Lotus of Austin

Lotus of Austin Named #1 in North America

2012-01-25T07:29:00.000-08:00

AUSTIN, Texas – Jan. 24, 2012 – John Eagle European’s Lotus of Austin was the top-selling Lotus motorcar dealer in North America for 2011. The Austin, Texas, dealership sold more new and pre-owned Lotus Evora, Elise and Exige sports cars than any other factory authorized location in the Western hemisphere.

“Texans love premium luxury and high performance cars,” said dealer principal Sonny Morgan. “We continue to attract people in Central Texas, as well as across the region, who are passionate about these cars because of our world-class service, spectacular selection and terrific value.”

Lotus of Austin opened its doors in April 2009. The company quickly catapulted to the top, becoming the number one Lotus USA dealer in Texas and number three in the USA after its first year. That strong performance was symbolized by the first North American Lotus Evora delivery taking place at Lotus of Austin.

The Evora is the world’s only mid-engine, four-seat sports car. Powered by a normally aspirated or supercharged V6 engine and weighing less than 3,000 pounds, the Evora offers thrilling performance. Only a few thousand Evoras are built worldwide each year. In addition to the Evora, Lotus of Austin sells late model Elise and Exige sports cars. The dealership has a complete service department to maintain and tailor contemporary Lotus cars.

Lotus is one of the flagship marques offered by John Eagle European, which also sells Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls Royce automobiles inside its plush showroom located at 12989 Research Boulevard in Austin. For more information on Lotus of Austin, visit www.lotusofaustin.com.

About John Eagle European

John Eagle European is part of the John Eagle group of dealerships, which consists of 13 dealerships in Texas and Florida. John Eagle European offers the complete line of Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce and Lotus fine motorcars. In addition, the dealership offers pre-owned models and services all of those cars. The museum-inspired facility hosts exclusive events year-round. Additional information about John Eagle European is available at www.johneagleeuropean.com or by calling (512) 401-2663.

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Group Lotus Adds Design Legend to the Lotus Advisory Council

2011-08-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Group Lotus has asked legendary designer Gordon Murray to join the Lotus Advisory Council. Murray will work alongside automotive industry icons Bob Lutz, Tom Purves, Prof. Dr. Burkhard Göschel and Frank Tuch to advise Group Lotus on current and future development.

“The Lotus Advisory Council gives advice and guidance on strategic issues such as product strategy, technology, quality, brand, marketing and distribution for Group Lotus,” explained Sonny Morgan, managing partner of John Eagle European’s Lotus of Austin. “Gordon Murray has earned a reputation for being one of the most innovative and forward thinking designers in the world. Adding his will give Lotus a competitive advantage in every aspect of the company.”

Group Lotus includes three divisions:

· Lotus Cars, which builds world class, high performance sports cars including the award-winning Evora, the iconic Elise and the stunning Exige and the road / track orientated 2-Eleven. Lotus New Era, the future product line-up, was unveiled in Paris on 30th September 2010 featuring the new Esprit, Elan, Elite, Elise and Eterne.

· Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and is an internationally recognized automotive engineering consultancy. Global facilities include those in the US, Malaysia, China and offices in Germany and Japan. Lotus is a global high-tech company, committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.

· Lotus Motorsport, which operates the motorsports activities of Lotus and includes the strategy to return the Lotus name to a great number of series including endurance racing with GT2, GT4 and LMP2, single seater racing with GP2, GP3 and IndyCar. Lotus has also returned to F1 with Lotus Renault GP from the start of the 2011 F1 racing season onwards.

Gordon began his motorsport career in 1969 he actually wanted to work for Lotus but a chance meeting with Brabham designer Ron Tauranac lead to him working for Brabham where he was later appointed Chief Designer by team boss Bernie Ecclestone. During his time in F1, Gordon was responsible for designing many Grand Prix winning cars and was heralded by many as leading the way in terms of innovation and pioneering new technologies.

More recently Gordon established Gordon Murray Design to develop an innovative and disruptive automotive manufacturing technology trademarked iStream®. The design and prototyping of their T.25 Petrol and T.27 Electric Ultra Compact City Cars has been central to both the development and validation of this process.

Commenting on the appointment Group Lotus Chief Executive Dany Bahar said: “Gordon has never been afraid to trail blaze, take risks and do things differently, these are attribute that we are very familiar with and very proud of at Lotus. With his incredible and unique motorsport and design experience he will complement the existing council line up perfectly. We’re very much looking forward to working with him."

Gordon Murray said: “For years I’ve been a huge admirer of Lotus, I have great respect for the legacy that Colin Chapman created and I think what Dany and the team are doing is a really good thing for the brand. He’s taking the strength from Chapman’s principals and taking the business to the next level whilst still keeping the general ethos – not an easy task! I’m really looking forward to contributing to Group Lotus during this exciting time.”

Recapturing the Magic of the Lotus Elise

2011-04-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

By Austin Spencer

With the Exige and Evora carrying the performance banner for serious enthusiasts, the Lotus Elise is often overlooked. Some pundits have begun to whisper that the car is no longer “news.” They call the Lotus Elise an oversized “roller skate,” saying it is tiny, underpowered and better suited to European roads.

In Central Texas, one Lotus aficionado disagrees with that assessment.

“Since its launch, the Elise has been hailed as one of the best cars for driving enthusiasts that money can buy,” said Sonny Morgan, managing partner at John Eagle European’s Lotus of Austin. “The latest generation to carry the evocative name retains the supple roadholding, fluid dynamics and tactile feedback of the original. And it combines this prowess with efficient performance and fantastic fuel economy.”

Still, this writer couldn’t help but wonder if the car could seem as magical as when it burst onto the American scene in the summer of 2004. Had its charms faded with time? Sonny was gracious enough to provide an Elise for a review to answer those burning questions.

He allocated a “brilliant blue 2011 Elise SC Supercharged from his inventory at the Lotus location on Research Boulevard. Sitting in front of the dealership next to an Aston Martin DBS and a Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, the 220 HP “pocket rocket” looked primed for the Hill Country roads.

The first glimpse of this car was electrifying. The Elise merges sleek lines, athletic poise and a sporting stance that leave no doubt of its intentions. It is a purposeful roadster designed to meet the demands of a modern driving enthusiast, as well as the realities of urban traffic and high dollar fuel.

Slipping into the black leather seats, the car exudes an “all business” attitude. While snug, the cockpit is surprisingly comfortable. From the driver centric position of all the controls to the lightweight materials, this car was born to run. The pedals are perfectly situated for heel-toe shifts and there are few distractions inside for the driver.

Low and wide like a racecar, the Lotus wraps around you as you pull out onto the road. The raspy engine shoves you back with authority as the car has only about 2,000 pounds to push with more horsepower than the typical mid-size sedan. In fact, the mid-engine wonder can go from 0-60 MPH in just 4.6 seconds.

Over the course of the day, the little Lotus was a giant killer. It was a joy to simply revel in the Elise’s responsiveness. Few cars can rival the tactile agility of this Lotus. The combination of mid-engined, six-speed transmission and rear-wheel drive with a responsive lightweight chassis, delivers the ultimate sensation to the driver. Because this car was from Morgan’s stock, this writer had to sadly limit the number of miles put on the Lotus.

With phenomenal feedback and surefooted handling, carving up the back roads was a snap. Overtaking lumbering “sports” sedans was easy and quick. The car was never stressed, never lost its poise and never disappointed. It was never uncomfortable or missed a beat. And with its sweet, reliable engine sipping fuel delivering a combined 33 MPG, it never broke the bank for all this fun. For those seeking maximum fuel economy, Lotus of Austin even offers a normally aspirated Elise that is rated at a combined 45 MPG!

“From the minimalist cabin and enhanced ergonomics to the purposeful lines of the body, the Elise is honed for one purpose: to maximize driver involvement,” added Morgan. “It delivers the ultimate feedback for an engaging, fun experience that is the essence of a true sports car and hallmark of Lotus.”

Has the Elise lost its luster over time? Is it eclipsed by newer Lotus models? Has it become merely a track day toy? No. The car is still as much fun to drive on the street as the day it was introduced. It’s indeed worthy of automotive love.

Morgan summed up the essence of the car perfectly. He stated, “Attention to detail has always been at the heart of the Lotus ethos - using the least number of parts effectively and engineering each component to perfectly suit a given purpose. A reputation as a true driver's car combined with outstanding fuel economy means the Elise is the perfect sports car for today's roads.”

Lotus Evora - A Commuter Supercar?

2010-10-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

The Lotus Evora, like all cars by the storied British auto manufacturer, is respected for its agility, styling and performance capabilities. The world’s first mid-engined four seat car, it broke new ground for Lotus. That’s why enthusiasts welcomed the Evora so warmly when the first one in the United States was delivered to a central Texas customer courtesy of John Eagle European last summer.

While the arrival of a new sports car is always reason to celebrate, a few people have begun to uncover a hidden surprise—a very pleasant surprise indeed—upon delivery of their Evora. The car is a fantastic daily driver.

While it may sound sacrilege to even consider driving a Lotus sports car like a German performance Sedan, the reality is the Evora can fill that role very nicely.

Take a look at a recent driver’s log:
Day 1: Drove the Evora today to work in brutal traffic on 183 to the office. The car trundled along like an Audi S4 without a hint of trouble. Amazing!

Day 2: Couldn’t resist driving the Lotus to work again today. Was asked to take two colleagues to lunch so they could check out the car. Both of them rode comfortably all the way to Salt Lick and back. Got caught in a rain shower, but the mid-engined chassis handled it perfectly.

Day 3: Just had to drive the Lotus one more day to work. Wife called and asked me to get groceries on the way home. The Evora was a strange sight at HEB, I’m sure, but it was easy to put all the bags in the rear floorboard.

Day 4: Wife needed the Sedan so I took the Evora instead of her SUV. I can’t believe this super car averages 24+ mpg. Kids mobbed the car when I picked up the youngest kid at soccer practice!

Day 5: It’s Friday and I’m taking off early for golf. My clubs fit into the Lotus! What a surprise!

Day 6: Took the family on a drive to the Oasis for lunch. All four of us fit easily and the Evora hugged the Hill Country curves. On the way home, everyone wanted to stop at Zinger hardware to see what was new there. Couldn’t believe how much stuff we bought - and it all fit in the trunk.

Day 7: Not sure the Evora is appropriate for church, but the kids begged to take it this morning. Wife joked the deacons might pass the plate to me twice! We certainly weren’t late driving this fast car. What a week.

While driving an Evora on the track at Harris Hill or zipping through an apex on the way back from Cars & Coffee in Leander would seem the norm for the Evora, the amazing sports car is also reliable and flexible enough to be a world class daily commuter car. In fact, its gas mileage of 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway make it welcome in most any environmentally conscious community.

Now that’s amazing.

Austin Live Take the Wheel of the New Lotus Evora

2010-07-21T06:44:00.001-07:00

Top Gear called it the “Sports Car of the Year” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ssGbunIdvU&feature=related) when it was introduced last year and Autocar named it the “Best Driver’s Car of 2009” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR4MA6OYAKI&feature=related). The Austin media is beginning to realize that the new Lotus Evora truly is a remarkable car.

On Tuesday, July 20, KEYE’s Austin Live program featured the stunning mid-engine sports car with Lotus of Austin dealer principal Sonny Morgan. Watch Jason Wheeler and Michelle Valles take an Evora for a spin (http://weareaustin.com/austinlive-story/?nxd_id=78105) and see why this Lotus is perfect for the byways of the Texas Hill Country.

LOTUS OF AUSTIN DELIVERS FIRST EVORA IN NORTH AMERICA

2010-03-17T10:45:00.001-07:00

AUSTIN, Texas – March 16, 2010 – The first Lotus Evora delivery in North America took place today at John Eagle European’s Lotus of Austin when dealer principal Sonny Morgan handed Austin-area resident Bruce Rice the keys to a brand new 2010 Lotus Evora 2+2 sports car. Lotus of Austin will host a party to commemorate the first delivery tomorrow at 5 p.m. inside the dealership. Lotus of Austin offers the full range of Lotus sports cars, including the Evora, Elise and Exige.

"Delivering the first Evora in North America was an exciting moment for John Eagle European and the Lotus brand,” said Morgan. “The Evora is one of the most advanced new sports cars available in the world, and the very first customer model is on the road today right here in Austin.”

The Evora is the world’s only mid-engine, four-seat sports car. Powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 276 hp, and weighing less than 3,000 pounds, the Evora offers breathtaking performance. Only a few thousand Evoras will be built worldwide each year, so the car will exude an exclusivity that matches its performance and stylish good looks.

In addition to its excellent performance and exemplary handling, the Evora offers a refined ownership experience. Highlights include a contemporary, hand-crafted and elegantly trimmed cabin, as well as an equipment list with such high-tech features as an advanced touch-screen multi-media system incorporating a state-of-the-art Alpine satellite navigation and audio system. The new Evora is not only suited to carve up the hill country roads, but can also serve as an everyday driver.

In 2009, Lotus of Austin was the No. 1 ranked Lotus dealership in Texas, and third in the United States. Lotus is one of the flagship marques offered by John Eagle European, which also sells Aston Martin and Bentley automobiles inside its plush showroom located at 12989 Research Boulevard in Austin. For more information on Lotus of Austin, visit www.lotusofaustin.com.

About John Eagle European
John Eagle European is part of the John Eagle group of dealerships, which consists of 13 dealerships in Texas and Florida. John Eagle European offers the complete line of Aston Martin, Bentley and Lotus fine motorcars. In addition, the dealership offers pre-owned models and services all of those cars. The museum-inspired facility hosts exclusive events year-round. Additional information about John Eagle European is available at www.johneagleeuropean.com or by calling (512) 401-2663.

Jarno Trulli Develops His First Lotus Race Car

2010-02-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Lotus Evora Cup race car is the latest addition to the Lotus Motorsport racing stable. Fresh from its debut at the Autosport International racing car show in Birmingham the Evora Cup race car was given its first shake-down test at a wintry Snetterton circuit in Norfolk, UK on the 10th and 11th of February 2010.

Lotus Motorsport is conducting an extensive development program for the Evora Cup race car, with Jarno Trulli and his Race Engineer, Gianluca Pisanello bringing their vast racing, development and engineering experience to fine tune the latest Lotus mid-engined race car.

Jarno Trulli and Gianluca Pisanello provided specific input into the aerodynamic balance for slow, medium and fast corners, guidance on the racing setup of the suspension geometry and direction on the engine’s calibration.

After driving the Lotus Evora Cup for the first time, Jarno Trulli said, "I have enjoyed driving the road going Lotus Evora very much and I believe that the Evora Cup will be a very competitive race car package. It was very rewarding to be the first to drive the Evora Cup race car even though the snowy conditions at Snetterton were fairly challenging at times!"

Jarno continued, "The car will continue to be developed with new updates coming soon, but even after the initial drive it is obvious that the car has huge potential. I look forward to working with Lotus Motorsport in developing the car further and I know that my years of motorsport experience will help make the Evora Cup race car even better."

Claudio Berro, Director of Motorsport at Group Lotus plc stated, “It is a privilege to work on the development of the Evora Cup race car with such an experienced driver and engineering team as Jarno Trulli and Gianluca Pisanello and I believe that this collaboration will produce a great race car for a range of motorsport applications. It is a very exciting time for Lotus and I am honored to be leading the motorsport programs at Lotus, starting with the Lotus Evora Cup racing car and race series.

Gianluca Pisanello, Race Engineer for Jarno Trulli said, “I am impressed with the whole Evora Cup race car package, which demonstrates that the road going Lotus Evora is such a competent sports car in the first place and an excellent basis to develop a competitive race car.”

In the past a number of Lotus F1 drivers have successfully raced or assisted in the development of Lotus Cars including F1 World Champions Jim Clark and Nigel Mansell. Jim Clark was a great exponent of the three wheel drift in his Lotus Cortina, campaigning the Lotus to win the British Touring Car Championship in 1964. Whilst Nigel Mansell raced for Lotus he was involved in the development of the prototype Active Suspension Lotus Esprit. The Evora Cup race car is an evocative sports car that will offer a great platform to race in high level motor sport.

The GT4 race car will go on sale starting at £120,000 excluding taxes for the sprint racing version, with the endurance specification race car £150,000 excluding taxes. The final design, aero’ package and technical specifications will be presented at the Geneva Motorshow in March 2010.

Availability of the Evora Cup race car in North America still remains to be determined.

The LA Times Reviews the New Lotus Evora

2010-01-29T09:06:00.000-08:00

The accolades continue to pour in worldwide for the new Lotus Evora. From EVO to Top Gear, the lightweight sports car is rapidly becoming the object of choice for enthusiasts who want a fun exotic at a reasonable price.

The first all-new Lotus since the iconic Elise made its debut in 1995, the Evora is the world’s only mid-engine 2+2 sports car. Powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 276 hp, and weighing less than than 3,000 pounds, the Evora offers breathtaking performance.

Recently, Dan Neil of the LA Times reviewed the car. What did he think about the new Lotus Evora? Enjoy this video and find out why it may be his car of the year, even though 2010 just started! http://www.latimes.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=54d6cbf3-5772-4987-8b60-d24599127e28&src=front

In addition to its excellent performance and exemplary handling, , the Evora offers a more refined ownership experience than Lotus’s existing smaller four-cylinder models with a contemporary, hand-crafted and elegantly trimmed cabin and an equipment list including such high-tech features as an advanced touch-screen multi-media system incorporating a state-of-the-art Alpine satellite navigation and audio system. Its a fantastic car that can not only carve up the hill country roads, but also be driven everyday.

True to the Lotus value of “performance through light weight” CO2 emissions are expected to be a class leading sub-225 g/km (prototype figures) while testers report fuel consumption in the region of 30+ miles per gallon on the highway (pending formal homologation testing).

Only a few thousand will be built worldwide each year, so the car will exude an exclusivity that matches its performance and stylish good looks. Lotus of Austin is proud to be among the few places to snag one. Take one spin in the new Evora and you will agree it seems as though Lotus designed the sports car with Austin in mind.

Ride & Drives of the New Evora in Austin!

2010-01-12T19:51:00.001-08:00

EVO magazine named it their Car of the Year. Top Gear lauded its handling and named it their 2009 Sports Car of the Year. What is this supercar that has the media in a tizzy?

The Lotus Evora.

Unfortunately for American enthusiasts, this mid-engined Supercar has only been glimpsed at events and in the pages of car magazines. This weekend, John Eagle European, AKA Lotus of Austin, will bring the lightweight Supercar to the Texas Hill Country. For two days only, Lotus and John Eagle European will conduct a ride and drive event for a lucky few.

The Evora marks a new chapter in the history of the storied British automaker. Bigger, more civilized and more elegant than anything else in the Lotus lineup, the Evora retains the principles ingrained in every Lotus since Colin Chapman founded the company in 1952. The chassis is lightweight, putting the driver in complete control. It’s as if the razor sharp suspension has been hardwired into the driver. The brakes are magnificent and the motor is flexible and tractable.

The engineering masterpiece is clad in a modern suit that is as stylish as any Seville Road suit. With a construction of composite materials, it is functional and lightweight.

Austin is the perfect home for the Evora. Only a few hundred will make their way to the USA and even less to Texas. In fact, this may be the only opportunity potential customers have to even drive one before purchase.

The John Eagle European ride and drive should be one of the most talked about events in sports car circles this year. What could be more fun than piloting an exotic, lightweight European sports car on the Texas twisties?

I can’t think of a thing….

Serious drivers can contact the dealership to inquire about ride & drive opportunities at 512-33LOTUS