Before the Lotus Esprit became the Lotus Esprit…it was known as the M70.  Penned by Giugaro (Italdesign) and quite a big step for Lotus as a company; It launched Lotus into the realm of supercars.

I have to say that the Series 1 Lotus Esprit is a pretty great looking car….and the M70 definitely looks like the purest expression of the design (obviously!).

Here are some original ideas thrown around for the M70:

(from Car Styling Magazine, April 1976: Lotusespritturbo.com)

src: smcars

src: Early911Registry

Although it looks like a Bertone concept, it is not! In fact this is the 1969 Ghia Lancia HF Competizione concept.  I don’t have a ton of information about the actual car; however I do know that it was based on the standard Fulvia HF platform and was FWD with the famous 1600 V4 engine from the Fulvia HF.  However, a major difference was that the Ghia concept was even lighter than the standard Fulvia—-which made it even faster and (supposedly) with better handling.  The idea was to possibly use this as a basis for a racing car that would have possibly be entered into Le Mans-type race events; alas this was not meant to be.

It was shown at the 1969 Geneva Auto Show; and obviously never produced.

src (colour photos): mauiboy

Today, we finally got a tiny little snow storm……..not really enough to get truly excited about—-but still good fun to do circles in Brooklyn!!  A3 + quattro + snow tires = pretty much unstoppable great fun.

(2) I want an Ur quattro

This winter has been most disappointing in NYC.  One little bit of snow….in October (?)…..my snow tires are waiting for more fun.

Thanks to Cacti (QW) for the tip!

src: InsideLine

The Audi-Peugeot rivalry at Le Mans has been nothing short of legendary; fierce competition, intense driving, fiery situations, and 2 teams going full on to try to gain victories against each other.

Well all that is over, as Peugeot is dropping the entire endurance racing program, including Le Mans; effective immediately.  Apparently the state of the global economy has taken its toll on the program; not surprising anymore to hear this is it…

I have always rooted fiercly for Audi in these battles…..and have often found myself scorning Peugeot on some of their, well, suspicious tactics.  That being said, i’m very saddened that this competition is now over.  Thanks Peugeot, for competing and for making Le Mans an event worth obsessing over….

links:

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Motorsport_News/article_7412.shtml

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97080