Mystery supercar may be all-new Lotus codenamed "Project Eagle"
In today's episode of Fast Lane Daily (watch it after the jump), host Ji Young Min reveals that the mystery car spotted last week by CAR magazine is believed on good authority to be an all-new Lotus model codenamed "Project Eagle". The new mid-engine sports car is expected to slot in between the Elise and whatever car arrives to replace the much missed Esprit. The car's design will reportedly be similar to the M250 Concept that Lotus debuted in Frankfurt all the way back in 1999, while it's power will unsurprisingly come from a Toyota-sourced motor. The "Project Eagle" is meant by Lotus to play predator to the Porsche 911 Carerra's prey. If produced, it should break cover sometime next year and may be sold in the U.S. around 2009. Lotus would limit production to just 2,000 units a year, however, making this eagle an endangered species.Watch today's episode of Fast Lane Daily after the jump to hear this scoop in their own words.
[Source: Fast Lane Daily]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ironpony42 3:31PM (10/05/2007)
Toyota power that can run down a 911? I'd like to learn more about that power plant. I loved the concept car, and hope the Lotus looks more like it than the R8 the Mule reminds me of.
Looks impressive. Light and powerful are always a welcome combo.
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P B 5:32PM (10/05/2007)
The motor doesn't have to be super powerful when the car weighs weighs next to nothing.
Lucas 6:12PM (10/05/2007)
What is with all you {redacted} saying that thing above looks like the R8??? It looks as much like the R8 as my "moms old douchebag."
Good grief...
If they stuck "Groucho glasses" on the nose would you think it was an olde time comedian?
Peter_England99 12:17PM (10/08/2007)
Remember that Toyota owns Lexus and they have some larger engines. I've been told that in Japan their engines have reliabley been tuned to 800bhp.
Menice 3:44PM (10/05/2007)
whats that?....
its the new rwd hyundai?
coool!
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carmaniac 3:45PM (10/05/2007)
Didn't Car mention that the test mule was registered with a 7.0L engine? Toyota doesn't have anything of that displacement anywhere in its lineup...
My bet's on that it's an independent company developing a car with Lotus Engineering helping out.
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phoenexius 3:54PM (10/05/2007)
"predator to the Porsche 911 Carerra's prey"
gotta get me one a dem
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RITmusic2k 4:09PM (10/05/2007)
WOW. Anyone ever have a friend with a hot younger sister that you had an inappropriate attraction to?
It's like your friend's hot little sister Elise grew up and filled out, and turned into this aluminum-clad sex kitten.
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wushu 5:03PM (10/05/2007)
If Porsche won't build a Cayman with a bigger engine, someone else will. And, I'd buy it over the overpriced underpowered purposely crippled Cayman.
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Mal Fuller 5:13PM (10/05/2007)
Project Eagle? How AMC.
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Mal Fuller 5:13PM (10/05/2007)
Project Eagle? How AMC.
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SPG 6:16PM (10/05/2007)
Navajo interior package too.
Pork Rind 5:32PM (10/05/2007)
That's no way the Eagle. Here's the current thinking from the Car website:
Quote:
"The reg check I ran has it listed as a Spectre (www.spectrecars.co.uk) along with the aforementioned 6996cc engine. Their gallery shows the 1998 R45, also V8 powered, but which never entered production. The company seems to have hovered in and out of bankruptcy but clearly they have something in development again."
Posted by: sixdegrees
Date: Friday September 28th, 2007, 7:25 pm
Quote:
"sixdegrees may be right. Looks like it might indeed be a Spectre, whatever that is. It seems that Spectre's engineering partner is C2P Automotive Ltd, based in Tilbrook, Milton Keynes (in the same road as Red Bull Racing!!!). I might just pay them a visit to see if I can glean anything more."
Posted by: rollo
Date: Friday September 28th, 2007, 9:41 pm
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Lucas 6:15PM (10/05/2007)
Of course... finally some reason.... that cars is way too big to be powered by, I assume, a 4 cyl Toyota motor.
I'd be surprised if even the new Esprit was as big as that car.
Lucas.
SPG 6:17PM (10/05/2007)
I'm hoping for a cross between the M250 and the Esprit in looks.
Why do people want it to look like an R8? There's already a beautiful supercar called the R8 from one manufacturer.
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zamafir 8:29PM (10/05/2007)
awesome, i loved the m250 when the concept debuted, though the design landscape has changed significantly since then.
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Peter L. 6:26AM (10/08/2007)
If it is a new Lotus and powered by a Toyota-sourced engine, why couldn't it be either the 3.5 V6 from the IS350 or the new 5.0 V8 in the IS-F? Depending on the ultimate size/weight of the vehicle, either engine could conceivably work. Bbut knowing Lotus, it'll probably be considerably lighter than the 911 Carrera they say it could compete against, then even the V6 could be plenty of power...
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haloguy628 8:38PM (10/06/2007)
I believe that it's the new McLaren supercar not Lotus. McLaren is developing the car independent of Mercedes, since MB bailed out from working with McLaren on their replacement for SLR.
Interesting is that AMG will still provide engines for the McLaren although it will be in direct competition with the new MB supercar.
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