(continued from above)
So here it is, the Lotus Elite, the first taste of what's to come from Lotus
in the future.
The ground-breaking new Elite'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 611 hp meaning drivers can expect to go from 0-60 mph in
approximately 3.3 to 3.5 seconds.
Whilst the vehicle shown here is a
Production Intent Prototype, it represents a concept vehicle being designed and
developed by Lotus Cars.
