Autoblog

Lotus reportedly gives the go-ahead to Esprit replacement

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lotus, Luxury

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: Autocar]

Lotus reportedly gives the go-ahead to Esprit replacement originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus CEO says automaker will again take on Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Europe, Lotus

Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer - click above image for high-res gallery

When most people think of Lotus, a few different thoughts tend to enter their head. One is of little teeny Toyota-powered Elise/Exige track toys buzzing around a racetrack. Another is of an underwater submarine piloted by none other than James Bond (albeit Roger Moore). And then -- maybe -- some of you might think of the racing success Lotus used to enjoy, back in the day, a long time ago. Well, according to Autocar, Lotus' new CEO Dany Bahar is seeking to change all that.

"Lotus was mentioned in the same sentence as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati in the 1970s-1990s," said Bahar. "Then, it got closed into a corner. We believe it's the right time to bring Lotus back to where it was." Not only that, but Proton Group (they own Lotus) managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir (must make for one hell of a business card) says that the new Evora, Lotus's first new car since 1995, is "a turning point."

Bahar is making returning Lotus to a place of prestige a top priority for the Malaysian-owned company. The ex-Ferrari exec claims to have have a business plan to return Lotus to the same plane of existence as Ferrari within five years. Of course, to accomplish this, the Camry-powered Evora just ain't going to cut it. Which more or less guarantees the return of the Esprit, which very well might have a Lexus V10 perched out behind the driver. All of which gets our octane lovin' hearts all aflutter. Also, let's not forget about racing - serious racing. We'll keep you posted.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer

[Source: Autocar | New Straights Times]

Lotus CEO says automaker will again take on Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Next Lotus Esprit could be powered by Lexus V10

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Supercars, Lotus, UK, Rumormill

Lotus' relationship with Toyota could extend beyond supplying drivetrains for the Elise, Exige and Evora, with three new engines sourced from Lexus rumored to be fitted to the 2012 Lotus Esprit. According to EVO, a choice of three Esprits will be available for any (thick) wallet, including a 300 hp version packing Toyota's direct injected V6, a 417 hp model that would make use of the Lexus IS F's 5.0-liter V8 and, at the top of the range, a V10-powered Esprit packing the yet-to-be-released Lexus LF-A's 500+ hp engine.

Additionally, the alliance with Toyota could make good on Lotus' recent push for eco-friendly motoring. The Hethel-based automaker has repeated said that lightweight platforms and fuel-efficient drivetrains are a top priority, going so far as renaming its powertrain engineering arm the "propulsion systems" division. As such, an "Eco Esprit" could be available with a reworked version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.

The recently launched Evora will be the basis for the next Esprit, and considering the quick turnaround - a mere 27 months - for the Evora to go from concept to production, Lotus has the ability to bring the new Esprit to market quicker than ever. If the Evora's a hit, then we should be seeing the Esprit on roads in Europe, the UK and the US by 2012, with a price somewhere north of £100,000 for the V10-powered variant.

[Source: EVO]

Rumormill: Next Lotus Esprit could be powered by Lexus V10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 May 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bond's The Spy Who Loved Me Lotus Esprit hits the auction block

Alex Nunez — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Videos, Lotus, Celebrities

Click above for a gallery of the Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me

Hey, if you missed the For Yor Eyes Only Lotus Esprit sale a couple of years ago, your shot to own another Bond-driven Lotus is on the horizon. In December, Bonhams will auction one of the two 1976 Lotus Esprit S1s used in The Spy Who Loved Me. The film is well known for the car/motorcycle/helicopter chase that culminates with the Lotus flying into the drink and turning into a submarine (one of those famous prop cars sold last year); and the Stromberg hench-babe giving chase in a JetRanger turning into a charcoal briquette.

A look at the photos Bonhams includes with its listing make it pretty clear that the interior used in the chase sequence's dialogue scenes between Roger Moore and Barbara Bach did not match the one in the actual car being auctioned. The proud new owner of this one will surely revel in the splendor of its green-and-red plaid motif! Bonham's expects this Esprit to fetch more than £80,000 -- a healthy premium over what less famous S1s go for on the open market.. Still, we'd fork it over in about two seconds if we had that kind of walking around money. For some of us, this car was our first exposure to the Esprit, and it looks as good as ever. (Even better with Barbara Bach riding shotgun...)

Follow the jump to relive The Spy Who Loved Me's chase sequence.

Gallery: 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 - The Spy Who Loved Me

[Sources: BBC, Bonham's]

Continue reading Bond's The Spy Who Loved Me Lotus Esprit hits the auction block

Bond's The Spy Who Loved Me Lotus Esprit hits the auction block originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Esprit replacement delayed to 2011, hybrid on option

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Lotus

Lotus' limited resources were apparently tapped out by the fast-tracking of the new Evora, so the Esprit replacement has been delayed until 2011. According to Autocar, the new Esprit will be based off the same chassis as the Evora, but it will be widened and stretched to fit a longitudinal engine mounted amidships. But what kind of engine? Lotus boss Mike Kimberley says that he wants to offer "guilt-free, high performance motoring" and Autocar maintains that to reach that goal, the new Esprit could be fitted with a hybrid drivetrain based on a mix of Lotus and Toyota technology.

Lotus has its hands full with several other projects, including six different versions of the Evora -- ranging from a convertible to an automatic variant -- as well as developing S3 versions of the Elise and Exige and working on 340 different projects for 147 separate companies. For the first time in several years, Lotus posted a profit, and if the automaker continues its trajectory, more money and compelling products are on the way.

Gallery: Lotus Evora

[Source: Autocar]

Lotus Esprit replacement delayed to 2011, hybrid on option originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Lotus Esprit to feature BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8

Michael Harley — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Supercars, Lotus, UK

When we last saw the Lotus Esprit in 2004, it was equipped with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at about 350 hp. Offering much more motivation than its early turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant, the Esprit V8 was quick -- pedal to the floor, the two-seat coupe could punch through 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Impressive as it was just a few years ago, there are more than a handful of cars (at half the price) that can shame the Lotus back across the Pond today.

To keep the upcoming 2011 Lotus Esprit at the front of the pack, it is rumored to be fitted with the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 found under the hood of the recently released BMW X6. The powerplant is rated at 400 horsepower with only light boost under the German's hood. Under the fiberglass cover of the future British Esprit, it will most likely be tuned to deliver nearly 500 horsepower. It will need every bit of power it can get, as the new Lotus will be competing with the Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F430, and the new Nissan GT-R.

[Source: eGMCartech]

2011 Lotus Esprit to feature BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2007: Lotus blossoms from Elise/Exige to Eagle to Esprit

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Lotus

Large high-res gallery of all of the Lotus models available by clicking above

This week in LA, veteran Lotus development engineer Roger Becker told the assembled press about the changes we'll see in the Elise and Exige for 2008. He also talked a bit about some of the changes happening at the factory and even gave us some info about new models in the company's future.

The biggest recent news for Lotus was that the Elise SC and Exige S were given an optional power boost via a Magnuson-developed supercharger that raises horsepower from 190 to 218 or 240 depending on the application. Other changes were made to all 2008 model year cars in the lineup.

Aside from upgraded brakes and a few other tweaks, the biggest changes came inside, where a new security system has been installed that for the first time ever allows a single key for Lotus owners. As a nod to American driving habits, TPMS and a new information display were also added, because as Becker put it, we aren't too aware of when a tire is going down and need to have it pointed out. That line was delivered without missing a beat and expertly showed a typically dry British sense of humor. Funny guy. Follow the jump for individual model news and to hear more about the upcoming Eagle and Esprit replacement too!

[Source: Lotus]

Gallery: 2008 Lotus Elise and Exige

Continue reading LA 2007: Lotus blossoms from Elise/Exige to Eagle to Esprit

LA 2007: Lotus blossoms from Elise/Exige to Eagle to Esprit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus "Eagle" coming in 2008

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:43:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Lotus

Lotus has plans: the Elise is going to get a detuned Exige engine (220 BHP without an intercooler), a new Exige SR model will feature launch and traction control systems, California series Elise and Exige models are in the pipeline for the boulevard cruising crowd, and Lotus is also going to inject some luxury into the Europa.

But the big news -- which isn't the Esprit -- is the Lotus Eagle, which will be "a mid-engined four-seater" made of aluminum for the luxury lifestyle set. Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley said there will be seven (count 'em, seven) versions of the car, and in a crow-eating first for Lotus, the car will have paddle shifters. Lotus had previously sworn never to include them on a car, citing purity of the driving experience. But what does the market care for driving purity? (Insert maniacal laugh here.) The Eagle arrives at the end of 2008.

The much anticipated, exceedingly long-awaited Lotus Esprit was sent back for reworking by Kimberley, who said it didn't have enough Lotus heritage in it. In Lotus fashion, the car isn't trying to break any records by being a sub-200 MPH conveyance, but it will be powered by "a very high brand-image engine" and performance will be "exceptional" and "very usable." Lotus: stop dallying -- let's have it.

[Source: Channel 4]

Lotus "Eagle" coming in 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hah! So Lotus is working on a new supercar!

Noah Joseph — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Lotus

It is a Lotus, it isn't a Lotus. It is a Lotus, it isn't a Lotus. Today we think it could be, despite earlier reports to the contrary. But whether that mysetrious test mule spotted with Lotus paperwork was actually a Lotus or not, the famed British sportscar company in fact does have a supercar planned for the near future. This right from the lion's mouth, the lion in this case being Lotus' American chief Mike Kimberly.

Not much is known about what form the car will take or what we'll find under the hood, but given Lotus' focus on handling as well as its current and past models, a mid-engine/rear-drive layout would be a safe bet. The supercar would cap a rapidly expanding range of sportscars for Lotus, and not just variants of the Elise like we have now. A new Esprit is on the way, despite powertrain-related set-backs, and the 2+2 known as "Project Eagle" is slated for debut at the British auto show before hitting the market in 2009.

The three new models are part of the company's plan to dramatically increase production from last year's 2,875 to 8,000 over the next several years.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Hah! So Lotus is working on a new supercar! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus planning 2+2 for London '08, Esprit replacement in '09

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Lotus, Misc. Auto Shows

In an interview with EVO, Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley let it fly that two new projects are on their way, and the financial woes that have troubled the niche automaker are finally beginning to dissolve.

We were already aware that a new Esprit had been under development for the past few years, and that the launch would come before the end of the decade. Kimberley confirmed that we could expect to see the next-gen Esprit in late 2009, with power provided by "a very well respected prestige car maker." The initial speculation was that BMW might be tapped to supply an engine, but several signs now peg Aston Martin as being the power provider. The £70,000 supercar has already been sent back to the drawing board once, and Kimberley is confident that the new Esprit will be the dynamic masterpiece expected from Lotus.

More intriguing was the revelation that Lotus is in the process of developing a 2+2 coupe, codenamed Project Eagle, which is designed to slot in between the Elise/Exige/Europa and the forthcoming Esprit. EVO was privy to a brief glance of the concept and described it as a, "Bertone-bodied Dino 308GT4 with a modern Lotus twist." The chassis won't be derived from the Elise platform, but instead will incorporate an aluminum tub accompanied by fiberglass-composite panels. Power is likely to come via a Toyota-sourced V6, mounted amidships, and sending 300+ horsepower to the rear wheels. Lotus will take the wraps off the concept at the London Motor Show next year, with sales expected to begin early 2009.

[Source: EVO]

Lotus planning 2+2 for London '08, Esprit replacement in '09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2009 Lotus Esprit will be wicked, and this way it comes

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Supercars, Lotus

The Lotus Esprit, a car severely missed by a huge number of auto fans, is slated after numerous delays to return from the dead in 2009, perhaps at the Geneva Motor Show. Until then, the Dutch seem to be first in getting details on and spy shots of this most English of cars. Last year it was said that Esprit would have a "much more compact" footprint than than the Gallardo or F430, have an aluminum or composite skin, and be produced at a rate of 2,500 per year.

The latest info is that the engine will be a 4.8-liter V8 from BMW producing in excess of 400 bhp -- possibly with the help of some forced breathing apparatus. This time around, there will be a convertible version to go with the coupe, and word is that the car will sell for 70,000 British pounds. Whenever it arrives, it will find there aren't many chairs left in the affordable sports car arena, what with every month bringing a new entrant. Still, we only have two words for the new Esprit: bring it. For more spy shots of the zebra-striped car testing in Holland, go here.

The Stroopwafels are on us next time, Sam!

[Source: Autogespot]

Spy Shots: 2009 Lotus Esprit will be wicked, and this way it comes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Lotus Esprit

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Lotus

It's been far too long since we've heard anything about Lotus' supercar, the Esprit. Finally, some spy shots have surfaced, showing the mid-engined mule having a few bolts tightened while up on the rack.

The images don't give much away as far as the Esprit's styling, with some heavy body cladding, that appears to have been painted on by a seven year old armed with a Wite-Out(R) pen.

However, Winding Road, who had some contact with the publisher of the photos, AutoGespot, learned that the engine will assuredly be a V8, sourced from BMW and displacing between 4.4- and 4.8-liters.

If the plan is to launch the Esprit by 2010, they look like they're well on their way. Just enough time for you to start scrounging for the $125,000 cost of entry.

[Sources: AutoGespot, AutoScoops, Winding Road]

Spy Shots: Lotus Esprit originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus drops knowledge on future vehicles and Esprit development

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Supercars, Lotus

The folks over at Motor Authority were kind enough to make the most recent Lotus industry newsletter available. In the PDF document (click 'read' below to go to the site and download), Lotus goes into detail about the development of the upcoming Esprit and outlines what future models will bear the green and yellow shield.

Three vehicles in total will find their way to production over the course of the next several years, and, as expected, all of which will make use of alum-in-i-um to lighten the structure. The three vehicles, pictured above, include a mid-engine super car, a front-engine, RWD GT and the rumored 4x4, seven-seat crossover, all of which will share the same platform.

The articles themselves are well worth the read, even if you're not interested in Lotus itself, they provide some broad industry information and some interesting technical tidbits for the consummate gearhead.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Lotus drops knowledge on future vehicles and Esprit development originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Dec 2006 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Elise, Exige prices all jacked up

Erin Mays — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:54:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Crossover, Supercars, Lotus

Lotus has jacked up the prices on the Elise and the Exige, according to The Car Connection. The smaller Elise, which has adaptive headlights and an unfavorable exchange rate for 2007, will go for $43,990, up from $42,990 for the 2006 model. The Exige, which is essentially an Elise with a hard top and turbocharged four-banger putting out 220 hp, will go for $56,990 -- quite a steal when you consider its supercar-worthy 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds and top speed of 148 mph.

It's rumored that the two vehicles here aren't the only ones that will be offered in the U.S. market in the coming years. The Esprit, which should become available in the United States in late 2008, has been spotted tooling around Europe as a tester, and other models are expected to be on their way.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Lotus Elise, Exige prices all jacked up originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2009 Lotus Esprit

Stuart Waterman — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Supercars, Lotus

Hans Lehmann's photogs claim to have snapped the first full prototype of the new Lotus Esprit - known inside Lotus as the "MSC" (for mid-engined supercar). With the production version not scheduled to debut until late 2008, it's unlikely that there is much to be learned from the transformer-like bodywork in the photos, but the fact that there's a functional prototype, presumably embodying the Esprit's all-new aluminum structure and the basic suspension and drivetrain elements, at least indicates that the highly publicized project is on schedule.

That's good news for Lotus, as the new Esprit platform is expected to be the foundation for other models, likely including a smaller 6-cylinder sportscar. The Esprit is intended to be Lotus' performance flagship, going head-to-head with Ferrari's F430, and is expected to have a powerplant equal to the task, rumored to be a 4.8-liter BMW-sourced V8.

Follow the link for more photos.

[Source: WorldCarFans.com]

Spy Shots: 2009 Lotus Esprit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Lotus Esprit

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:36:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Lotus

The happy snappers under the employment of AutoExpress caught the new Esprit undergoing testing somewhere on the European continent. Although these are some of the clearest shots of the Lotus' redesigned GT, it still takes some imagination to see what lurks behind the plastic cladding (but it is pretty cool camo, in a post-apocalyptic, 80s movie kind of way).

Possibly more important than the styling is what the Lotus' chase car is: a BMW X5. The importance of such a coincidence is the rumor that the new Esprit will share the Bavarian ute's 4.4-liter V8, mounted mid-ship.

Other speculations in the article that are worth noting include the rumored expansion of the Lotus lineup over the next few years. AutoExpress cites sources who claim that the sports car manufacturer is planning to offer up a hatch to the market, based off the Proton Satria. Probably named the Lotus Satria, it'll see the staple Lotus suspension and handling tweaks to bring it up to the high standard expected. Also, AE received information from otherwise tight-lipped Lotus insiders that a new mid-range model will be coming down the pike, slotted between the Elise and the Esprit. We thought that was called the Europa, but it looks like there is more on the way. We're okay with that.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Spy Shots: Lotus Esprit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Night Watch: Lotus Carlton

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 01:55:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Lotus

When Lotus announced earlier this week that its intends to bring three new models to production over the next few years, we began day-dreaming of the myriad of possibilities that may come about.

As good as the Elise and Exige are, and as good as the Europa and new Esprit hope to be, some of Lotus' more intriguing offerings were vehicles that weren't developed from the ground up by the boys in Hethel.

Stateside, the Ford Lotus Cortina has been hailed as the original sport compact. Introduced in 1963 and sold in limited numbers, the Cortina benefited from the staple Lotus tweaks, namely suspension upgrades and lightweight materials. When compared to the Lotus Carlton, however, it seemed pedestrian, at best.

The video above is a vintage episode of Top Gear, with then host, Tiff Needell driving one of the most controversial vehicles ever to be offered in Europe. The Lotus Carlton was based on the Vauxhall sedan bearing the same name and was stuffed with a twin-turbo 3.6-liter inline six, developing 377 hp and 419 ft/lbs. of torque. All that power was channeled through a six-speed manual transmission pulled from the Corvette ZR1, sent to the rear wheels through an LSD, which then catapulted the stately sedan to 60 in 5.2 seconds. All of this before we even broke into the 90s.

Since part of Lotus' plan for the future includes helping to develop vehicles for other manufactures, we hope that the standard set by the Cortina and Carlton may inspire upcoming collaborative efforts.

Autoblog Night Watch: Lotus Carlton originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 01:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus: 3 new cars on the way

Alex Nunez — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:18:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Lotus

Lotus announced today that it plans to introduce three new cars in the next few years. Right now, the Lotus range consists of the Elise, Exige, and Europa S. As most of you know by now, North America won't see the Europa.

So, what is in store for Lotus?

Obviously, one of the three new cars is going to be the eagerly-awaited new Esprit, whose timetable has been pushed back a bit as Lotus is still working out several details. It will be shown to the public in December 2009.

Calendar year 2008 should be an exciting one for the boys in Hethel, though. May will see the introduction of a new Lotus/Proton high-performance car and in December, the company will pull the wraps off of a new midrange machine. Lotus gives no details as to what markets will receive the new cars, saying only that all three of the upcoming vehicles will be sold through the Lotus dealer network and are intended to broaden the automaker's customer base. Hopefully, that means that one of the non-Esprit cars (in all likelihood, the Lotus/Proton) will be positioned beneath the Elise, creating a low-cost entry-level model.

That's pure speculation, of course -- mixed with a healthy dose of wishful thinking on my part. And even if that does come true, that doesn't mean we'd see it here. Still, a six-car Lotus lineup? A couple of years ago, people would have dismissed such a notion as crazy talk. Things sure do change in a hurry.

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus: 3 new cars on the way

Lotus: 3 new cars on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus gets a new spindoctor

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Lotus

Lotus announced today that it has hired a new ad agency to help it along with a renewed push into the North American market. Burbank-based e2amp, inc. will be responsible for rejuvenating the British sportscar company's image in the US and Canada through advertising, product placement and promotional events.

e2amp doesn't appear to have much experience with carmakers - its client roster includes such entertainment companies as JVC, Sony, Buena Vista and Universal. And what could be more entertaining than the tight handling and eminent chuckability of the Lotus Elise and Exige?

Arguably the most interesting part of e2amp's mandate from Lotus is the product placement. After James Bond's return to Aston Martins, could we see a Lotus comeback in the next 007 film?

Related posts:

[Source: The Auto Channel via Jalopnik]

Lotus gets a new spindoctor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Esprit' badge will be revived on Lotus supercar

John Neff — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Lotus

Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley let slip in an interview with PistonHeads that the Hethel-based automaker would indeed be calling its upcoming mid-engine supercar the Esprit, a name that graced the flanks of the supercar for which Lotus is most well known. The slip was entirely unintentional, as a PR person next to the CEO corrected his boss on the reference, saying that what he meant to say was 'the mid-engined sports car". Sure, right.

Related posts:
Lotus Esprit begins to take shape
Spy Shots: 2008 Lotus Esprit
Lotus will build Esprit replacement in U.K.

[Source: PistonHeads via WindingRoad]

'Esprit' badge will be revived on Lotus supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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