Prior to the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Lotus talked about the ‘dawn of a new era’ for the company and with five new concept cars, a new era it was. The new Louts Elite concept showed a new GT car; the Lotus Elise concept showed a more ‘grown up’ version of the sports car; the Lotus Elan concept previewed a model that would most likely replace the Evora; the Lotus Esprit concept previewed the next-generation that will debut sometime in 2013; and the Lotus Eterne concept showed a sedan planned for production in 2015.

But hiding under all those big debuts was a little City Car concept (pictured here). The concept, which has a possible name known as Ethos, is an urban range-extending electric city vehicle. Power comes from an electric motor that produces 72-hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Weighing in at less than 3,086 pounds (not very Lotus-like), the City Car has the ability to run from 0 to 62 mph in 9 seconds with a top speed of 106 mph. With a full charge of its 14.8 kWh battery pack, the compact urban vehicle can travel a total of 37 miles until the charge runs out. Once the battery pack is depleted, a flex-fuel 1.2L 3-cylinder engine kicks in making 47-hp and increasing range to 310 miles.

Source: egmCarTech

British legend Lotus is turning its back on the past and planning a bold new future!

Sources have confirmed that the  company will use October’s Paris Motor Show to unveil four new concepts – which will break new ground for a brand known for lightweight, economical sports machines.

The Seven is reborn

First to hit production in early 2012 will be a modern take on the Lotus Seven – a move which could ultimately prove the biggest risk of them all. Sources claim the car is heavier and more comfort- oriented than the original – and even runs such performance-sapping measures as air-con.

And in a potential source of embarrassment for a firm so proud of its engineering expertise, the car was not even conceived, designed or developed at its HQ in Hethel, Norfolk. Instead, the front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, open-top model will be heavily based on an aborted Spanish sports concept, thought to be the IFR Aspid, and may even be built in Spain. A high price of £60,000 will put it directly in the firing line for models such as the Porsche Cayman S and Audi’s RS5.

A new Esprit for 2012

The second, and most talked-about, concept will be the reborn Esprit, also due in 2012. The rear-drive supercar has been an on-again, off-again project at Lotus for more than six years, and was put on hold by former CEO Mike Kimberley to fast-track the Evora programme that was judged to be more urgent.

The mid-engined V8 turbo supercar will shun expensive materials such as carbon fibre in favour of bonded aluminium. This brings weight penalties, although it should help keep the price to a minimum.

Two new hybrids

Yet the big surprise at Paris will be a pair of heavyweight, front-engined hybrids – a four-door hatch in the style of the Porsche Panamera and a two-door coupé. Both will use the modular chassis that debuted in the Evora 414E concept at March’s Geneva show. They are expected to use hybrid powertrains based around the Lotus-developed three-cylinder unit, which has been designed to act as a range-extender in electric cars.

As a consequence of this wholesale change in philosophy, the firm has already committed to ditching its entire European dealer network. Lotus informed all of its Continental and UK showrooms via legal letter last week that their contracts would be terminated in two years.

Some understandably disgruntled dealers have since expressed concerns that the concept-car onslaught in Paris will take the brand away from its roots.

Before the raft of new models arrives, Euro V emissions rules will spell the end of the Toyota 1.8-litre supercharged unit used in the Exige and Elise – although this won’t affect the 136bhp 1.6 Elise or 3.5-litre V6 Evora. Further threatening the bottom line, Lotus’s production contract with Tesla expires at the end of this year.

We have liftoff on the next Lotus Esprit. Finally. Scuttlebutt at the beginning of the year suggested it was taking so long because Lotus was pondering some sort of hybrid system for the car. More recently the talk has turned to three specimens from Toyota’s book of engines, including the Lexus LFA’s V10, and the word “hybrid” disappeared.

It’s the V10 that interests us here, because Lotus is planning for the new Esprit — or whatever it will ultimately be called — to have 275-325 bhp per ton. Even if they keep it freakishly lightweight you’re looking at a minimum of 400 horsepower, something Lexus’ Yamaha-tuned lump could easily handle. We’ll get the full picture in a few weeks when new Lotus CEO Danny Bahr unveils his long-term plan for the company.

Source Autoblog

The Melkus RS2000 at Frankfurt was unveiled, built by East German race car builder, Melkus.

Three years ago Melkus, the historic, East German race car builder, released renderings of a gullwing sports car they wanted to have ready in 2009. It always makes us happy to see the passionate guy make big plans and then get them achieved – on time even – and the Melkus RS2000 is the culmination of that achievement. Based on an Elise, it rides on a Melkus-designed aluminum double-wishbone suspension and wears a glass-fiber reinforced polyester body.

Power comes from the 1.8-liter, 16-valve, 4-cylinder Elise tuned up to 270 hp that shifts through a short-throw 6-speed transmission. With a curb weight of 950 kg (2,090 pounds) you can get to 60 in 4.9 seconds. Interiors can be customized as you wish, but the car comes standard with more creature comforts than you’ll find in most of its competition, including the Elise. The Melkus’ creation did come with a price: the original estimates were for it to cost €75,000; the actual price is €107,500. But what’s a little inflation between friends.

Source Autoblog

Lotus’ line of Exige Cup has generated somewhat of a cult following with dedicated fans of the vehicle since its inception with the Lotus Exige Cup 240 in 2006. During the last 4 model years, Exige Cup cars have been sold either for racing on the track or for pure road-going adrenaline.

For the 2010 model year Exige Cup 260, Lotus says that it has provided the model with new components and technologies, improved efficiency, enhanced handling and increase specifications. The supercharged and intercooled engine produces a maximum output of 257-hp with a peak torque of 174 lb-ft. That allows for a 0 to 62 mph in run in just 4 seconds with an estimated combined fuel-economy of 28 mpg (U.S.).

The Exige Cup 260 is available now for sale in Europe with prices starting at €45,000 ($64,130 USD). The 2010 Lotus Exige Cup 260 is fully approved for road use in Europe and North America. North American market prices will be announced at a later date.

Source Egmcartech

A legendary Lotus is returning – it’s the new Esprit! The dust has only just settled on the stunning Evora, but already the Norfolk firm is setting its sights even higher. And our exclusive pictures show how the reborn supercar will take shape.

The new mid-engined model revives a badge that was used on the original Lotus flagship between 1976 and 2004. And with a choice of six, eight and 10-cylinder powerplants, it will take the fight to the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo, as well as Audi’s storming R8 V10.

Lotus’s special relationship with Toyota has been well documented – the Japanese manufacturer already supplies engines for the Elise, Exige and 2-Eleven, plus the Evora. Our sources have revealed that the partnership will step up a gear for the Esprit. Toyota’s luxury arm, Lexus, will be called on to provide a pair of high-power engines.

The entry-level Esprit will be equipped with a tuned version of the Evora’s 3.5-litre V6, producing around 300bhp, while a mid-range model gets the 414bhp 5.0-litre V8 from the Lexus IS F. But taking the new Lotus into the big league will be the earth-shattering 550bhp 4.8-litre V10 from the upcoming LF-A supercar.

Mated to a six-speed semi-automatic paddleshift transmission, this unit should provide the Esprit with performance to match some of the fastest cars on the planet.

A 0-60mph sprint time of less than four seconds is expected, and judging by pre-production testing of the LF-A (see Issue 1,066), the car is likely to hit a top speed in excess of 200mph.

Underpinning the model will be a wider and longer version of the Evora’s rear-wheel-drive platform. This should ensure the handling is worthy of the Esprit name. The wedge-like profile clearly takes cues from Giorgetto Giugiaro’s 1976 design – a car made famous by 1977’s James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me.

But a combination of creases and curves is used to provide the modern-day Esprit with a muscular and aggressive stance on the road. Inside, the newcomer will build on the style of the Evora’s leather-clad cabin – so it’s expected to be the most luxurious interior Lotus has ever designed, a must if the car is to tempt customers away from more established supercar manufacturers.

Prices are likely to start from around £75,000 for the entry-level car, and rise to £150,000 for the V10. We’ll have to wait until at least 2012 for the Esprit’s official debut, though. Lotus won’t embark on final development until the Evora is making a consistent profit. But by adding the new car to the line-up, total production at the firm’s Hethel plant could reach 4,000-5,000 models annually.

Source: Autocar