Ten days ahead of the official unveil at the
Paris Motor Show the sun starts to rise for the
dawn of Lotus’ new era - the Elite will redefine
“modern classic".
So here it is, the Lotus Elite, the first
taste of what’s to come from Lotus in the future.
Look up elegant in the dictionary and you’ll
find variations on the following 1. dignified
grace in appearance, movement, or behaviour, 2.
superb taste in design, style and 3. something
elegant; the ultimate refinement.
The ground-breaking new Elite is exactly that.
It’s compact yet chic body is elegance incarnate.
It’s not only exquisitely elegant, in keeping
with Lotus’ core values, it’s a car of substance
incorporating some of the very latest
technological innovations Lotus has to offer.
The slick retractable hard top version and the
optional use of hybrid technology with KERS are
typical examples of Lotus tailoring technology
to deliver perfect performance.
Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus said: “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. 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.
“Make no mistake, there’s a definite market
requirement for the Elite – it’s the ultimate
sports car feel with comfort and space. There
will always be those who believe that Lotus
should stick to small sports cars but we didn’t
take the decision to design something like the
Elite lightly, it’s based on months of careful
research and planning. It’s worth noting this
sector has been very successful for us in the
past and now the Elite raises the benchmark
higher still.”
Set for release in spring 2014, this is an
innovative, exciting GT that will set a new
benchmark in design, performance and emissions.
And it’s not all about sleek lines and stunning
bodywork with this particular 2+2, what hides
beneath this shark like exterior perfectly does
the aesthetics justice. A front-mid positioned
5.0l V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS meaning
drivers can expect to go from 0-100 km/h in
approximately 3.5 to 3.7 seconds.
Lotus Elite specification
Layout: |
2+2 seater, front-mid-engined, rear
wheel drive |
Dimensions: |
Length: 4.60m
Width: 1.90m
Height: 1.32m |
Engine: |
Petrol, hybrid optional |
Hybrid technology: |
Hybrid gearbox with integrated
electric motors and KERS |
Cylinder: |
V8 |
Capacity: |
5.0 litre |
Power/Torque: |
620 PS / 720 Nm |
Rev limit: |
8,500 rpm |
0-100 km/h: |
3.5 to 3.7 seconds |
Top speed: |
315 km/h |
CO2 approx (CO2/km) |
215 g/km using optional hybrid |
Weight: |
1,650 kg |
Seats: |
2+2 |
Transmission: |
Full Hybrid transmission |
Drive: |
RWD |
Start of production: |
Early 2014 |
Enters the market: |
Spring 2014 |
Price indication: |
Circa £115,000 |
Lotus Elite Images
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