Steve Parker Motoring / The Car Nut: LOTUS TO BUILD TESLA EV SPORTS CAR

EXCLUSIVE PHOTO ALBUM! 2009 GUMBALL RALLY 3000

See Steve's exclusive Gumball Rally video from NBC-TV's Whipnotic website (copy and paste): http://www.whipnotic.com/videos/viewvideo-558.html Over 120 gas-guzzling super-exotic sports cars, Hummers, Cadillac Escalade SUVs and an occasional interesting older car roared on May 2, 2009, from a California beach-side parking lot directly onto I-10, the Santa Monica Freeway, also known as the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway, for the start of this year's Gumball Rally. The world's most politically-incorrect automotive street event, the Gumball Rally 3000, left Santa Monica (CA) Pier on Saturday, May 2, 2009 and headed toward its ultimate destination of Miami, FL eight days later. Participants reportedly paid $44,000 per car/team to enter the event. Though the Gumball stresses the skills of its drivers (and their cars) there are only two race track "special section" stops scheduled for the 3,000-mile long event, which will be run on public roads with all entrants subject to all highway rules and regulations. All photos (c) 2009 by www.SteveParker.com

July 30, 2006

LOTUS TO BUILD TESLA EV SPORTS CAR

According to a report on EDP24.com, (the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press website), Group Lotus' involvement with the Tesla Roadster project is now very much official: the Roadster will be built by Lotus at its Hethel facility.

The move is part of Lotus chief's Mike Kimberley's announced ongoing plan to increase the company's involvement in outside design and engineering projects. It comes on the heels of Lotus' new deal with Nanjng Automotive to aid in the development of new MG vehicles, which will be assembled in Nebraska (you got that?).

Kimberly had been one of the bosses at Lotus over two decades ago, and he absolutely understands that companies such as his (for instance, Porsche) make much, if not most, of their monies from doing R&D work for other car companies, and even other manufacturers, outside of the car business. (Photo: California Governor Arnold "happened" to show-up at the unveiling of the Tesla EV on July 26th in very-ultra-hip-and-trendy Santa Monica --- Apparently the luckiest break the Tesla folks may ever have!).