FastMotoring Motor News In Speed

Lotus Cars is a popular British auto-manufacturer of sports and racing cars that designs and builds with superior handling characteristics. After Dany Bahar took over the CEO office in 2009, Lotus announced five new models to be introduced over the next 5 years at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Lotus has official release a set of photos of Esprit, Elan, Elite and Elise. However, the Eterne is not in the part of releases. The Lotus Concept Cars photos and specifications are as below.

Lotus Esprit – Due to be released in 2013, the Esprit will be powered by a 5.0 litre Lexus V8 forced induction engine delivering up to 620PS, capable of 0-100 km/h in approximately 3.4 seconds.

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Lotus Elan – Set for release during the second half of 2013, the Elan will feature a 4.0 litre V6 forced induction engine capable of delivering up to 450PS with a weight of 1,295 kg.

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Lotus Elite – The Elite set for release in spring 2014, a 2+2 GT with a front-mid positioned 5.0 litre V8 engine delivering up to 620PS, capable of 0-100 km/h in approximately 3.7 seconds.

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Lotus Elise – The replacement for the Lotus Elise is due in 2015 with a 2.0 litre in-line-4 forced induction engine delivering up to 320PS, the Elise 2015 is stated to be capable of 0-100 km/h in under 4.5 seconds.

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Lotus Eterne – A four door, four seater sports GT. With a 5.0 litre forced induction V8 engine. Designed as a competitor to the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide.

 

Photos of Eterne will be updated

Maker’s Marque: The History of Lotus

- Lotus began as Lotus Engineering Limited in 1952 and has made cars on the site of a Second World War airfield in Norfolk since 1966.

- Now owned by Malaysia’s Proton, it was the brainchild of Colin Chapman, a highly innovative engineer who had a lasting influence on motor racing and died a multi-millionaire in 1982.

- In 1954, Mr Chapman established the F1 Team Lotus, which raced from 1958 until 1994, won 79 grands prix, and counted Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Ayrton Senna among its drivers.

- In 1986, General Motors bought the Group Lotus car-making business, selling it on to Bugatti’s owner, Romano Artioli, in 1993 for 30 million pounds. When Bugatti folded in 1996, Lotus was sold to Proton.

- Top-selling models have included the Lotus Elise, Lotus Eclat and Lotus Esprit. The 1976 version of the latter was used by Roger Moore as his “Bond car” in the 007 film The Spy Who Loved Me. Other models include the Lotus Exige. The current model of the popular Lotus Elise accelerates from 0 to 60mph in 4.3 seconds.

- The five cars unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this month were the Elite, the Elise, the Elan, the Esprit and the Eterne. These constitute “the complete remake of the brand”, according to the Lotus chief executive Dany Bahar, who predicts that sales will double to more than 6,000 per year.

- In keeping with its transformation to a super-premium brand, the company is planning to cut its UK dealerships from 23 to three; the worldwide network will reduce from 160 to 135.

- Lotus is leading the project to build a handful of hydrogen-fuelled, zero-emission London taxis for the 2012 Olympics.