It might sound like a breeze but unveiling an entire new product line-up as well as a new lifestyle and image to accompany the new products is no walk in the park but Lotus have pulled it off. All in all, the five models that will soon find their way to the showroom floors are the Esprit, Elan, Elite, Elise and Eterne.
Lotus Elan
The Elan name makes a comeback in the form of a 2+2 seater with a 4-liter V6 featuring forced induction. Power will stand in the region of 448hp, that coupled with its anorexic weight of 1,295kg, should see it graze the supercar performance boundaries. It’ll also be available with the option of KERS hybrid tech. It’s being touted as an everyday car and with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, we can’t argue. Expect it to be available in 2013.
Lotus Elise
Next up we have the new Elise that will enter the market in 2015. It seems like the current Elise has been around forever and the all-new model will see some drastic improvements without sacrificing on the chuckability that the Elise has carved a name for itself. One major improvement would be the ingress and egress aspect of the car that ensures you don’t have to be an acrobat to get in or out. Power will still be courtesy of a supercharged 2-liter inline-four that will deliver up to 318hp and deal with the century sprint in 4.5-seconds. Power reaches the rear wheels through a six-speed manual but a dual-clutch tranny is available as well. It gets some mild hybrid assistance in the form of start/stop tech.
Lotus Elite
The Elite follows that with some supercar aspirations. Featuring a 2+2 seater layout, the Elite hides a 5-liter V8 under its gorgeous sheet metal that delivers 618hp and a century sprint time of 3.7-seconds. This time around, the engine sits up front, albeit behind the front axle, and sends the power to the rear wheels via a hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS. Expect this to hit the market in 2014.
Lotus Esprit
Think James Bond as the Esprit will be making a comeback in 2013. The model that all Lotus fanboys have been waiting for, the Esprit will get a 5-liter V8 supercharged to 618hp. Lightweight will be a key aspect of the Esprit and the main contributor to its supercar status. Aiding that will be a seven-speed dual-clutch tranny and optional KERS tech.
Lotus Eterne
Finally, the Eterne strays from the Lotus norm as it is a four door four seater sports saloon. Power comes from the same 5-liter V8 found in the Elite and Esprit and pumps out an identical 618hp through supercharging. The engine will be located at the front, behind the rear axle for optimum weight distribution, but the catch is that the front axle might be spinning too. That’s right, all-wheel drive would be optional on this four door salon. Once again, the transmission is a hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS as well. This family hauler/track killer will find its way to showrooms in 2015.
So there you have it folks, an entire new line-up unveiled by Lotus for the next five years. We’re pretty sure everybody agrees that this is one of the most exciting pieces of news for the year and we can’t wait until all the models hit the road.
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