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Lotus confirms in-house V8, Lego-like chassis has potential [UPDATE]

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Lotus, Luxury

Lotus is working overtime getting the next Esprit ready for its late-2013 production target, and that means development of everything from an in-house V8 to a slew of new chassis components are under way.

Lotus officials confirmed to Autoblog that the automaker is working on its own 4.8-liter V8 that will power the mid-engine Esprit, along with the front-engine Elite and Eterne. Naturally, they're remaining mum on outputs, but it's safe to assume that the naturally aspirated version will top out around 570 horsepower while a higher-tuned variant would crest 620 hp.

Additionally, the chassis set to underpin the entire range of next-generation Lotus vehicles will be fully modular, allowing the automaker to swap front, middle and rear sections as needed and with very little modification. Front- and mid-engine platforms will be different, but the same basic components holding the Elite together would also be used for the Eterne. Similarly, the Esprit chassis could be reworked for the next Evora (or Elan, depending on whether the Evora name carries enough cache in the following years) and could mean that the Evora could get V8 power - although don't hold your breath for that one.

UPDATE: Sources at Lotus have informed us that the base 4.8-liter V8 will produce 570 hp and that an higher-spec version - without turbos - will boost output to 620 hp. The text of the post has been amended to reflect these figures.

Lotus confirms in-house V8, Lego-like chassis has potential [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Lotus releases slew of new images

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Lotus, Luxury

Lotus concept cars - Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus set the motoring community abuzz when it showed up at the Paris Motor Show with a slew of concept cars. These vehicles show the direction Lotus is moving, and each is a polarizing example of a future filled with heavier yet more powerful Lotus sports cars.

The automaker recently brought its Elise, Esprit, Elan, and Elite concept vehicles out to the beach for a day of camera fun. There really isn't much more we can say about these cars that we haven't already said... that is, until someone gives us a few sets of keys (and a lesson in holding back ear-to-ear grins). So stop reading and click through the gallery below.

Gallery: Lotus Concept Cars

[Source: Lotus]

Pics Aplenty: Lotus releases slew of new images originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dissecting the Lotus Metamorphosis: The Company

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Lotus, Luxury

Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus sent a cryptic missive last year indicating it wanted to challenge Porsche and Ferrari. Aiming at those targets, it pulled the trigger five times at the Paris Motor Show this year, unleashing the new Elise, Elan, Esprit, Elite and Eterne showcars. Then came the name for the project, "The Metamorphosis," and its tidings of a new era. Yet behind all the modern interpretive art, there are the simple nuts and bolts of getting a car company into a new place. Follow the jump to find out what we learned.

Continue reading...

Continue reading Dissecting the Lotus Metamorphosis: The Company

Dissecting the Lotus Metamorphosis: The Company originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2014 Lotus Elite loses its roof

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Lotus, Design/Style, Luxury

2014 Lotus Elite goes topless - Click above to watch video after the jump

Lotus made quite a splash at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The automaker grabbed the spotlight by showing off five new concept vehicles. One of the proposed cars is the Lotus Elite, a 2+2 grand tourer powered by a 611-horsepower, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine borrowed from the Lexus IS-F. One surprising detail for this Lotus is its weight. The Elite tips the scales at 3,600 pounds, which is a mammoth sum for anything carrying the company badge. The reason for much of that extra weight may lie in the roof, as the Elite is fitted with a retractable folding hard-top.

Losing the roof creates a whole new perspective for both the driver and people gawking at the car as it passes by. The dramatic lines get a visual boost with the top stowed, since the eye has fewer places to wander. The result is an attractive grand touring car that aims to rival similar offerings from the likes of Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin, even if it is a heavyweight by Colin Chapman's standards.

You can let some virtual wind blow through your hair by watching a new Lotus Elite video clip posted after the jump.

Gallery: Lotus Elite Concept

Gallery: Paris 2010: Lotus Elite Concept

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Video: 2014 Lotus Elite loses its roof

Video: 2014 Lotus Elite loses its roof originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus shocks Paris Motor Show with five concept debuts

Drew Phillips — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Lotus

Lotus Esprit Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been a while since something took us by surprise at an auto show. Usually we've seen the pictures and read the press releases a few days ahead of time, so there's nothing new revealed we weren't already expecting. Until today. We were expecting Lotus to reveal a pair of new Evora models, a new front-engined GT called the Elite, and if we were lucky, maybe the new Esprit. What we got was something much, much better.

As we arrived at the Lotus booth here at the Paris Motor Show, we spotted a total of five cars under cover. Perhaps a concept and some new versions of existing cars? What proceeded to happen was something entirely unexpected. Lotus CEO Dany Bahar addressed the crowd, announcing that Lotus would be entering a new era. In a matter of minutes, the wraps were pulled off the Esprit, Elan, Elite, Elise and Eterne concept cars, each time with a gasp from the crowd as the next concept's name was announced. This wasn't just the introduction of a few concept cars. We were witnessing the complete and utter revitalization, rebranding and rebirth of a legendary car company.

Lotus Elise and Elan concepts - Click above for high-res image galleries

With this new lineup of cars, it's easy to see that Lotus wants to play with the big boys - Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Aston Martin. Bahar had announced last year that this was the direction the company would take, but we didn't expect it to happen so soon or all at once.

One question still has to be asked, though. Is this direction the right one for Lotus? We can appreciate all forms of performance cars, but is there enough room for Lotus to edge its way into each of these target markets? Can the Esprit conquer the McLaren MP4-12C or the Ferrari 458 Italia? Will buyers go for a Lotus Elite over the Ferrari 599 GTB or the Aston Martin DBS?

Lotus Elite and Eterne concepts - Click above for high-res image galleries

Lotus has long been the master of lightweight, nimble sports cars, and many will undoubtedly say that the company should stick to the same cars it's been building for the last decade. After all, what would Colin Chapman say about a Lotus coupe that weighs over 3,600 pounds? And a grown up Elise? Then there's the styling. As usual, we're split down the middle here at Autoblog. Half of us love the styling, while the other 50 percent thinks it looks too generic. In the end, only time will tell whether Lotus fans will like the direction the company is headed.

There's quite a bit of information on each vehicle, so click the links below to learn more about them.

You can also browse through our live galleries of each concept:

Gallery: Paris 2010: Lotus Esprit Concept

Gallery: Paris 2010: Lotus Eterne Concept

Gallery: Paris 2010: Lotus Elite Concept

Gallery: Paris 2010: Lotus Elise Concept

Gallery: Paris 2010: Lotus Elan Concept

Lotus shocks Paris Motor Show with five concept debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: Lotus shows off its new Grand Tourer, the Elite [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Paris Motor Show, Lotus, Luxury

Lotus Elite Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus continues its march towards global sportscar domination with the 2010 Paris Motor Show unveiling of the Lotus Elite. The Elite represents a step away from "lighter is better" because it is a hefty, four-passenger grand tourer - it weighs in at 3,600 pounds. One of the reasons it's so heavy? It has a retractable, folding hardtop. Don't let the weight throw you off though, this is a good looking, aggressively styled powerhouse. Under the hood sits a modified version of the 5.0-liter V8 out of a Lexus IS-F. The unit is then massaged to produce 611 horsepower which propels the car to a sub-four-second 0-60 time and a top speed of 195 miles per hour. The Elite will also be fitted with KERS for a quick boost of recovered energy.

The front mid-engine layout should help balance the Lotus Elite and make for an exciting driving experience. We expect this car to represent a slightly softer side for the automaker, but that's like saying we expect a bomb to hurt less than a missile. The entire Lotus lineup is poised in attack position, the Elite just happens to wear clothes from the Big and Tall store.

Lotus is aiming to bring this sporty road warrior to market sometime in the year 2014. If you invest your money wisely now, you just might be able to save the estimated $180,000 you'll need to put one in your driveway. Check out the Elite in action with a video clip after the jump.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Lotus Elite Concept

Gallery: Lotus Elite Concept

Continue reading Paris 2010: Lotus shows off its new Grand Tourer, the Elite [w/video]

Paris 2010: Lotus shows off its new Grand Tourer, the Elite [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Preview: Lotus Elite shows the way forward with slick new GT

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Lotus

Lotus Elite - Click above for high-res image gallery

As brilliant as its chassis dynamics are, Lotus has been in need of a design revolution for some time now. And now you're looking at it. These are the first images and details released on the much anticipated new Lotus Elite, set to be unveiled in a little over a week from now at the rapidly approaching Paris Motor Show.

You can plainly see from the photos that the Elite marks a styling departure from the language spoken by the likes of the Elise and Evora. This svelte GT's lines represent what recently hired designer Donato Coco has planned for future Lotus vehicles, and comes wrapped around a front/mid-engined 2+2 shape. The show car actually showcases a retractable hardtop - a first for Lotus and a potential shocker to company founder Colin Chapman's ethos of extreme weight savings, the car tipping the scales at 1650 kg (3600 lbs).

Underneath that front hood sits a version of the 5.0-liter V8 from the Lexus IS F, coupled to unique automatic transmission with optional integrated hybrid boost. With a massive 611 horsepower on tap, Lotus estimates 0-62 mph times in a scant 3.6 seconds (give or take) and its 315 km/h (195 mph) top speed should be enough to propel it into the supercar leagues. The car you see here is a conceptual preview of the production model, slated to hit the market in 2014 with an approximate £115,000 ($180k) price tag.

Follow the jump for the full press release, check out the initial images in the gallery below and watch this space for more as we set sail for the Port de Versailles next week.

Gallery: Lotus Elite Concept

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Lotus Elite shows the way forward with slick new GT

Paris Preview: Lotus Elite shows the way forward with slick new GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How about a $9,000 car wash?

Joel Arellano — Fri, 05 May 2006 08:48:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Etc.

As another sign of just how different the wealthy live, Autoblog sibling Luxist posted a report from Guardian Unlimited about Paul Dalton and his car wash service, Miracle Detail.

Dalton, according to the news source, charges over a staggering $9,000 for his top-of-the line Pinnacle car wash. The near two-week, 52-step program includes citrus degreasing, filtered water, and many sponges and buckets. The car wax alone, at $13,000 a tube, costs more than the service itself. Dalton, however, points out that the service protects the car for a year.

(Hats off to Dhiram and Noah!)

[Source: Guardian Unlimited via New Launches; Luxist]

How about a $9,000 car wash? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 May 2006 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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