lotus

Spectators at the Tokyo Motor Show could be forgiven for missing this stealthy special edition of the Lotus Exige, dubbed the Exige Scura (sold in Japan as the Exige Stealth). "Scura" means "dark" in Italian, a fitting monikers as the tiny track star is covered from bumper to bumper in matte black paint.

Contrasting with the matte-finish are high gloss "Phantom Black" triple stripes running the length of the car and glossy carbon fiber parts (including a front splitter, oil cooler inlet vanes, side air scoops, and the rear spoiler). The black on black … Read more

As uncompromisingly engineered as it already is, Lotus found further enhancements to make to its Exige S240 model. Although the actual changes are few for the 2010 model year--the car uses the same power train as the 2009 model--it should its enhance performance while making cosmetic changes that will show the 2010 as a distinct update. New air vents at the front of the car increase air flow to radiator and oil coolers, while a bigger wing on the back increased downforce.

Check out the photos for more details.

An analyst from Morgan Stanley asserts that Apple would sell more iPhones if it offered the phone on more carriers. Really? Wow. We also have an example of a church leader misusing the prefix "cyber." But that's not as crazy as IBM taking on Google. Or is it?

Adobe pushes Flash video on mobile devices http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10367061-64.html http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/flash-10-1-announced-for-just-about-anything-with-a-screen-webo/

Vonage app available for iPhone, BlackBerry http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10367280-17.html… Read more

Lost in the news of Zimbra's release of version 6.0 of its collaboration suite is the importance of one very big number: 50 million. That's how many paid mailboxes Zimbra claims now, a number that puts it within spitting distance of IBM Lotus Notes (approximately 145 million paid mailboxes) and Microsoft Exchange (approximately 175 million paid mailboxes). Whatever the truth to rumors that Zimbra is up for sale, Zimbra is an appreciating asset for Yahoo, not a depreciating one.

For one thing, it's important to consider just how explosive this growth has been. In January 2009, … Read more

From Lotus Engineering, the consulting arm of the automaker, comes a concept for an engine to be used as a range extender on series hybrid cars. The new design maximizes efficiency for an engine that will only function as a generator.

Series hybrid cars, such as the upcoming Chevy Volt, use electric motors to drive the wheels, with electricity sourced from a battery pack and generator. This type of car operates as a pure electric vehicle up to the maximum range afforded by its batteries, typically under 100 miles with current technology. To go further, an onboard generator produces electricity … Read more

When Lotus launched its Evora last year, it seemed the company gave in to the need for a mass-market car. Unlike the Elise, the Evora has four seats. The cabin isn't stripped bare, but sports modern electronics. And the engine is a big--a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V-6. But lest we think this extra tonnage makes the Evora any less sporty than the Elise, Lotus intends to take a race-equipped Evora to the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race.

Lotus had its Evora endurance racer on display at the Frankfurt auto show. Externally, the car shows few modifications from a … Read more

IBM on Friday announced a new version of its Lotus Symphony office suite, with extra features aimed at Microsoft Office users, as part of the "ferocious competition" the company says it is in with Microsoft. At the same time, the company said it is phasing out Microsoft Office internally wherever possible.

"Users can easily drag and drop widgets directly into Lotus Symphony, distinguishing it from static office productivity tools such as Microsoft Word," said IBM in a statement. "This drag-and-drop feature also makes Symphony stand out from other Microsoft Office alternatives, simplifying the use and … Read more

When Lotus announced it would debut a Club Racer version of its Elise S at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show, we were excited. Club Racers are stripped-down versions of existing cars, lightened up for weekend track events. And Lotus models are already so light, and have so much grip, a Club Racer model would really push the limits.

But as we started reading through the press release, it only spoke of body colors derived from classic Lotus cars of the 1960s. The interior design was touted for its CR logo and anthracite shifter knob and handbrake. The only real performance-related … Read more

Last weekend's Concours focused on vintage cars from Porsche, but also showed an array of rare cars from other manufacturers in pristine shape. Because of the well-heeled crowd that attends the Concours, including Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld, luxury automakers show off some of their newest cars and concepts. This year saw entrants from Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Tramontana, and even Lincoln.

Check out photos of the newest cars from the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.