Like the two previous incarnations that wore the Elite badge, this version will also be front engined and have rear-wheel drive. But that’s just about where the similarities end.
Power will come from the same engine that the 2013 Esprit will be using, a 5.0 litre V8. Hybrid technology, including a gearbox with integrated electric motors and a Formula 1 style Kinetic Energy Recovery System, will be optional.
From a styling perspective, the Elite is perhaps the best looking of the sports car quintet that Lotus unveiled at Paris. A retractable roof is a key feature of the compact design which, at 4.60 metres in length, is about the same as a BMW 3 Series Coupe.
With a projected price of close to £115,000 though, the 3 Series won’t be the Elite’s competition. That job will go to more rarefied contenders, such as the Aston Martin DB9 and Bentley Continental GT Coupe.
| 2014 Lotus Elite Concept Specification | |
|---|---|
| Layout | 2+2 seats, front-engined |
| Engine | Petrol, 5.0 litre V8 |
| Hybrid technology | Optional, incl. KERS |
| Power | 611 bhp / 456 kW / 620 PS |
| Torque | 720 Nm |
| 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) | 3.5 to 3.7 seconds |
| Top speed | 195 mph (315 km/h) |
| Weight | 1,650 kg |
| Transmission | Full hybrid |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Production starts | Early 2014 |
| On sale | Spring 2014 |
| Price | Around £115,000 |
Related posts:
Five new Lotus sports cars
2013 Lotus Esprit
2013 Lotus Elan
2015 Lotus Elise
2015 Lotus Eterne
