After a hectic few months, our Dream Machines Lotus has now retruned to its home base at Dream machines, Heathfield.
The project has been a great success, bringing the issues of speeding and bad driving to the attention of a number of communities in the county.
This Blog will not be updated any more - but thanks for visiting and taking the time to read it.
If you'd like more information about Dream machines, please visit the website.
If you'd like more information about Sussex Police, please visit the website.
Wednesday 28 November 2007
Wednesday 14 November 2007
The new Supercharged Elise SC
Lotus has announced that the new Supercharged Elise SC will begin production in November.
Despite the inevitable comparisons with the Exige S, this uprated Elise benefits from more than a mere engine swap - this is an all-new, non-intercooled installation applied to the current Elise's 1.8-litre 2-ZZ VVTL-i engine.
The Lotus-designed, Magnuson-produced supercharger uses a smaller Eaton rotor pack than that of the current Exige S and is married to the intake manifold plenum as part of a single-piece casting. Combined with the absence of an intercooler and its associated pipework, this integrated supercharger/intake assembly contributes to an 8kg reduction in engine weight compared with the Exige S.
The Elise SC has been designed to have very different driving characteristics to the Exige S. In keeping with its role as a supremely fast road car rather than extreme track machine, throttle response is very progressive but also very direct, resulting in a measured, refined driving experience.
As the statistics suggest, the performance of the Elise SC is electrifying:
Max Power - 218bhp (163kW)
Acceleration 0-60mph - circa 4.4secs
Acceleration 0-100mph - circa 10.7 secs
Max Speed - 150 mph (240km/h)
Acceleration 0-60mph - circa 4.4secs
Acceleration 0-100mph - circa 10.7 secs
Max Speed - 150 mph (240km/h)
Visually the new Elise SC is easily identified by its unique rear spoiler and bespoke wheel design. The wheels have increased half an inch in width, to give even better grip performance from the standard Lotus specific Yokohama AD07 LTD 225/45 R17 tyres.
To secure your order on this fantastic vehicle, to book a test drive or for further information, contact Dream Machines today.
Wednesday 24 October 2007
Fame at last!!
Whilst our Dream Machines Lotus has been criss-crossing the county, we've tried to follow it's progress.
This week we were joined by the Daily Mail who reported:
"Police Sergeant Paul Masterson is looking pleased after getting his hands on Britain's fastest Panda car - a 140mph Lotus. The £35,000 Lotus Exige complete with Sussex Police livery can accelerate to 60mph in just 4.1 seconds - and was road tested by officers in Hastings.
The 220 brake horsepower motor has a top speed of just under 150 mph and is being used to tackle boy racers.
The Lotus, which is marked like a normal police car is only driven by police class 1 drivers who have gone through months of driver training courses.
The Lotus, which is marked like a normal police car is only driven by police class 1 drivers who have gone through months of driver training courses.
Sergeant Masterson, who works on the force's casualty reduction team, said the Lotus was the fastest police car that he knew of though standard police cars can reach similar speeds.
"As far as I know it probably is the fastest quoted speed of any police car I know of - certainly in the South East region," he said.
"Its top speed is just shy of 150 mph which is what most of our patrol cars can do anyway."
Sergeant Masterson described the car as impressive but said that it sounded like a normal police car with a standard exhaust on it.
Sergeant Masterson described the car as impressive but said that it sounded like a normal police car with a standard exhaust on it.
A self-confessed car enthusiast Sergeant Masterson said that he now drives a people carrier off-duty but used to have a taste for sporty Fords.
He added the car was not not an operational police car and unable to get involved in high speed chases: "The idea is that drivers will come to us and have a chat," he said.
"We generally turn up at events where youngsters hang out.
"With this vehicle they actually come over and want to talk to us. Then we introduce the road safety message."
Sunday 7 October 2007
Round and round she goes!
Our Dream Machines Lotus has been on a whirlwind tour of the county over the last two weeks.
It made an appearance in Hastings this week at a public meeting to address anti social driving - and the Meridian TV cameras were there to record the occasion.
The car will be in the north of the county around Crawley and Horsham this weekend in support of an operation to tackle anti social driving in the town centres. The Lotus is supporting a young driver initiative around both towns and will be returning to Horsham on the 16th for the Sussex Lotus owners meeting following a similar event for Kent Lotus owners on the 13th at Brenzett before, a week later, attending another street meeting with young drivers on the 19th in Horsham.
Why not make an effort to look us up - and perhaps have your photo taken?
It made an appearance in Hastings this week at a public meeting to address anti social driving - and the Meridian TV cameras were there to record the occasion.
The car will be in the north of the county around Crawley and Horsham this weekend in support of an operation to tackle anti social driving in the town centres. The Lotus is supporting a young driver initiative around both towns and will be returning to Horsham on the 16th for the Sussex Lotus owners meeting following a similar event for Kent Lotus owners on the 13th at Brenzett before, a week later, attending another street meeting with young drivers on the 19th in Horsham.
Why not make an effort to look us up - and perhaps have your photo taken?
Eastbourne Motor Show
Once again, our Lotus was a real star of the show at the recent Eastbourne Motor Show - doesn't she look great??!!
Sunday 16 September 2007
Happy Birthday Lotus
Lotus fans from all around the world have been invited to celebrate the Ruby Milestone of 40 years of manufacturing at the Lotus Headquarters at Hethel, Norfolk next Sunday (23rd September).
Much of the Lotus factory will be open including the assembly halls, where all the award winning Lotus cars are built, special areas of Lotus Engineering’s world class high technology facilities, and of course the test track where there will be exciting driving activities.
The Open Day will be opened by Hazel Chapman (the wife of the founder Colin Chapman who built the first Lotus car in 1948). Lotus is also delighted that Classic Team Lotus, run by Colin and Hazel’s son, Clive, will also be providing invaluable support to the event.
There will also be a display of examples of all the cars manufactured at Hethel over the last 40 years, fun activities for children, including a fun fair, retail stores for local produce as well as opportunities to purchase official Lotus and Classic Team Lotus merchandise. Several Lotus clubs will have their own stands and exhibits of clubs owners’ cherished Lotus cars.
All visitors will get a free Lotus “Goodie-Bag” which includes an exclusive 40th pin badge.
The tight and twisty South Circuit will be open for visitors to have high speed rides in current Lotus sportscars.
Lotus Engineering is the world leading, high technology consultancy division of Group Lotus, and is very rarely open the public. Visitors have the opportunity to have a behind the scenes look at the world class research, design and engineering facilities where future Lotus Cars and indeed cars of Lotus Engineering’s many customers around the world are designed, developed and tested.
Other Activities include:
A collection of classic Lotus road cars such as the 1960s legends, the Elan and Europa, the iconic 1970s Elite and Esprit, the 1980s Excel and Elan (M100) and from the 1990s the Esprit V8 and the Elise S1 derivatives.
Classic Team Lotus will also display some of its collection of Lotus Formula One racing cars such as the Type 32B, the world championship winning Types 49B and 72 and from the Ayrton Senna era the Lotus Types 97T and 99T.
There will also be a “Wheel Changing” competition, the latest range of Lotus Merchandise, a funfair with Laser Tagging competition, children’s’treasure hunt & face painting, Formula One and Racing Simulators, a farmers market, jazz band and full refreshments.
Gates Open at 10am and finishes at 5pm. Admission Price: £15 per car (up to 4 adults, £5 per additional adult) and admission for children under 16 is free.
Tickets must be purchased in advance via http://www.lotuscarswebstore.co.uk/ or by contacting the Lotus Open Day Hotline on: 01953 608190, 608626, 608461 or 608348.
Our Dream Machines Lotus Exige will, of course, be there, to show itself off to the huge number of Lotus afficionados and VIPs who are expected to descend upon the village of Hethel.
Much of the Lotus factory will be open including the assembly halls, where all the award winning Lotus cars are built, special areas of Lotus Engineering’s world class high technology facilities, and of course the test track where there will be exciting driving activities.
The Open Day will be opened by Hazel Chapman (the wife of the founder Colin Chapman who built the first Lotus car in 1948). Lotus is also delighted that Classic Team Lotus, run by Colin and Hazel’s son, Clive, will also be providing invaluable support to the event.There will also be a display of examples of all the cars manufactured at Hethel over the last 40 years, fun activities for children, including a fun fair, retail stores for local produce as well as opportunities to purchase official Lotus and Classic Team Lotus merchandise. Several Lotus clubs will have their own stands and exhibits of clubs owners’ cherished Lotus cars.
All visitors will get a free Lotus “Goodie-Bag” which includes an exclusive 40th pin badge.
The tight and twisty South Circuit will be open for visitors to have high speed rides in current Lotus sportscars.
Lotus Engineering is the world leading, high technology consultancy division of Group Lotus, and is very rarely open the public. Visitors have the opportunity to have a behind the scenes look at the world class research, design and engineering facilities where future Lotus Cars and indeed cars of Lotus Engineering’s many customers around the world are designed, developed and tested.
Other Activities include:
A collection of classic Lotus road cars such as the 1960s legends, the Elan and Europa, the iconic 1970s Elite and Esprit, the 1980s Excel and Elan (M100) and from the 1990s the Esprit V8 and the Elise S1 derivatives.
Classic Team Lotus will also display some of its collection of Lotus Formula One racing cars such as the Type 32B, the world championship winning Types 49B and 72 and from the Ayrton Senna era the Lotus Types 97T and 99T.
There will also be a “Wheel Changing” competition, the latest range of Lotus Merchandise, a funfair with Laser Tagging competition, children’s’treasure hunt & face painting, Formula One and Racing Simulators, a farmers market, jazz band and full refreshments.
Gates Open at 10am and finishes at 5pm. Admission Price: £15 per car (up to 4 adults, £5 per additional adult) and admission for children under 16 is free.
Tickets must be purchased in advance via http://www.lotuscarswebstore.co.uk/ or by contacting the Lotus Open Day Hotline on: 01953 608190, 608626, 608461 or 608348.
Our Dream Machines Lotus Exige will, of course, be there, to show itself off to the huge number of Lotus afficionados and VIPs who are expected to descend upon the village of Hethel.
Continuing to impress
The Sussex Police Dream Machines Lotus has been flying the county's flag in some rather far-off places of late! In fact the car has just returned from some missionary work in Llanelli in South Wales where it was the star attraction at a Road Safety Display targeting young drivers.
The car has also been in Brighton over the last couple of weeks on Marine Parade and, in partiulcar. at the Brighton Festival of Speed.
The car has also been in Brighton over the last couple of weeks on Marine Parade and, in partiulcar. at the Brighton Festival of Speed.
Last week it joined once again with the Fire Brigade for an event in Brighton, where a group of youths from the Whitehawk estate in Brighton were presented with certificates of achievemnt in relation to motorcycle projects. This weekend the car has been at the Shoreham Airshow.
Next week our very special Lotus Exige sets off for another out of county appearance. This one really is is rather special though as the Exige will be returning to the Lotus factory in Norfolk to show off it's livery.
But the car isn't just booked for special apprances - in fact, keep your eyes peeled this week because you never know where it will turn up! The car will be driving through many different locations in the county - so if you do see the car, make sure you say 'hello'!
But the car isn't just booked for special apprances - in fact, keep your eyes peeled this week because you never know where it will turn up! The car will be driving through many different locations in the county - so if you do see the car, make sure you say 'hello'!
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