Autoblog

click above for more images of the MCE MC1

Spy shots of a mystery car being tested in the UK last year caused quite a commotion. Many speculated its identity, with the upcoming return of the Lotus Esprit or a new Lotus sportscar being the odds on favorite. All of those guesses are incorrect, as the identity of the mystery supercar has been revealed as the MCE MC1.

CAR magazine should be credited with the expert sleuthing that not only revealed the car's identity, but also brought to light a series of official renderings that show off the MC1's body, designed by David Hilton who also penned the Ford Focus RS and S-Max.

The MC1 is really a joint project between two companies: MotorCity Europe and C2P Automotive. C2P handled development of the MC1 and will likely be responsible for building it, while MCE coordinated its design. Mechanically speaking, all we know is that the MC1 is powered by a 600bhp V10 and features an all-carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Its wheels are enormous at 20-inches up front and 21-inches in the rear. In terms of size, CAR states that the MC1 is "slightly shorter and narrower than a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, and a mere 15mm higher."

The MCE MC1 is still not necessarily destined for production, as this "concept" needs funding to get flying. But MCE has obviously done a lot of heavy lifting so far, including track testing and nailing the car's overall aesthetic, which, as you can see in the gallery, is every bit as ostentatious as a supercar should be.

[Source: CAR]

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]

CAR online has a mystery car on its hands. They've acquired spy shots of what appears to be a new supercar undergoing testing at a UK facility, but have no idea which supercar it is. Their first guess was the same as ours – the Lotus Esprit, though the actual car that comes won't be called by that name. However, after some detective work, it's unlikely this car is the next mid-engine Lotus. It seems that the car is registered as having a 7.0L engine, which has some thinking there's a Corvette mill back there. Unfortunately, there would be no reason for the next Lotus Esprit to be testing with a giant American V8, as those cars were known for their smaller, lightweight engines. Lotus, however, is no doubt involved with the car, as paperwork bearing its logo was seen in the car's cabin. But Lotus does work for many manufacturers, so it could belong to one of its clients. The names Noble, Ascari, Audi, McLaren and Mercedes have been thrown around, but that's merely a list of automakers that have supercars under development. Any guesses? Leave them in the comments.

[Source: CAR online]