Clockwise from top: The Elan, Esprit, Eterne, Elise and Elite. (Lotus)
Lotus made a stir at the Paris Motor Show in October with five sportscar concepts meant to showcase the future of the brand. The Esprit, planned for production in 2013, is a two-seater with a V8 that can go from zero to 60 in less than 3.5 seconds. The Elan, also due in 2013, is powered by a 450 horsepower V6. Its dash features a digital race track readout and racing steering wheel. The Elite, due out in 2014, has a company-first retractable hardtop and a top speed of 195 mph. The Eterne, slated for 2015, is a four-seat hybrid that will get 612 hp. And the Elise, the lowest priced option at $55,000, will get 320 hp when it debuts in 2015.
--NWautos staff
3 Comments
By BiffNotZeem on December 30, 2010 9:54 AM
Why did this appear in NWautos on 24 Dec? The Paris Motor Show was in September (not October) and the US debut was at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
BTW, the least expensive car is the 'Elise', not the 'Elis'.
By NWautos staff on December 30, 2010 11:17 AM
According to its website (http://www.mondialautomobile.com/), the Paris Motor Show took place Oct. 2-16, 2010.
By BiffNotZeem on December 31, 2010 1:02 AM
I guess one should not expect NWautos to be familiar with the idea of "Press Days" at major auto shows. Oct 2-16 was when the show was open to the public.
The Lotus launch event (which I watched live over the web) was held on the first Press Day, September 30.