Despite being unveiled last year, the Lotus Exige S Roadster has been missing in action ever since. That will all change this summer, as the British automaker has confirmed it’ll be heading to dealerships – at least in Europe.

The fastest convertible Lotus has never made, it’s the first Exige model to come fitted with a soft-top straight off the assembly line. Powered comes from a 3.5-liter V6 borrowed from the Exige S coupe with 345 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

SEE ALSO: Lotus Exige S Roadster Unveiled, Not Heading to America

The roadster variant will actually be weight about 22 pounds less than the coupe allowing it to hit 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds. The top speed however has been reduced from 170 mph to 145 mph. Standard on the Exige S Roadster will be a six-speed manual transmission with the automaker’s Serial Precision Shift (SPS) paddle-shift transmission available as an option.

Lotus is claiming fuel economy of 28 mpg on the European cycle and options include a race pack which adds track-optimized suspension settings and launch control. There will also be a more bare bones interior option for those looking for a true, sporty drive.

Lotus has no plans to offer the Exige (which is essentially the front half of an Elise and the rear half of an Evora), in North America

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GALLERY: Exige S Roadster

[Source: Autocar UK]

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The Lotus Evora 414E Range Extender Hybrid has received the SAE’s Automotive Engineering International (AEI) Tech Award for its design and engineering innovation.

Each year, editors of Automotive Engineering International select the technologies they judge worthy of an AEI SAE award. The Evora 414E, according to the judges, impressed with its potential for “real-world” production application.

The Evora 414E Hybrid consists of two electric motors that drive the rear wheels independently through a single-speed geartrain. A Lotus Range Extender engine provides additional range to the vehicle through a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder engine. The Evora 414E accelerates to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and has a total hybrid range of over 300 miles. Its combined power output is 408 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

“The Lotus Evora 414E was chosen for the AEI Tech Award for its unique combination of a multimode virtual seven-speed shift schemel, torque-vectoring stability control, and energy and power management optimization schemes,” said Kevin Jost, editorial director of Automotive Engineering International Magazine.

GALLERY: Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid

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Group Lotus plc, which is made up of Lotus Cars, Lotus Motorsport and Lotus Engineering, will appear in Companies Court today, as an application has been filed to have the company liquidated to pay its debts.

Lotus has already made clear that the application to liquidate the company comes from a supplier with whom the company’s debt was settled weeks ago. Lotus says that it will not liquidate, and that this court date is merely a formality, as once the proceedings have begun, they must go before a judge.

This type of case is common when a creditor or group of creditors seek to have a company’s assets liquidated as a result of not paying debts.

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Lotus is recalling 546 of its sports cars in North America because of a problem with an oil cooler line that could become detached.

Both the Exige and Elise from 2007 and 2008 are affected by the campaign. The loose line could spray oil on the car’s tires, which would lead to obviously compromised driving safety. It could also cause a fire if the spray reached any of the hot surfaces inside the engine bay.

The recall will begin early next month. A total 451 cars are being recalled in the U.S. and 95 in Canada.

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Lotus has become the first Formula One team to unveil its race car for the 2013 season, the E21.

The new E21 may look similar to last year’s successful E20, but changes were made in the off-season in order to comply with the new Formula One rules for the 2013 race season. One of those major rule changes for 2013 was that teams are now able to use a “vanity panel” to cover up the ugly steps on the top of the noses of the race cars. But Lotus hasn’t made the change with the cosmetic panel yet, though it has refined the nose area of the race car.

“We have not done it yet because the cosmetic panel would weigh a few grams and with a Formula 1 car putting a few grams on that you don’t need to is anathema,” said technical director James Allison. “But if we find a cosmetic panel that looks nice but much more importantly and crucially gains us a bit of downforce we’ll pop it on quick as you like.”

One obvious change to the race car however is the new design which implements the exhausts on the vehicle for aerodynamics. Helping create additional downforce, the bodywork of the race car actually help guide the gases down to where the rear floor meets the rear wheels. It’s a design that is similar to what was found on the championship-winning 2012 Red Bull race car.

Kimi Raikkonen will once again be behind the wheel alongside teammate Romain Grosjean while Jerome D’Ambrosio will continue as the reserve driver on the team. Davide Valsecchi, reigning GP2 series champion, will be joining as the third driver and Nicolas Prost will handle development driver duties.

GALLERY: Lotus E21 Formula One Race Car

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Bob Lutz of former General Motors vice chairman fame enjoyed a short stint on the advisory board of Lotus, and one of the perks of signing on to the British automaker’s board was to get an Evora of his own to drive.

But now that Lutz is no longer with the company, his specially commissioned Evora S is up for sale at a dealership in Sarasota, Florida. The 2012 Motorsport Green Evora S 2+2 was the only one of its kind built last year, sporting a similar scheme to what was seen in 2011 with the 4 Heritage Edition cars.

SEE ALSO: Bob Lutz, Lotus Advisory Board Axed

It looks like Lutz didn’t think much of the car. According to the listing, the vehicle only has 40 miles on it and comes equipped with a backup camera, Fgd Design Wheels, power folding mirrors, premium sport package, Heritage stripes, Star Shield, and Technology Package. At retail price, it was $95,015 – what the dealership is asking for it now.

[Source: Lotus Talk]

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Lotus Group’s parent company DRB Hicom is predicting some lofty goals for the small sports car company, confident that by 2015 the brand will be selling between  4,000 and 5,000 units per year. 

In 2012 Lotus produced just 1,043 cars, still a long way off from 4,000. The estimate is based on the increasing global demand for sports cars and the new management at DRB-Hicom.

“To change something that has been there for 16 years is not easy, but the management team is very innovative and forthcoming,” said DRB-Hicom cheif Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil. “We know there is competition in the market. However, with our quality and standard enhancements of the Lotus, we are confident we can compete.”

Lotus’ biggest markets are China, Japan and North America, though the brand is expanding, having just opened a new dealership in Kuala Lumpur.

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[Source: Autocar]

Lotus Racing just announced a series of first public debuts during the 2013 Autosport International Show in Birmingham, U.K.

Group Lotus’ racing arm will bring two new race cars linked directly to the Evora S which will be “track day” cars capable of driving on the road, but built with a racing focus. There will also be a “pure race bred” Exige V6 CupR on display during the show.

The cars are meant to attract potential entrants to the newly-announced SRO GT4 European Trophy, but there are other reasons to visit the booth should you find yourself in Birmingham between tomorrow and Sunday. Visitors will also have the chance to win a free driving experience day from the Lotus Driving Academy.

 GALLERY: Lotus Exige Cup R

Lotus is releasing a new package for its Evora called the ‘Sports Racer,’ which brings the sports car new styling inside and out, and new tech features. 

The ‘Sports Racer’ package boosts the performance of the car slightly, offering up a switchable sports mode with sharper throttle response, increased rpm limit, sports diffuser, cross-drilled brake discs, and a sportier setting for Dynamic Performance Management.

The exterior of the Evora ‘Sports Racer’ can be had in one of four colors: Aspen White, Carbon Grey, Nightfall Blue and Ardent Red. To give the car a more dramatic look than the regular Evora, gloss black accents have been added to the roof, front splitter, rear diffuser and side sills, along with black mirror caps, gloss black forged wheels, and black rear badging.

See also: 2013 Lotus Evora Starts at $66,800, Gets Mild Price Hike

On the inside, the ‘Sports Racer’ can be had with black leather and red contrast piping and stitching, or red leather with black contrast piping and stitching. Slate Grey SuedeTex fitted to the dash, doors and centre console rounds out the interior look.

Along with premium materials, the interior of the ‘Sports Racer’ gets some tech upgrades as well, including an upgraded audio system, DVD player with a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth connection, USB ports, tire pressure monitoring, cruise control and rear parking sensors. Power-folding mirrors and a backup camera round out the interior package.

Powering the Evora ‘Sports Racer’ is the same 3.5-liter V6 as the regular variant, offering up 276 hp, or 345 hp in the supercharged Evora S. The Evora ‘Sports Racer’ is only available in Europe, and the brand says that buying that package will save customers around £7,000, when compared to buying all the options separately.

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In what is turning into a very bitter divorce between Lotus and ex-CEO Dany Bahar, the British automaker is firing back with a lawsuit of its own, claiming that Bahar spent company money on his extravagant personal lifestyle.

According to Lotus, Bahar left the automaker with bills for his chauffeur, helicopter travel, and 10 luxury wristwatches. The automaker is looking to recoup around $2.5 million for unauthorized expenses in addition to overpaid salary and bonuses. Bahar on the other hand, is suing Lotus for wrongful dismissal, seeking close to $11 million.

SEE ALSO: Lotus Sued by Former CEO Dany Bahar for $10.6 M

According to reports, Bahar also spent over $1.6 million renting and upgrading two properties in the U.K., which was charged to Lotus. Expenses for travel added up to over $1.9 million and close to $5,000 was spent on watches that Bahar claimed were for Lotus managers.

SEE ALSO: Lotus CEO Dany Bahar Axed from Company

“The spending pattern of the group was not justifiable or sustainable, including the lavish lifestyle of the claimant who appeared to have ignored internal controls,” Lotus claimed.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Italian seat manufacturer, Composite Worx, has decided to build an extreme project car to show off its product line. The Lotus Exige-based Extrema is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 LS9 engine found in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

The LS9 pumps out 649 hp in the Lotus Extrema which has an impressive power-to-weight ratio thanks to its carbon fiber body, helping the Exige weigh in at a scant 2,139 lbs – roughly 500 lbs less than the remarkably similar Hennessey Venom GT.

According to Composite Worx, the Lotus Extrema accelerates to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and 100 mph in just 7 seconds, with a top speed of 200 mph.

And of course, inside the Extrema features a pair of SP-1 twin skin full carbon seats from Composite Worx.

GALLERY: Composite Worx Lotus Extrema

[Source: Composite Worx]

After rumors of the Esprit’s death were debunked, Lotus has charged ahead and according to inside sources, the brand’s newest sports car is all but ready to be built.

Unfortunately, it still hasn’t received the green light by the British automaker due to the ongoing management issues. That means, even though the car is almost finished, it could be a while before it becomes a production model.

SEE ALSO: Lotus Esprit Lives On, Cancellation Just a Rumor

Powered by a 5.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 powerplant complimented with an F1-style KERS system, the new Esprit is estimated to churn out around 650 hp through a seven-speed, paddle-shift transmission.

For now, we’ll just hope that the automaker has some good news ahead for the new Esprit.

GALLERY: Lotus Esprit Concept

[Source: Autocar UK]