This is the new Lotus Elite, a front-engined V8 GT that's due to be unveiled at the Paris motor show in 10 days time - and set to reach showrooms by spring 2014.

The new Elite - which is the first front-engined Lotus since the Elan of the early 90s - will be powered by a 5.0-litre (no doubt Toyota-sourced) V8, giving the 2+2 611bhp and the capacity to sprint from 0-62mph in around 3.5secs, and will get a retractable hard top as an option.

Lotus will also offer the Elite with a hybrid option, which will make use of its in-house KERS, making the car the first hybrid sports GT in its class.


And that class is quite a tough one - with an expected price tag in excess of £100k, Lotus is aiming squarely at Aston Martin and Porsche with its new car. But Lotus seems confident.

"There's no denying that the Elite is breathtakingly beautiful to look at but it's so much more than that, it's a car that over delivers in all other aspects as well" says Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus. "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. It's a car that we are exceptionally proud of at Lotus and we truly believe that there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of styling and performance."

BBC News Business

Lotus to unveil five new sportscars
By Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News, Paris Motor Show
Guests watch launch video shown at the pre-motorshow event Lotus' new models will cost much more than its current cars as it targets wealthier customers

UK-based Lotus has revealed details about five new sportscars ahead of their unveiling in Paris on Thursday.

The cars, which will hit the road over a five-year period, mark a new start for the carmaker, Lotus says.

"This is not just about the cars, it's about the complete remake of the brand," boss Dany Bahar told BBC News.

And its engineering division will unveil a tiny city car with an electric motor and a petrol engine that extends its range as a technical demonstrator.

New models

The cars, which will be formally unveiled on Thursday, include a four door car, Mr Bahar said during a pre-show event in Paris.

"This is probably the car that no one had expected Lotus to ever make," he said, predicting it to become a popular chauffeur-driven car in some markets.

Lotus, which is owned by the Malaysian carmaker Proton, will also make a four-seater sportscar for the "gentleman driver", with a 600 horse power V8 engine, named Elite, he continued.

The ancient Esprit two-seater supercar will be updated with a 620 horse-power V8 engine as an attempt to challenge carmakers such as Porsche and Ferrari.
Lotus Group chief executive Dany Bahar Mr Bahar wants to double the number of cars sold

There will also be a new Elan coming, positioned above a relaunched Elise that will be both bigger and heavier than the old one.

The Elise completes the Lotus line-up to "keep our current customers happy", Mr Bahar said.

The five new models will come in addition to its recently launched Evora sportscar.

Fewer dealers

The new product line-up will enable Lotus to target much wealthier customers who will be spending up to £135,000 on a car, compared with prices in the region of £30,000 at the moment.

Mr Bahar, who joined Lotus about a year ago, expects sales to more than double from about 3,000 to between 6,000 and 8,000 cars per year.

And, as the cars are more expensive, the turnover could triple from £200m currently.
Andreas Prillmann, chief operating officer, Lotus Cars Lotus Cars Mr Prillman says Lotus has too many dealerships

Wealthy customers tend to expect more from their dealers than the current network of dealerships will be able to deliver, chief commercial officer Andreas Prillmann told BBC News.

The network will therefore undergo dramatic restructuring, with the number of dealerships worldwide being reduced from about 160 to 135.

"For a premium brand, we have far too many dealers," Mr Prillmann said.

In the UK, its network of 23 dealerships will be sharply reduced, perhaps to as few as three, while in Japan the number of Lotus dealerships will be cut from 27 to just six, he said.

Further details about the new models will be revealed when they are unveiled on Thursday.