People are not the only ones getting diamonds for their birthday. For men everywhere, the idea of adding diamonds to your car may seem too much or it may quickly be the perfect way to give a gift that enhances the look of any vehicle. However, getting the diamonds and getting them set into your vehicles interior is something that is still being tested by the professionals.
This year, the Europa, which is built by British carmaker Lotus, received a number of diamond-studded accents that will value the car more than $400,000. However, it is unlikely that this special anniversary edition will ever be sold. The other changes, though, will be incorporated in all productions of the latest model.
Diamonds are incorporated to the inside and outside designs. In places where real diamonds are not used, there are diamond shaped patterns. In other places, more than one hundred diamonds were used to accent the diamond scheme on the car. While the idea of diamonds may seem as though they would not work seamlessly into the car, Lotus designers have incorporated the diamonds into some of the most intricate areas of the car.
Inside the car, you will find diamond-shaped quilted leather seats. There is also a gear lever and control features that have diamonds set in black matte metal for a spectacular shine as you take the driver’s seat. Furthermore, you can find a set of diamonds that are highlighted by hidden LED accent lights around the rev counter and dials.
On the outside, the car is finished in a high-gloss black that has tiny glass flakes scattered throughout the body of the car. The car also sports tinted windows and black and silver tires, as well as a diamond set Lotus nose-badge that sits proudly on the anniversary edition Europa. The sleek sports car sticks to its original philosophy and adds the diamonds without making the vehicle look too over-the-top by adding the diamond.
However, the addition of some diamonds is just one of many changes to the 60th anniversary series. Other changes revolve around different performance upgrades. Among the upgrades to the sports car is the ability to go from zero to 100km/h (60 mph) in less than five seconds. The Europa tops out at 250km/h for one amazing ride.
The Europa first began back in the early 1960s as a mid-engine, two door coupe was meant to be competition for Ford’s Le Mans racecar. The philosophy of automotive design for the Europa was to “simplify, then add lightness.” Most likely, developers never imagined diamonds would play a part in its future design. By 2006, there was a complete overhaul of the product that led to the Europa S.
Supplying the Lotus Europa with its sparkle was Winsor Bishop, an East Anglia premier diamond specialist. In their first effort in diamond setting a car, the companies used 164 beautiful round brilliant diamonds. These diamonds were hand selected to match the beauty of the anniversary design. However, because of the intrigue of the diamonds and accessibility while the vehicle is on display, the real 164 diamonds have temporarily been replaced with replica diamonds. With that many diamonds, this Lotus is literally a gem of a car.
Through the Europa offered this innovative design as a way to signify the anniversary of their car. However, it begs the question of how popular added diamonds to accessorize a car will become with the rich and famous. Already, many male celebrities, especially rappers and sports stars, have taken to wearing multiple diamonds on a daily basis and loading their car with all of the latest technology, styles, and trends.
It seems only a matter of time before they begin mixing their love of fast cars, over-the-top creativity, and diamonds to accessorize their vehicles as well. Already these cars are on the higher-end and lined with the best car security available, which would make the addition of a few diamonds or a paint job that reflects the appearance of diamonds an easy next step.
For Lotus and Winsor Bishop, the addition of diamonds to the diamond anniversary commemorative Europa was one that included the tenacity and creativity that a car manufacture needs to possess to come up with something new and different no matter how long the car has been in existence.
For others, however, the idea of adding diamonds to a car can also be a creative way to do something new and different to your favorite vehicle or to a vehicle that has as much history for its owner as the Europa has for Lotus. Soon we shall see if the diamond designs displayed in the Europa catch on or if it proves to be a deal that only occurred for the diamond anniversary.
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