideal first car will be a used Mazda Miata. My wife laughs because she’d never let him drive such an “unsafe” car (her thoughts, not mine), but I’m just wondering what another two years are going to add to his height.

      Reply
      1. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        My nephew was about that height at about that age, and added another two inches in the next couple years. When he got to be driving age, his sister handed down her Fit, but he didn’t; his knees hit the dashboard. He ended up researching lists of best cars for tall people. Not so amazingly, Miata was on the list of poor choices for tall drivers, but it also topped the list of poor choices for short drivers.

        Reply
        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          Hence, the Miata is again the answer to all car questions. Even if the question is “what car doesn’t fit?”.

          Reply
        2. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          Hence, the Miata is again the answer to all car questions. Even if the question is “what car doesn’t fit?”.

          Reply
      2. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        No transmissiion tunnel taking up legroom in a mid engined car.

        Reply
  3. Rolly Owens Avatar
    Rolly Owens

    Why is it ‘Japanese inspired’ when it is clealy a Japanese registered Lotus at a track in Japan? Indeed, this boosted, track focused Lotus looks amazing

    Reply
  4. Rolly Owens Avatar
    Rolly Owens

    Why is it ‘Japanese inspired’ when it is clealy a Japanese registered Lotus at a track in Japan? Indeed, this boosted, track focused Lotus looks amazing

    Reply