Archive for the ‘Lotus’ Category

The Lotus brand has flown somewhat under the radar for the last decade or so in the United States, well-known to enthusiasts that enjoy its focused, no-compromises Elise and Exige sports cars, but often unheard of by more mainstream car shoppers and fans. But the 2010 Evora is primed to bring Lotus back into the luxury sports car market with stylish, comfortable interior and two-plus-two seating, and today the car's price was revealed for the U.S. market, starting from $73,500.

That's a hefty price for a compact, sport two-seater with just 276 horsepower on tap, but combined with the car's light weight and Lotus's mid-engine chassis...

Automotive Engineer magazine wanted to know how far Lotus could push the design envelope on a fully electric minicar. Judging from the sketches the company cranked out, the answer is: not very far at all. To be sure, there's some innovation at play, like the rooftop solar panels and the minivan-style sliding doors (not pictured here). And in Lotus' defense, the sketches were turned around in about two weeks, which is exceptionally fast. But even though Lotus envisioned this vehicle as a third-party model, we expected something a little more...Lotus-y. Heck, if those guys can't improve the minicar, who can?  [AE-Plus via Carscoop]

A new Lotus Esprit is in the works, and reports suggest that like the Evora coupe, the Esprit will get its power from Toyota.

Last year, we brought you the first live photos of the 2009 Lotus Evora from the London motor show. That new 2+2 coupe sports a version of Toyota's corporate 3.5-liter V-6, chosen for reliability and flexibility, Lotus directors said at the world debut.

The Evora is a linchpin in Lotus' strategy to spin off a lineup of vehicles from a single aluminum-body architecture, akin to Aston Martin's strategy. Over the course of the next four years, Lotus promises two more new vehicles--including a replacement for the Elise...