RE-Amemiya Lotus Europa

[brawr]

So a Speedhunters instagram photo from Tokyo Auto Salon got me intrigued, and a bit of googling led me to this:














As suggested in the title, it's Amemiya's take on the Europa. Of course, they usually deal with Mazdas, and you can see a lot of their fd rx7 influences in it. Oh, and a 3-rotor 20b wankel, yum.

Oh, here's a previous incarnation...










And a little bit of info, also from Speedhunters:
www.speedhunters.com/2009/08/random_snap_gt_gt_re_amemiya_lotus_europa/

Love both versions!

[Davey]

I'm not seeing pictures.

[brawr]

Fixed.

[Robinxr4i]

A Lotus with a Rotary in it, internet folklore should dictate that it shouldn't be able to move without the engine exploding or the car bursting into flames.

Anyway with that out the way, that is sooooo friggin' cool. Lotus handling, rotary noise/power, RE-Amemiya styling - epic combo!

[popuptoaster]

I had always wanted a Europa, by the time I grew old enough to drive one I had grown to long to fit in one.

[stealthstylz]

Not for me that, they seemed to have removed every piece of original styling that made the original look so cool. I quite like the earlier version because its so "of the era".

[boom666]

these guys do a better job in my opinion. I did engine work for them many moons ago.
www.banks-europa.co.uk/gallery/gallery10/gtr_15.jpg
they're called banks service station . check out there smart roadster . heres a link
www.banks-europa.co.uk/welcome.htm

[maf260]

Yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk. Hideous! Absolute sacrilege - Tupperware body parts, unnecessary additions and removal of the heart of the beast. These people should be shot!

[stealthstylz]

Bit of an overreaction lol.

[maf260]

Get somebody to do similar to one of your all-time favourite classics that's captivated you since you were a young boy and then tell me if you're over-reacting when you see it.

[luckyseven]

Whilst as a long-time rotard I have the utmost respect for what Isami Amemiya-san and his company have done for the rotary engine (having built a rotary car capable of winning the GT300-class in the old-style JGTC is no small achievement, especially for a small family firm) I do wish they'd leave the styling to people who understand it Their products are of amazing quality, well made and thought out (I've got some on my own FD), but damn they've been guilty of some hideously deformed monstrosities over the years.

By way of example, and the fact that these pics are of a M*x P*wer feature ought to ring alarm bells...







I don't even mind the appalling body shapes the most (though it's undeniably sinful to take something as gorgeous as an FD RX-7 and make it look like Jackie Stallone) or even the colour, it's the interior that looks like it was built out of Lego and upholstered in baby muppet skin that really disturbs me.

For God's sake, think of the poor muppetlings....





And for the RR credo of positivity, some non-disgusting offerings from the RE:Amemiya stable...

[RobinJI]

"removal of the heart of the beast" a bit ott surely? Most of them left the factory with a pretty mundane renault 4-banger, it's hardly a car that's defined by it's engine.

Afraid I'm not a massive fan of this one. It's not a terrible looking car or anything, I just don't think it's an improvement on the original design (visually, I'm sure it's much better aerodynamically) Plus it's lost a lot of the character the originals had. I actually really like the idea of the rotary being in there though.

I love the Banks ones, and the first incarnation of this ones got a weird sort of appeal. I am occationally tempted to use a Europa body instead of my Mini, lovely little cars.

This one I love:

[fogey]

I wonder what Colin would say?

[Robinxr4i]

Jan 12, 2013 11:52:57 GMT maf260 said:

Get somebody to do similar to one of your all-time favourite classics that's captivated you since you were a young boy and then tell me if you're over-reacting when you see it.

Then instead of moaning about it, why not do as RobinJI has done and post one you do like! If you don't understand where I'm coming from read this.... well you should have read it already TBH...

Retro Rides Modus Operandi (READ THIS)
retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=45829

Jan 12, 2013 12:41:24 GMT fogey said:

I wonder what Colin would say?

Well he's been dead for 20 years, so I doubt he'd say anything!

[Rich606]

Jan 12, 2013 11:52:57 GMT maf260 said:

Get somebody to do similar to one of your all-time favourite classics that's captivated you since you were a young boy and then tell me if you're over-reacting when you see it.

I would say that suggesting they should be shot is an over-reaction, whatever they've done. It is, after all, only A CAR.
And criticising a fibreglass sports car for having Tupperware body parts is a bit like criticising Tupperware for having Tupperware parts.

I really like it. I think it's a clean, fresh update of a classic. Yeah, some bits like the rear lights are a bit kit-car but I really like the front end and the overall shape. The earlier incarnation is very... Erm, "period".
And it is a Lotus Europa witha triple-rotor, can't really argue with that.


That pink FD convertible looks like a Ladyshave or a sex toy though...

[maf260]

Jan 12, 2013 12:58:23 GMT Robinxr4i said:

Jan 12, 2013 11:52:57 GMT maf260 said:

Get somebody to do similar to one of your all-time favourite classics that's captivated you since you were a young boy and then tell me if you're over-reacting when you see it.

Then instead of moaning about it, why not do as RobinJI has done and post one you do like! If you don't understand where I'm coming from read this.... well you should have read it already TBH...

Retro Rides Modus Operandi (READ THIS)
retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=45829

Get over yourself. It's an opinion.

Deepest apologies for not reading every last word of your rule book (didn't read any tbh). I had no idea that adults weren't allowed to voice an opinion on this site that was anything other than blowing smoke up somebody's arse.

[maf260]

Jan 12, 2013 14:00:43 GMT Rich606 said:

Jan 12, 2013 11:52:57 GMT maf260 said:

Get somebody to do similar to one of your all-time favourite classics that's captivated you since you were a young boy and then tell me if you're over-reacting when you see it.

I would say that suggesting they should be shot is an over-reaction, whatever they've done. It is, after all, only A CAR.
And criticising a fibreglass sports car for having Tupperware body parts is a bit like criticising Tupperware for having Tupperware parts.

I really like it. I think it's a clean, fresh update of a classic. Yeah, some bits like the rear lights are a bit kit-car but I really like the front end and the overall shape. The earlier incarnation is very... Erm, "period".
And it is a Lotus Europa witha triple-rotor, can't really argue with that.


That pink FD convertible looks like a Ladyshave or a sex toy though...

What a load of rubbish you spout.
1. Your Tupperware analogy makes no sense
2. I can argue with a Europa with a triple rotor - I don't like it
3. What odd comparisons to make with the pink FD. Your missus must be HUGE!!!!

[HoTWire]

Hey maf206, wind your neck in.

I think you've taken a wrong turn and ended up on this forum by mistake by the looks of your attitude, to both cars and the other users here. Please attempt to restrain yourself a bit.


I like this Japanese Lotus Europa :

Hope it has an engine swap though, the original engine is rubbish (except for the later Twincam engines)

The RE-Amemiya one isn't doing anything for me stylewise, it looks a bit like one of those MX-5 kit things that some companies do out there. I'm sure the engine is nuts though, those chaps know how to screw together rotaries!

[maf260]

My neck is fine thanks.

This is the modern world. There should be no reason why somebody cannot say they don't like something, mildly or vociferously, without being jumped on. My original comment was about the car. Following comments were about my post, attempting to point out the errors of my opinion - I don't like the car, so what?!

[HoTWire]

Jan 12, 2013 17:35:17 GMT maf260 said:

My neck is fine thanks.

This is the modern world. There should be no reason why somebody cannot say they don't like something, mildly or vociferously, without being jumped on. My original comment was about the car. Following comments were about my post, attempting to point out the errors of my opinion - I don't like the car, so what?!

Because of this : retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=45829 .. that is how my forum works. It is how it has worked for the last 8 years and how it will continue to work. With or without you. So take a moment to have a think if this is the sort of forum you want to be a part of.