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Thread: Lotus Carlton 1990-1992

  1. #1
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    Lotus Carlton 1990-1992

    Lotus Carlton

    • Also called: Opel Lotus Omega
    • Manufacturer: General Motors
    • Production: 1990–1992
    • Predecessor: Lotus Cortina
    • Class: Sports car
    • Body style: 4-door saloon
    • Platform: FR V-body
    • Engine: 3.6 L C36GET I6
    • Transmission: 6-speed ZF manual
    • Related: Opel Omega, Vauxhall Carlton


    The Lotus Carlton was a Vauxhall Carlton saloon modified by Lotus into a 176 mph (283 km/h) supercar. Like all Lotus vehicles, it was given a type designation — Type 104 in this case. The external differences were minimal to the five seater with only the rear spoiler, a couple of air intakes on the bonnet, and Lotus badges on the front wings and bootlid, telling it apart from any other Carlton. The car was only sold in one colour, Imperial Green, a very dark green that in anything but direct light appears black.

    Lotus' modifications included an upgraded engine, which was stroked from the standard Vauxhall 3 L 6 cylinder, used in the GSi, to a capacity of 3615 cc. Lotus then added twin Garrett T25 turbochargers to give 377 hp (557 N·m). A six-speed manual ZF transmission from a Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 was used to transfer this power to the rear wheels. The car was capable of 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds and had massive 12.5 in (330 mm) AP ventilated disc brakes with racing calipers all round so it could still stop with all its new-found power.

    As well as being sold as the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton in the UK, it was sold in Europe as the Opel Lotus Omega. Production of the Lotus Carlton began in 1990, four years after the original Carlton went on sale. General Motors (the parent company) had hoped to build 1,100 cars in total, but due to the recession of the early 1990s, the £48,000 cars were not selling as well and production stopped at Lotus in December 1992. Only 950 were completed, 320 Vauxhalls and 630 Opels, 150 short of the original target.

    Specifications
    • Top speed - 176 mph
    • Peak power - 377 hp @ 5200 rpm
    • Acceleration - 0-60 mph: 5.2s
    • Peak torque - 419 ft·lbf
    • Engine displacement - 3615 cc
    • Engine type - Twin turbocharged six-cylinder
    • Configuration - Front-engined, rear-wheel drive
    • Transmission - Six-speed ZF manual
    • Production - 950
    • Price - £48,000
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    Last edited by Matt; 06-05-2006 at 09:31 AM.
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    My... burble... um... mutter.

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    Thank you Matt

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    lol i drove along that road the other day
    Cedric - I sound like a chipmunk on there. Some friends of mine were like, "were you going through puberty?" I was like, no I was already 20, I just sound like a girl.

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    This model caused a public debate in the UK as its performance was seen as socially unacceptable.
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

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    I like this car. Lotus rocks, they can take some family sedan and really spice it up.

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    Quote Originally Posted by henk4
    This model caused a public debate in the UK as its performance was seen as socially unacceptable.
    Yep, a lot of the motoring press said it was "irresponsible" to carry 4 adults at speeds of up to 176mph... however, what's the difference between 4 adults and 2? Who gives a shit?

    And then another press outfit just tested the car and said it had the best brakes they'd ever tried

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    Quote Originally Posted by henk4
    This model caused a public debate in the UK as its performance was seen as socially unacceptable.
    Not only that but the Police had just bought a fleet of Senator 24v cars which could only do 149mph... imagine the humilitaion...
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
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    Lotus Omega Prototype by Opel 1989

    This one-off pre-production car had about the same technical changes but showed off some design differences to the final version:

    the frontbumper is slightly different, carries round foglights moulded into bodywork,
    the small (plastidip) filler over grill has Opel Sport insignia,
    bonnet shows only on the right one bladed and bodycoulored vent (production cars had 2 in the center in Ford Cosworth style),
    the rear features a new plateless trunk section together with raised rearside-panels and badged spoiler (replaced by original trunk and larger wing, due to less costs)
    and the rims were made 3-piece with chrome-finish
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    Lotus Carlton (production) 1990-1992

    General Motors owned Lotus in the past and Vauxhall still today so they decided to built a high-performance fullsize sedan. Regardless to Lotus-founder Colin Chapman's lightweight philosophy the endresult with about 1690 kilograms became hevier than even the Esprit V8 luxury sportscar. The Vauxhall Carlton GSi had only a V6 in toprange so the engineers at Lotus Cars bolted a twin-turbo on it to turn the boring Carlton into a monster. As it is typical for the manufacturers at Hethel the car also received a high-end suspension (the stance required a widebody) and break setup in order to cope with the massive amount of power and to compete against the top-notch BMW E34S M5 and Mercedes-Benz W124 500E (later 500E, a co-development between Daimler and Porsche) and it did the job very well, became the fastest production-sedan and even was still capable to put a smile on Vicki Butler-Henderson almost 20 years later...
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    Last edited by Yeahone; 04-11-2011 at 09:29 AM.

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    The powerplant in its full glory, actually a little dissappointing that Lotus only changed the wheel inside cabin - a little brushed aluminium would have suited it very well, right?
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    Last edited by Yeahone; 04-11-2011 at 09:30 AM.

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    Wasn't this brought about as competition to Ford's Escort RS Cosworth?
    Never own more cars than you can keep charged batteries in...

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    Quote Originally Posted by csl177 View Post
    Wasn't this brought about as competition to Ford's Escort RS Cosworth?
    Hard to believe. The last Cossie was technically a relaunch of the 4WD Sierra RS and a Compact class car. The Lotus Carlton / Omega is a fullsize-sedan and has RWD layout. The only things they have in common is that both cars have a similar hood-design, remarkable rearwings and they were produced on British / German-based brands of huge US-Companies.

    Actually Opel and Vauxhall aren't premium-brands like BMW, Mercedes or Maserati but with the Lotus-badge their sedan became something exclusive making it able to compete against M5, 500E or Quattroporte...
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    Last edited by Yeahone; 04-11-2011 at 09:53 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by csl177 View Post
    Wasn't this brought about as competition to Ford's Escort RS Cosworth?
    Actually it was the Omega 500 the homologation special meant to win the DTM (and you probably meant Sierra RS Cosworth).

    And Yeahone, the Omega A had staright six engines, not V6s.
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  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ferrer View Post
    And Yeahone, the Omega A had staright six engines, not V6s.
    It's a shame to stumble over such important things ofcourse you are right, sorry.

    The DTM was a joke. It had an almost twice as high raised rearwing and the engine only 28 horses more than the standart Omega 3000 24v.

    And the Lotus Omega also was the only chance for those living outside the UK to get something close to an HSV version of Australias Holden Commodore besides that it took arround 17 years to be imported into the USA under the DOT's "Show and Display" exemption.

    Anyway, last set of the heaviest car Lotus ever sold in Europe.
    Last edited by Yeahone; 04-11-2011 at 10:19 AM.

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    I like it. Thanks.

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