Voitures de sport Lotus : beaux livres - histoire, versions et technique

En quelques années, Colin Chapman, artisan puis constructeur anglais, va faire de sa marque Lotus un emblème de la sportivité automobile. Sous des lignes particulièrement originales et attrayantes, ses voitures offrent des solutions techniques souvent avant-gardistes.

Retrouvez dans cet ouvrage toute l'histoire des modèles de série de la marque, des premiers kits cars à l'Elise, en passant par les mythiques Seven, Elan et Esprit.
Grâce à l'esthétisme exceptionnel des photos spécialement réalisées pour la collection Autofocus, vous découvrirez en détail l'histoire et les nombreuses évolutions des Lotus de route.

From the Mark 1 in 1948 to the World's most powerful electric hypercar - the Evija - in 2021, the story of the Lotus marque encompasses ongoing technical innovation on road and track.
With seventy-four F1 Grand Prix wins, six Drivers' and seven Constructors' F1 World Championships chalked up over seven hectic decades, Lotus consolidated its reputation in racing while at the same time creating some of the World's most stylish and desirable sportscars and Grand Tourers, in-house as well as for global automotive clients via its Lotus Engineering consultancy.

With over 380 photographs, this book includes:
- the origins of the business, creating Austin 7-based competition cars;
- the metamorphosis from sports-racing cars to F1 - and seven World titles;
- factory relocations, from Hornsey to Cheshunt to Hethel;
- the road cars: the Elite, Elan, Europa, Excel, Esprit, Elise, Exige and Evora;
- how sponsorship transformed traditional British Racing Green into Gold Leaf and JPS livery.
There are also interviews with key Lotus personnel and drivers.

Un livre de Brooklands consacré aux voitures Lotus Sports Racer des années 1951-1965. Description des modèles Lotus Mk III, Mk VI, Mk VIII, Mk IX et X, Eleven, Fifteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty Three, 30 et 40.

• Les 130 articles, parus à l'époque dans la presse automobile anglo-saxonne, sont une bonne source d'information sur l'histoire, l'évolution des modèles et la technique.
• Cet ouvrage contient aussi des impressions de conduite, des tests routiers et comparatifs, des données techniques, etc.

Cliquez ici pour plus d'information sur les livres Brooklands Portfolio

Un livre de Brooklands consacré aux voitures Lotus Cortina des années 1963-1970. Description des modèles Lotus Cortina Mk 1, Mk 2, Westune et IWR.

• Les articles, parus à l'époque dans la presse automobile anglo-saxonne, sont une bonne source d'information sur l'histoire, l'évolution des modèles et la technique.
• Aussi des impressions de conduite, essais, tests comparatifs, données techniques, etc.

Cliquez ici pour plus d'information sur les livres Brooklands Portfolio

This history of the Lotus Evora traces the genesis, context, manufacture and evolution of the Type 122 Evora and its derivative models.The Evora's prowess as a grand touring sports car is demonstrated with the author's international road trips, and its essence is detailed through in-depth interviews with leading personalities at Lotus involved with the design, development, construction and marketing programmes.
The book concludes with the launch of the Evora's successor, the Type 131 Emira in 2021.

Features:
- This book provides a unique insight into the Evora's entire production lifetime, from conception and assembly to the open road
- Researched by the author at the Lotus factory, where he observed the Elise construction process
- The author was given direct access to key figures in the Evora's design, development and construction
- A look at the Toyota 3.5-litre V6 engine, always used for the Evora, and demonstrating the continuation of a historical synergy
- The chassis shared the bonded aluminium technology pioneered in the Elise, comprised of a central tub and modules front and rear
- Several road trips in Evoras are showcased as drive stories for this book
- Over 300 stunning images, many previously unseen, including professional photos and specially commissioned artworks.

Colin Chapman was the most charismatic and brilliant engineer in the history of motor racing. His innovative designs revolutionized the layout of the grand prix car. He played a key role in the establishment of the British motor racing industry which now leads the world.
Through his Lotus company he not only dominated Formula 1 racing but also made an extraordinary contribution to the development of the sportscar with the Elite and the Elan.

Mike Lawrence's biography of this remarkable man recalls his achievements, but it also delves into the dark side of his genius. Chapman's triumphs in the 1960s and 1970s have never been equalled world championships in Formula 1, a succession of grand prix victories and triumph at the Indianapolis 500. He also formed famous partnerships with exceptional drivers like Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Nigel Mansell and Mario Andretti.

The Lotus single seaters that brought them such success, the 25, the 49, the 72 and the 79 are now regarded as milestones in the evolution of the racing car. Yet Chapman's abrasive character, drive for success and unorthodox business methods clouded his reputation.

Mike Lawrence looks in detail at this aspect of Chapman's history and gives a revealing account of the tangled financial arrangements that kept Chapman, and Lotus, afloat. He shows, too, how Chapman operated in a fast moving, highly pressurized world of international racing and car making that generated huge rewards and temptations.
The crunch came when he became involved with John Z. Delorean, the American entrepreneur who found the ill-fated Delorean car company.

Gives a unique insight into design and project work for a number of leading companies in the motor industry, including Jaguar, Lotus, TVR and General Motors.
The book recounts the author's experiences from within the industry, tracing the changes in the design process over a period of nearly 50 years, and follows his career at home and around the world.

It shows how the change from imperial to metric measurements and the growing use of computers revolutionised the quality and accuracy of modern vehicles. It also covers the issues and challenges of meeting project targets, and some of the issues that can deflect those efforts. It features previously untold stories, and is thoughtfully illustrated with historical engineering drawings and photographs.
As well as informing automobile enthusiasts it is also hoped that this book will inspire upcoming generations to consider a career in the creative field.

Features:
- A personal and in-depth look at car design from inside the industry
- Oliver Winterbottom's experience working for talented industry leaders Sir William Lyons, Jaguar; Colin Chapman, Lotus, and Martin Lilley, TVR
- The author's work with Guigiaro at ItalDesign, Turin, observing the design processes
- An account of working with Chinese companies to develop a new cultural understanding
- Producing new designs to severe time and cost restraints
- How the author developed suitable project processes for low volume built cars at GM USA
- An account of the privilege of working with Toyota Japan, and learning their approach to the motor industry
- The author's experience of extensive development projects for car safety and airbags.