theblackpearl
12-15-2010, 01:00 PM
Lotus Elan
Lotus is fielding a late-2013 transverse-V6 car called the Elan as a rival for the 911 Carrera and Carrera S. It will run a 4.0-liter supercharged direct-injection version of the existing Evora engine, for 400HP (base) and 470HP (R). The Esprit's mild hybrid system will also be available on the Elan, as will a convertible body. The Elan will in effect replace the Evora, although at a higher price and power, so the Evora will continue as long as there are buyers. Lotus acknowledges that the Evora has failed to attract new fans from outside the brand, because it doesn't have the required sense of luxury (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/1009_lotus_relaunches_itself/elite_and_eterne.html), and ingress/egress difficulty is often cited by consumers who go back to Porsche. While the Elan uses the basic Evora tub, it will be modified for better owner convenience. Aluminum panels will help the quality impression. But Lotus insists the largely carryover chassis will maintain the Evora's frankly sublime handling, steering, and ride.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2014_lotus_elan/30656488+pinline_medium/2014-lotus-elan-side.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2014_lotus_elan/photo_02.html)
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Due in mid-2015, the new Elise gains around 450 pounds over the present featherweight, and many thousand dollars in cost. It uses a 2.0-liter Toyota-derived four, with either supercharging or turbo-"we still have time to decide," the engineers say-for 300 (base) and 350HP (R). Porsche engineers have hinted they will do a four-cylinder (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/1009_lotus_relaunches_itself/elite_and_eterne.html) Boxster next time around, so having a four-banger shouldn't handicap Lotus. And the mild hybrid system will be available in the new Elise, for class-leading economy as well as performance. The new Elise will come as a convertible and a hardtop (as will the Esprit and the Elan), aimed square at the Boxster and Cayman. But Lotus promises there will also be lightweight, bare-butt variants of the Elise to keep the track-biased hardcore buyers in the fold.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_elise/30656017+pinline_medium/2015-lotus-elise-rear-three-quarters.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_elise/photo_02.html)
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A Lotus sedan? Yes, indeed. For 2015, Lotus' Eterne will rival the Aston Martin Rapide, housing a 550-horsepower engine shared with the Esprit up front. The structure, panels, and suspension are all aluminum and with a length of 196 inches, the Eterne is said to be almost as spacious (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/index.html#) as a Porsche Panamera.
As with the Esprit, a hybrid option could come in the future, bringing a 50-hosepower electric boost to the equation, along with plenty of eco-tech. This car (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/index.html#) is still years away from production, but we expect more details to be announced on a regular basis until its launch.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/30656590+pinline_medium/2015-lotus-eterne-rear-three-quarters-2.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/photo_02.html)
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http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/34681842+pinline_medium/2015-lotus-eterne-rear-three-quarters.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/photo_08.html)
Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/index.html#ixzz18DE25ezg
The Esprit is back for 2012. The mid-engined supercar will be powered by a reworked V-8 (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/1009_lotus_relaunches_itself/index.html)from the Lexus IS F making 550 horsepower in standard form, up to 620 in R trim. The UK maker added a supercharger, and a new injection system, and revised the internals so it can rev to 8500. Performance is claimed to match the Ferrari 458 and Porsche 911 Turbo, its key rivals.
The Esprit's transmission is a seven-speed DCT, and Lotus also is working on an optional mild hybrid system. It uses regenerative braking to recharge a battery pack, and an 'e-boost' button on the steering wheel switches on an electric motor between the engine and transmission, giving a 50-horsepower helping hand. The system also allows idle-stop. The batteries are located in the structural tunnel between the seats, so the center of gravity is mostly unaffected. As with all the cars in the new range, the Esprit utilizes Lotus's patent aluminum frame. But, for the first time in a Lotus, glass fiber is no longer used for the body panels. Instead, aluminum is used for the skin, because it gives better panel gaps and surface finish, as expected by buyers in this category. The Esprit uses carbon fiber side panels, and aluminum doors, roof, and front and rear ends. Lotus claims 3300 pounds dry weight. A convertible will be offered with standard and R engines and the hybrid.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2013_lotus_espirit/34681644+pinline_medium/2013-lotus-espirit-rear-three-quarters.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2013_lotus_espirit/photo_02.html)
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Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2013_lotus_espirit/index.html#ixzz18DEGLhQg
In an astonishingly audacious move, Lotus intends to burst out of its Spartan quasi-racer niche. It has announced the Elite, a car (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#) to challenge the high-profile luxury GT supercars -- Ferrari California, Aston Martin DB9, AMG SL, Corvette ZR1.
The Elite will be shown at the Paris salon, and is intended for production in spring 2014. Lotus is showing it this early because it obviously needs to make a whole new audience aware of the brand.
Power comes from a Lotus-developed version of the Lexus IS-F's five-liter V8. It makes 550 horsepower (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#) in 'base' trim, and 620 in R trim. Lotus says the R version will hit 62mph from rest in less than 3.5 seconds.
It's a super-high-tech engine. Supercharging gives it torque (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#), and it uses direct gas injection at low load for better emissions, but switches to port injection higher up to get the punch. Scavenge oil pumps in the heads mean it can sustain high cornering g safely, and titanium valves allow it to rev to 8000 rpm.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/34526769+pinline_large/lotus-elite-concept-rear.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/photo_02.html)http://static.motortrend.com/_SiteConfigs/motortrend_com/images/skins/icon_clickforgallery.gif
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The mid-front-mounted motor will drive the rear wheels through a seven-speed sequential transmission. Optionally, all four wheels will be driven via a version of the Lexus LS600h full-hybrid system, which cuts consumption on the Euro cycle by 40 percent. Oh, and there's a "boost button" on the steering wheel to call up every last electrical ampere for a burst of max acceleration.
Lotus already enjoys a successful relationship with Toyota, using its four-cylinder (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#) in the Elise and Exige, and its V6 in the Evora. So the adaptation of the V8 and hybrid drive is a continuation rather than an all-new cooperation. As Akio Toyoda said last week, when picking up the keys to his new Elise, "A Toyota engine in a Lotus car creates a completely unique feeling -- a special blend featuring the best of Lotus and Toyota that we hope many car lovers continue to enjoy."
The Elite to be shown at Paris has a glazed folding hardtop. It's also got what aircraft designers call a glass cockpit -- all-graphical driver-configurable virtual LCD instrumentation rather than hardware dials. Many controls are on the steering wheel.
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Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#ixzz18DETZLCR
Lotus is fielding a late-2013 transverse-V6 car called the Elan as a rival for the 911 Carrera and Carrera S. It will run a 4.0-liter supercharged direct-injection version of the existing Evora engine, for 400HP (base) and 470HP (R). The Esprit's mild hybrid system will also be available on the Elan, as will a convertible body. The Elan will in effect replace the Evora, although at a higher price and power, so the Evora will continue as long as there are buyers. Lotus acknowledges that the Evora has failed to attract new fans from outside the brand, because it doesn't have the required sense of luxury (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/1009_lotus_relaunches_itself/elite_and_eterne.html), and ingress/egress difficulty is often cited by consumers who go back to Porsche. While the Elan uses the basic Evora tub, it will be modified for better owner convenience. Aluminum panels will help the quality impression. But Lotus insists the largely carryover chassis will maintain the Evora's frankly sublime handling, steering, and ride.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2014_lotus_elan/30656488+pinline_medium/2014-lotus-elan-side.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2014_lotus_elan/photo_02.html)
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Due in mid-2015, the new Elise gains around 450 pounds over the present featherweight, and many thousand dollars in cost. It uses a 2.0-liter Toyota-derived four, with either supercharging or turbo-"we still have time to decide," the engineers say-for 300 (base) and 350HP (R). Porsche engineers have hinted they will do a four-cylinder (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/1009_lotus_relaunches_itself/elite_and_eterne.html) Boxster next time around, so having a four-banger shouldn't handicap Lotus. And the mild hybrid system will be available in the new Elise, for class-leading economy as well as performance. The new Elise will come as a convertible and a hardtop (as will the Esprit and the Elan), aimed square at the Boxster and Cayman. But Lotus promises there will also be lightweight, bare-butt variants of the Elise to keep the track-biased hardcore buyers in the fold.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_elise/30656017+pinline_medium/2015-lotus-elise-rear-three-quarters.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_elise/photo_02.html)
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A Lotus sedan? Yes, indeed. For 2015, Lotus' Eterne will rival the Aston Martin Rapide, housing a 550-horsepower engine shared with the Esprit up front. The structure, panels, and suspension are all aluminum and with a length of 196 inches, the Eterne is said to be almost as spacious (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/index.html#) as a Porsche Panamera.
As with the Esprit, a hybrid option could come in the future, bringing a 50-hosepower electric boost to the equation, along with plenty of eco-tech. This car (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/index.html#) is still years away from production, but we expect more details to be announced on a regular basis until its launch.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/30656590+pinline_medium/2015-lotus-eterne-rear-three-quarters-2.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/photo_02.html)
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http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/34681842+pinline_medium/2015-lotus-eterne-rear-three-quarters.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/photo_08.html)
Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2015_lotus_eterne/index.html#ixzz18DE25ezg
The Esprit is back for 2012. The mid-engined supercar will be powered by a reworked V-8 (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/1009_lotus_relaunches_itself/index.html)from the Lexus IS F making 550 horsepower in standard form, up to 620 in R trim. The UK maker added a supercharger, and a new injection system, and revised the internals so it can rev to 8500. Performance is claimed to match the Ferrari 458 and Porsche 911 Turbo, its key rivals.
The Esprit's transmission is a seven-speed DCT, and Lotus also is working on an optional mild hybrid system. It uses regenerative braking to recharge a battery pack, and an 'e-boost' button on the steering wheel switches on an electric motor between the engine and transmission, giving a 50-horsepower helping hand. The system also allows idle-stop. The batteries are located in the structural tunnel between the seats, so the center of gravity is mostly unaffected. As with all the cars in the new range, the Esprit utilizes Lotus's patent aluminum frame. But, for the first time in a Lotus, glass fiber is no longer used for the body panels. Instead, aluminum is used for the skin, because it gives better panel gaps and surface finish, as expected by buyers in this category. The Esprit uses carbon fiber side panels, and aluminum doors, roof, and front and rear ends. Lotus claims 3300 pounds dry weight. A convertible will be offered with standard and R engines and the hybrid.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2013_lotus_espirit/34681644+pinline_medium/2013-lotus-espirit-rear-three-quarters.JPG.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/paris/2010/1010_2013_lotus_espirit/photo_02.html)
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In an astonishingly audacious move, Lotus intends to burst out of its Spartan quasi-racer niche. It has announced the Elite, a car (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#) to challenge the high-profile luxury GT supercars -- Ferrari California, Aston Martin DB9, AMG SL, Corvette ZR1.
The Elite will be shown at the Paris salon, and is intended for production in spring 2014. Lotus is showing it this early because it obviously needs to make a whole new audience aware of the brand.
Power comes from a Lotus-developed version of the Lexus IS-F's five-liter V8. It makes 550 horsepower (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#) in 'base' trim, and 620 in R trim. Lotus says the R version will hit 62mph from rest in less than 3.5 seconds.
It's a super-high-tech engine. Supercharging gives it torque (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#), and it uses direct gas injection at low load for better emissions, but switches to port injection higher up to get the punch. Scavenge oil pumps in the heads mean it can sustain high cornering g safely, and titanium valves allow it to rev to 8000 rpm.
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The mid-front-mounted motor will drive the rear wheels through a seven-speed sequential transmission. Optionally, all four wheels will be driven via a version of the Lexus LS600h full-hybrid system, which cuts consumption on the Euro cycle by 40 percent. Oh, and there's a "boost button" on the steering wheel to call up every last electrical ampere for a burst of max acceleration.
Lotus already enjoys a successful relationship with Toyota, using its four-cylinder (http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_vehicles/1009_lotus_elite_concept/index.html#) in the Elise and Exige, and its V6 in the Evora. So the adaptation of the V8 and hybrid drive is a continuation rather than an all-new cooperation. As Akio Toyoda said last week, when picking up the keys to his new Elise, "A Toyota engine in a Lotus car creates a completely unique feeling -- a special blend featuring the best of Lotus and Toyota that we hope many car lovers continue to enjoy."
The Elite to be shown at Paris has a glazed folding hardtop. It's also got what aircraft designers call a glass cockpit -- all-graphical driver-configurable virtual LCD instrumentation rather than hardware dials. Many controls are on the steering wheel.
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