Lotus Carlton

[Ant]

When this car was introduced back in 1990 only two other production vehicles had a higher top speed, the Ferrari F40 and the Lamborghini Diablo. Not bad for a saloon, or many sports cars. It was based on the Vauxhall Carlton, but Lotus reworked the engine giving it twin turbos and modified the suspension to make it capable of handling the power of the engine. It used the gearbox of the Corvette ZR-1 and could go well over 170 mph. Also, you could have it in any color you wanted as long as it was Imperial Green. Only 950 cars were made. A note, it was called Lotus Omega outside of the UK, therefore the name in the photos.

Engine: GM Inline 6
Displacement: 3,615 cc
Aspiration: Twin Garret T25 Turbochargers
Power: 377.0 bhp (281.1 kW) @ 5,200 rpm
Torque: 419 lb·ft @ 4,200 rpm
Configuration: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Weight: 1,653 kg (3,644 lbs)
0 - 60 mph: 5.4 seconds
0 - 100 mph: 11.5 seconds
Top speed: 175 mph (281.6 km/h)

[symon]

Cool, but not sub zero.

No vauxhall could ever be sub-zero.

[mr.orange]

I would say they were cool but not quite sub zero, in the middle of those 2 options.

[Gaz]

cool but not sub zero.

[chutsy]

Cool but not sub zero.

Used to deliver to the Lotus factory where they were put together.
I quite liked the wheels on it. They all used to be stacked outside the workshop (100's) and looked very nice.

My mate also used to spray them and told me the British racing green with a black fleck was commonly known as Ninja Turtle racing green as they were popular at the time.

[bacon]

Originally Posted by mr.orange

I would say they were cool but not quite sub zero, in the middle of those 2 options.

i agree.

[RossoGT]

sub zero for me, always had a soft spot for them

[Hamster]

Originally Posted by Rosso2k

sub zero for me, always had a soft spot for them

What he said

Originally Posted by dojohamster

what he said :d

+ 1

[Jim145]

Sub Zero
The first supersaloon and still the benchmark all are judged by. When it was launched only an F40 would out accelerate it - can you imagine Vauxhall launching a Vectra that would beat everything except a Veyron? Thats what the Carlton did.
It caused uproar at launch - there were calls to ban this "176 mph family car"
Awesome car. I want one.

Originally Posted by Jim145

Sub Zero
The first supersaloon and still the benchmark all are judged by. When it was launched only an F40 would out accelerate it - can you imagine Vauxhall launching a Vectra that would beat everything except a Veyron? Thats what the Carlton did.
It caused uproar at launch - there were calls to ban this "176 mph family car"
Awesome car. I want one.

Auto Trader UK - LOTUS CARLTON 3.6 Twin Turbo 4dr Lotus Carlton Saloon

[Fluffyduff]

Epic.

[rmaxeman]

Sub zero

[Hamster]

Originally Posted by Fluffyduff

Epic.

Fecking fantastic one word summary!!

[bazza]

Incredible car. Do you think it'd be possible to find an unmolested one these days though?
Also, Damn, they made some bad looking interiors in those days, didn't they?

[Hamster]

Originally Posted by bazza

Incredible car. Do you think it'd be possible to find an unmolested one these days though?
Also, Damn, they made some bad looking interiors in those days, didn't they?

It's got to be damn near impossible fella...

... and yes, tragic interiors, but back then, we all loved them!

[Pte1643]

Originally Posted by symonh

No vauxhall could ever be sub-zero.

Not even the Monaro?

I'm not really a fan of Vauxhalls BTW, but the Lotus Carlton and the Monaro may be exceptions to my own rule. Possibly.

[Hamster]

Monaros =

[G5een]

Originally Posted by bazza

Also, Damn, they made some bad looking interiors in those days, didn't they?

Check the quartz clock

I found an old newspaper in someone's loft which had an advert for the 'new' astra (mid to late 80's iirc), one of the selling features was a quartz clock

[wayne-dear]

Yep, Sub Zero/Epic/ Fantastic

[fredzedex]

sub zero,for its reputation alone.

'Epic' somes it up nicely

[Ant]

Originally Posted by Pte1643

Not even the Monaro?

I'm not really a fan of Vauxhalls BTW, but the Lotus Carlton and the Monaro may be exceptions to my own rule. Possibly.

The Monaro is actually a rebadged Holden, don't forget.

[Pte1643]

Originally Posted by Ant

The Monaro is actually a rebadged Holden, don't forget.

Indeed it is.

But if you buy one in the UK it comes with the Griffin badge.

[Ant]

Originally Posted by Pte1643

Indeed it is.

But if you buy one in the UK it comes with the Griffin badge.

It's like when they released the Cadillac Catera in the US, it was a rebadged Opel Omega.

But, the important thing is that you know the real origin of the car.

[Prof Peach]

Awesome car. Look at that top speed in a carlton. Cool.