Lotus 112
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The Lotus 112 was to be the type designation for the model that became the Lotus Elise. However, in homage to the original Lotus Eleven it was swapped with the type number already allocated for the 1995 Formula 1 car (the type 111).
The 112 therefore became Team Lotus’s planned entry to the 1995 Grand Prix season. It was a stillborn project conceived by chief designer Chris Murphy throughout their final Formula 1 campaign in 1994.
As a project little had been confirmed about the car’s final specification. It was rumoured that Lotus were intending to include the promising higher-spec Mugen-Honda ZA5D engine, which had shown great promise at its first outing during the 1994 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Johnny Herbert had qualified his car 4th on the grid before being shunted by a late braking Eddie Irvine at the rettifilio. However, in an attempt to reduce the costs associated with an exclusive engine deal Lotus may have had to use a Ford (Cosworth) unit.
Team Lotus were also planning to retain their final 1994 driver line-up of Alex Zanardi and Mika Salo.
In appearance the 112 was broadly similar to other Chris Murphy designed Lotuses. It did though, incorporate a new and distinctive arrow nose. Nevertheless despite this radical departure the car’s construction retained certain characteristic hallmarks. The tub would have been constructed from the traditional Lotus composite of carbon aluminium honeycomb, with the bodyshell being processed out of carbon fibre. Only a few parts of the 112 were ever fabricated, along with the scale model for wind tunnel testing before the project was suspended.
On the 17th January 1995 new owner David Hunt (younger brother of the 1976 world champion James Hunt) was forced to close down Team Lotus in the face of crippling debt and lack of sponsorship for the forthcoming season.
The Lotus 112 is a significant car despite its failure to bare fruition. It was the last Formula 1 chassis designed by Team Lotus and brought to a close the contributions of a colourful and highly successful manufacturer.
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