Monday 20th September 2010

Lotus Reveals New Elite

V8-powered hybrid Lotus set to take on Aston, Porsche

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This is the new Lotus Elite, a front-engined V8 GT that's due to be unveiled at the Paris motor show in 10 days time - and set to reach showrooms by spring 2014.

The new Elite - which is the first front-engined Lotus since the Elan of the early 90s - will be powered by a 5.0-litre (no doubt Toyota-sourced) V8, giving the 2+2 611bhp and the capacity to sprint from 0-62mph in around 3.5secs, and will get a retractable hard top as an option.

Lotus will also offer the Elite with a hybrid option, which will make use of its in-house KERS, making the car the first hybrid sports GT in its class.

And that class is quite a tough one - with an expected price tag in excess of £100k, Lotus is aiming squarely at Aston Martin and Porsche with its new car. But Lotus seems confident.

"There's no denying that the Elite is breathtakingly beautiful to look at but it's so much more than that, it's a car that over delivers in all other aspects as well" says Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus. "One could say it's a car of perfect contradictions, it's compact yet spacious, high performing yet low emitting, lightweight yet still reassuringly solid. It's a car that we are exceptionally proud of at Lotus and we truly believe that there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of styling and performance."

Big words. We can't wait for Paris...

[AliV6]

Pretty nice looking, sounds promising! Had my first experience on track with a LOTUS Evora on sat, was fantastically balanced and a joy to drive. Here's hoping the Elite offers the same thrills. Thumbs up!

Edited by AliV6 on Monday 20th September 10:59

[Henchman]

Quite like the look of that. Sounds promising

[balders118]

I REALLY like the look of that. Stunning IMO.

[Essex Exile]

I assume it's the Lexus ISF engine then.
If they could ask nicely for the LFA lunatic though,then we're talking!

[130R]

611bhp in a Lotus, bloody hell.

[rhinochopig]

I can't help but wonder whether this is a folly for Lotus as at that price point a large part of the buying decision is heritage, and Lotus don't have much of a pedigree in the luxury GT sector. To most people, Lotus embody a cheapish sportscar manufacture and engineering consultancy, that competes on lightness and handling - why they've struggled to tempt Porsche buyers into their cars IMO.

Whilst it's nice looking, I can't help but wonder whether it is a step too far too soon.

ETA - Whilst I prefer the looks of that to those of the 599 and the Aston, I'm afraid both these companies would have my cash before Lotus.

Edited by rhinochopig on Monday 20th September 11:04

[BUG4LIFE]

Sweet, I like

[Rawwr]

I can't remember the last time I saw a car which looked so perfect from every angle. Beauty is in proportionality and this car has it.

[Bahnstormer]

Looks a bit 'Aston' from some angles - very nice !

[Stu R]

Fine looking

[Forbes82]

Not the best looking thing lotus have ever made. (I certainly don't want everything looking like an elise/exige/evora, but a bit more of a 'lotus' look to it wouldn't have been a bad thing imo) However, the potential performance sounds amazing.

[JungleJim]

Looks like an Aston from the side, and a Maza RX8 from the front.

[Hitch78]

That is not a 100k+ car. 50 to 60k maybe. Also, it doesn't look very 'Lotus' does it?

[Plotloss]

The front:



The back

[rhinochopig]

Hitch78 said:

That is not a 100k+ car. 50 to 60k maybe. Also, it doesn't look very 'Lotus' does it?

It'll be closer to £150-170k I bet.

[Forbes82]

Lotus are just about the most exciting car company around at the moment, time will tell whether this whole brand shift will work, but my god, they are producing some very exciting and original things these days.

[Rawwr]

Hitch78 said:

That is not a 100k+ car. 50 to 60k maybe.

I'm struggling to think of many >600bhp small-run coupes in the 50-60k bracket.

[edo]

Like the look of that a lot.

[Forbes82]

Hitch78 said:

That is not a 100k+ car. 50 to 60k maybe. Also, it doesn't look very 'Lotus' does it?

50K for a 600hp car with hybrid technology? Are you mad?

[badders]

2014? Why bother releasing information now then...