Lotus Elite Puts Maranello on Notice [Paris 2010]

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood

Matching the Ferrari 599 in output, Lotus has just officially debuted its first supercar, the Elite, at the Paris Auto Show. With a total of 612-hp and 531 ft-lbs of torque from a custom 5.0-liter V8 engine, there’s far more to the Elite than just a name and some numbers.

This stunning grand touring exotic is based on a version of the Lotus Evora platform and features a retractable hardtop and will be able to be ordered with an optional KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that can store energy from braking and translate it into added boost

“Make no mistake, there’s a definite market requirement for the Elite,” said Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, “it’s the ultimate sports car feel with comfort and space. There will always be those who believe that Lotus should stick to small sports cars but we didn’t take the decision to design something like the Elite lightly, it’s based on months of careful research and planning. It’s worth noting this sector has been very successful for us in the past and now the Elite raises the benchmark higher still.”

Those interested in owning the new Lotus supercar will have to be patient, however, as Lotus promises it won’t be for sale until the Spring of 2014.

Alongside the Elite, Lotus also unveiled four additional models that are set to create a new era for the iconic sports car maker. Included in the list are new Esprit, the Elan, a 4-door model named the Eterne and finally the second-generation Lotus Elise that’s set to debut in 2014.

Gallery: Lotus Elite

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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