#Sportscars

Those engineers over at Lotus have received a pat on the back by industry experts in the U.K., as the company was recently awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club.

The Dewar Trophy is handed out each year for a “outstanding British technical achievement in the automotive field.” Lotus received the award for developing its Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) chassis that underlies the upcoming Evora sportscar (pictured above).

What makes the VVA architecture so special isn’t just that it’s a light weight, but that is was created specifically to be used in different variants to be an equally capable and ideal platform for several different low to medium production number models (like the ones Lotus builds). Traditionally, a niche market vehicle requires an entirely new platform or the adaptation of an existing platform, two solutions that are either expensive or full of compromises. With the VVA chassis, Lotus has found a middle-road solution that will be the basis for the Evora as well as other future platforms.

“I would like to thank the Dewar Trophy Technical Sub-Committee for the award, and all at Lotus are most honored to receive this accolade,” said Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc. “It is a fantastic achievement for Lotus to win such a prestigious and recognized award for our Versatile Vehicle Architecture technology which is used in our stunning new Lotus Evora sportscar. This award is for everyone at Lotus; those who created the VVA technology, those who delivered the Evora engineering program and those who are building our car. With incredible hard work and dedication at Lotus, using this technology our excellent staff have delivered the Lotus Evora in 27 months from a clean sheet to the first production car driving off the line, a great achievement.”

“The automotive industry is changing fast, and technology needs to be robust, faster to market and more cost and mass effective than ever before,” continues Kimberly, “and Lotus will be there at the forefront of this exciting period for the future of personal transport.”

Official release after the jump:

Ford is preparing to take on the front-wheel drive Nürburgring lap record with the all-new 2009 Focus RS. The current front wheel drive record is held by the Renault Megane R26R, which set a blistering 8 minute and 17 second run, eclipsing the previous 8:22 of the Chevy Cobalt SS.

As automakers downsize their payrolls, many are also looking to downsize their auto offerings by producing smaller and more affordable vehicles. While we expect as much from the GMs and Toyotas of the world, luxury and sportscar makers are also hopping on the band wagon. We recently reported that Audi is now selling a less powerful version of the TT Roadster in the U.K., and latest reports suggest Porsche might be bringing a new entry-level vehicle to market to slot in under the Boxster.

The fourth generation Mazda Miata, due out in 2012 is going to be more in line with the original Miata, with a smaller engine and lower curb weight. There is also a strong possibility that Mazda will bring back the soft-top (as well as offer a hard-top) – a move that would easily save a bundle of weight.

With the economy in its current state, many people can’t (or aren’t prepared to) shell out big bucks for a sportscar. Audi understands this and so it is offering its U.K. customers a new version of its TT Roadster – with a smaller engine.

The new TT Roadster 1.8 comes with Audi’s turbocharged 1.8-liter powerplant – similar to the engine in the original TT. Power is rates at 158hp from 4500 to 6200 rpm and 184 ft-lbs of torque are handy from 1500 to 4500 rpm. Mated to a six-speed manual transmission, this is good for a 0-62 mph run of 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 139 mph.

It’s also good on fuel with an average fuel-economy rating of 40.9 mpg.

Other specifics for the new model include 17-inch wheels, electronic climate control, power windows and cloth seats.

This new 1.8-liter model also comes in a front wheel drive setup, which is significantly less expensive than the quattro models. The asking price is set at £23,910 (which comes out to $34,717), a significant difference from the £27,355 (or $39,748) cost for a 2.0 TFSI model.

More on the 1.8 TFSI TT Roadster after the jump:

The Camaro Convertible is back on track say the latest industry reports. While several media outlets (including Motor Trend) recently reported the indefinite future of the drop-top muscle car, MotorTrend is now reporting an about-face by General Motors.

Generally speaking, car manufacturers hold press launches of new vehicles for the press, but not this time. As Hyundai continues to reinvent itself as a company, it is also reinventing how the whole system works and so they’ve invited, well, everyone, to come along – virtually anyway (those without WiFi, an ethernet cable or anything remotely resembling a 56k modem need not apply).