Paris Preshow: 2014 Lotus Elite GT with Lexus ISF 5.0 V8

<a href="http://trends-automotive.blogspot.com/2010/09/paris-preshow-2014-lotus-elite-gt-with.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519439848152725282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9THRHdyI/AAAAAAADUcQ/YV8rLrk0PjM/s800/Lotus-Elite-01.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 645px; height: 349px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Oooohweee, is Lotus getting ready to go big or what? After the announcement of its <a href="http://trends-automotive.blogspot.com/2010/08/lotus-reveals-supercharged-evora-s-with.html">Evora S and IPS Auto variants</a>, the lightweight brand is getting decidedly heavier with its 1,650 kg (3,600+ lb) Elite grand tourer.<br /></span><p></p><a name="more"></a><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Scheduled to debut in <a href="http://trends-automotive.blogspot.com/search/label/Paris%20Auto%20Show">Paris</a> and arrive in 2014, the Elite 2+2 - which inherits its name from a former Lotus looker - will be powered by a front-mid 5.0-liter V8 unit. The engine, which creates 620 horsepower, is believed to be a Lotus-tuned Lexus IS-F unit. Scroll down for the concept's full specs.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Taking a page from the Phil Alex handbook of writing for the blogosphere, here's an excerpt from the Lotus press release:<br /></span></p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj-FzANtfI/AAAAAAADUcY/5XVc2iGXR6w/s1600/Lotus-Elite-43.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519440718886450674" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj-FzANtfI/AAAAAAADUcY/5XVc2iGXR6w/s200/Lotus-Elite-43.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;">"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."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Run-on sentences and grammar aside, let's give them a pat on the back.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Lotus's new Elite (not to be confused with its still mummified Esprit Ferrari hunter), is expected to get a retractable roof like Porsche's Targa and utilize optional systems like a hybrid powertrain and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System).<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Group Lotus CEO Danny Bahar says, "[The Elite is] a car that over-delivers in all other aspects...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...Make no mistake, there's a definite market requirement for the Elite... It's worth noting this sector has been very successful for us in the past and now the Elite raises the benchmark higher still."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">While this is still labeled a "Production Intent Prototype", expect the road-going model to appear very similar to what you're looking at right now. More pics and details will be on their way as soon as we get a little closer to its big unveil in <a href="http://trends-automotive.blogspot.com/search/label/Paris%20Auto%20Show">Paris</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">By Phil Alex</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span></strong></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Lotus Elite Specifications*</span><br /></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Layout: 2+2 seater, front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive<br />Dimensions: Length: 4.60m<br />Width: 1.90m<br />Height: 1.32m<br />Engine: Petrol, hybrid optional<br />Hybrid technology: Hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS<br />Cylinder: V8<br />Capacity: 5.0 litre<br />Power/Torque: 620 PS / 720 Nm<br />Rev limit: 8,500 rpm<br />0-100 km/h: 3.5 to 3.7 seconds<br />Top speed: 315 km/h<br /><strong>CO2 approx (CO2 /km): 215 g/km**</strong><br />Weight: 1,650 kg<br />Seats: 2+2<br />Transmission: Full Hybrid transmission<br />Drive: RWD<br />Start of production: Early 2014<br />Enters the market: Spring 2014<br />Price indication: Circa £115,000<br /><br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">[From Lotus Press Release] * Whilst the vehicle shown in this release is a Production Intent Prototype, it represents a concept vehicle being designed and developed by Lotus Cars. Lotus Cars reserves the right to change the external and internal design of the Production Intent Prototypes, the specification, performance, dimensions, weight, fuel consumption, powertrain details and any other product information at anytime and without notice for any reason whatsoever.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Details of performance, weight, fuel consumption and other production information relating to the Production Intent Prototypes are not official or proven figures and represent the intended performance, weight, fuel consumption and other product information of the Production Intent Prototypes.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The design, specification and performance figures for all Production Intent Prototypes will be confirmed following official testing and will be available from Lotus Cars.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The price quoted includes VAT at 17.5%.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong></strong></span></p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9D7v5qwI/AAAAAAADUcI/4eghnAw2voA/s1600/Lotus-Elite-8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519439587362581250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9D7v5qwI/AAAAAAADUcI/4eghnAw2voA/s200/Lotus-Elite-8.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9DdHduxI/AAAAAAADUcA/22hnB0xQ1QA/s1600/Lotus-Elite-7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519439579139914514" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9DdHduxI/AAAAAAADUcA/22hnB0xQ1QA/s200/Lotus-Elite-7.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9DB_83_I/AAAAAAADUb4/MU3HeI8Hl30/s1600/Lotus-Elite-6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519439571860643826" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9DB_83_I/AAAAAAADUb4/MU3HeI8Hl30/s200/Lotus-Elite-6.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9C_8n86I/AAAAAAADUbw/nig_zvftYU8/s1600/Lotus-Elite-5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519439571309818786" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9C_8n86I/AAAAAAADUbw/nig_zvftYU8/s200/Lotus-Elite-5.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9CYIp52I/AAAAAAADUbo/uvONIEGpIJE/s1600/Lotus-Elite-4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519439560622860130" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9CYIp52I/AAAAAAADUbo/uvONIEGpIJE/s200/Lotus-Elite-4.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9B_egGeI/AAAAAAADUbg/O6UEaSRaI2k/s1600/Lotus-Elite-3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519439554003605986" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj9B_egGeI/AAAAAAADUbg/O6UEaSRaI2k/s200/Lotus-Elite-3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj8aUXDdaI/AAAAAAADUbY/7SyG1wsirMQ/s1600/Lotus-Elite-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519438872414746018" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj8aUXDdaI/AAAAAAADUbY/7SyG1wsirMQ/s200/Lotus-Elite-2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj61bkVGfI/AAAAAAADUbQ/y2_dslsowgY/s1600/Lotus-Elite-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519437139182688754" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TJj61bkVGfI/AAAAAAADUbQ/y2_dslsowgY/s200/Lotus-Elite-1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 101px;" /></a>

Paris Preshow: 2014 Lotus Elite GT with Lexus ISF 5.0 V8

Oooohweee, is Lotus getting ready to go big or what? After the announcement of its Evora S and IPS Auto variants , the lightweight brand is ...

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