Peter Stevens Brooklands talk (interesting Lotus projects)

[Jack Stone]

Peter Stevens gave an interesting talk at Brooklands this week.

He showed images of a couple of Lotus mid-engined projects, which he referred to as “M200” and “M300”.

The silver “M200” (which is also used for an Elan M100 project) was a proposed Esprit successor which used “all the underpinnings of the Esprit”. I’d not seen that styling before (riding on Elan M100-like wheels).

According to Peter, the black “M300” dates from 1987 as was a 200mph project to sit above the Esprit. It would have a carbon/aluminium chassis, carbonfibre body and a mid-mounted Cadillac ‘North Star’ V8, most likely fitted with a Lotus-designed four-valve cylinder head.

When asked about his satisfaction with how his designs have transitioned to reality, Peter singled out the M100 as a disappointment, saying the final production car was “about 60% of what I wanted, mainly because the wheelbase turned out wrong and so did the track, which meant the wheels weren’t in the right place”. Conversely, the XJR-15 was a great success, being "like 95%” of what he’d wanted.

It was nice to be able to park my Esprit V8 alongside a lovely M100 outside the Clubhouse to represent some of Peter’s styling creations (V8 not strictly Peter’s but based on his 1987 Esprit “reskin”). No McLaren F1 in attendance, unfortunately!

[jep]

It was great.

That was the 50000th Lotus along side your V8. Peter signed the handbook, which was already signed by Prince Charles now King Charles. He also signed my Mc F1 memorabilia. 🙂

X180 - he said he improved the rigidity by adding curves to the body design. And the Cd, I think to .33 but Lotus used .32 as they had been lying about the G cars Cd figure for years.

Excel: he confirmed rear mud flaps added to save the gearbox at high speed - this undid most of his aero work improvements. 

Jaguar: the end made Ian Callum very ill. 

Peter so relaxed about his designs and the compromises needed to satisfy all involved. No toys out of the pram. 

Instagram: 50000lotus 

Justin

 

 

[Jack Stone]

Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you, @jep. Lovely M100

Peter certainly did a lot of signing that evening!

Edited November 19, 2022 by Jack Stone
Typo

[jep]

Next time @Jack Stone