Paris: New Elise, Elan, Elite, Eterne and Esprit

  • Thread starter Thread starter J-PaP
  • 142 comments
  • 13,220 views
J-PaP

J-PaP

Messages
2,576
Australia
Australia
Messages
J-PaP
I must have one of each. I think the Elan is my favourite but I'd like to see the front of the Esprit as I'm sure that would win me over. Interesting they added a 4 door saloon too.

No information just yet. More images at:

http://s1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff370/johnnystorm1976/

Elise

b60ef380.png


Elan

bf380493.png


Esprit

97676102.png


Eterne

ddae59c1.png
 
Fisker should sue Lotus for copying the Karma with the Eterne. The Esprit doesn't look as bad-arse as I'd hoped, the Elan is nice but strangely not a roadster and the Elise is an interesting new direction for the model line.
 
Wow...those look great. Glad they did a major overhaul on the outdated and crappy looking (IMO) Elise. Now are these purely concepts or actual desgins which will be going into production?
 
timeattack07gt
Wow...those look great. Glad they did a major overhaul on the outdated and crappy looking (IMO) Elise. Now are these purely concepts or actual desgins which will be going into production?
Click to expand...

Blasphemy! lol.

It isn't exactly clear how far along these models are to being production ready. I can see problems with the Elise headlights to start with (They would have to be LED and I don't think theres a car with LED headlights yet. But the new elise is due in 2013/2014 (based on tesla roadster production ceasing due to supply issues (of the Elise parts) in 2012).

So long are the days of sub 1 tonne Elise's though that is for sure.
 
Nice find J-PaP 👍

Need more pictures of the Esprit although I'd say it looks fairly promising. The Elan (yellow) looks very conservative and I'm not sure where it's going to fit in relation to the Elise and Evora.

BTW LED headlights are available already on the Audi R8 Spyder.
 
So... anybody else getting a strong reminder of this:

BMW_EfficientDynamics_Concept_04.jpg


...which as far as I'm concerned isn't really a bad thing? I'm shocked at this, way more new metal than expected from Lotus, and if they really are going to go forward on this new, higher-class plan, I do like this cohesive family resemblance more than that Elite.
 
I like the direction Lotus are going in. The Elise really needed an overhaul and the rest of the range was a jumbled up mess of designs. Now they have a unified corporate look which looks far more grown up and supercar-ish rather than kit car-ish.

I do have to say though the Elan looks the worst out of all of them, like a total first gen Gallardo rip off. The Eterne looks like something Fisker or Spyker would produce.

Robin.
 
TheCracker
Elans were available as both soft-tops and fixed hard-tops originally.
Click to expand...

Unless it was to be a roadster though, it doesn't fit anywhere in to the current Lotus line-up.
 
Paulie
Unless it was to be a roadster though, it doesn't fit anywhere in to the current Lotus line-up.
Click to expand...

The way i see it:

Elise > Elan > Esprit - all 2 seaters
Elite - 2+2
Eterne - full 4 seater

The Elise covers the area the existing one does, MX-5 - Boxter territory. The Esprit goes hunting for the 458 Italia and Mclaren MP4-12C, and the Elan (and Elite to an extent) cover the area in between which is dominated by the 911.
 
Last edited:
I must admit, I like the looks of all of them. But it leads me to the question of what's happening to the Evora? It'd be a shame to see it get killed off, it was actually a really good car. Under-rated too.
 
So are we assuming they are dropping the Evora (2+2 MR)? Shame if they do although I'm sure they are using the platform.

EDIT: I should type quicker...what Speedster said ;)

EDIT 2: There doesn't appear to be anything about Lotus in the press yet, maybe there is an embargo. The Lotus website (http://live.lotuscars.com/) has a countdown to 3.45pm UK time...
 
Last edited:
Elise and Esprit look to much alike.... Love the look of that Elan though! 👍
 
I'm really undecided with all of this. First off, I still think the Elite is the strongest of them all, but the rest? I just haven't gotten that excitement yet. Maybe better quality photographs will help? I'm liking the Elan, I feel bad for the end of the true Elise (this one will be like 900lb heavier than the S1 Elise), the Esprit is kind of meh (although S1-S4 Esprits were always rather understated), and that sedan thing is completely yawn (I like the Ferrari 456-esque mid-section seen in other photos).

I feel the worst for the Evora. Unless one of these is the re-bodied Evora, so much work went into such a well-rounded car, I feel bad for those who spent so much time and effort pulling it off. Hoping it doesn't get completely phased out by 2014.
 
exigeracer
I feel the worst for the Evora. Unless one of these is the re-bodied Evora, so much work went into such a well-rounded car, I feel bad for those who spent so much time and effort pulling it off. Hoping it doesn't get completely phased out by 2014.
Click to expand...

I presume the Elan is the nearest in concept to the Evora. I've not seen a timeline published for possible release of any of these new cars, so i guess that if the Elan does replace the Evora then there's still plenty of scope for it to die a natural death.
 
Looks like the Sesto Elemento had the same wheel designer as the Elise and Esprit.
 
elanc.jpg

Elan
4L v8 450hp

espritm.jpg

Esprit
v8 620hp

elisep.jpg

Elise
Comes out 2015. No other information.

Also don't know if I heard right but Bob Lutz is running the show now.
 
Last edited:
More details

EVO
Elise, Elan, Esprit and Elite. Lotus has revived its most famous names for what is possibly the boldest strategy undertaken by any sports car manufacturer in the last twenty years. Under the plans laid down by new CEO Danny Bahar, Lotus will have a whole new model range on sale within the next five years. Here's what you need to know.

Elise: the current model will be replaced by one that takes the brand upmarket and does battle with the Audi TT RS and Porsche Cayman. 296bhp as standard from a 2.0-litre forced induction engine, upped to 345bhp for an R version. A mid-engined two seat coupe costing around £34,000, but weighing 1095kg - 200kg more than the current model. A convertible will also be available

Elan: Aimed squarely at the Porsche 911, the £75,000 Elan is a mid-engined 2+2 with a 4.0-litre transverse V6, producing 395bhp or 463bhp depending on whether you opt for standard or R models. Coupe and convertible choices will be offered

Esprit: The supercar of the pack, designed to tackle the Ferrari 458, Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8 V10. It uses the Lexus IS-F's 5.0-litre V8, but adds a supercharger to produce either 542 or 612bhp. Expect 0-60mph in 3.5sec and 200mph max.

Elite: The only car that was announced in advance. Find out more here.

Eterne: A four door Porsche Panamera and Aston Rapide rival, that has most in common with the Elite, being front engined and using the same Esprit powerplant.

These details are admittedly scant at the moment, but the details are hot off the press - Lotus hasn't even had time to take any photographs of the cars that are on its show stand, so what you can see here are pictures that will be appearing in next month's issue of evo magazine, on sale next week.
Click to expand...
 
Wow, Lotus sure pulled out its full arsenal... I love the new design their aiming for but the backs could use a little work. The Esprit kinda reminds me of what I wish the upcoming NSX design would have been like before the HSV but I don't care now. :D
 
Have to say I think the new Elise looks stunning. Whilst it's a pity they're moving away from the pared-down ethos, it's a brilliant bit of design and lets face it, it's still a light car by modern standards.

And of course, there are plenty of second-hand Elises about. As long as I can get my mitts on one of the original, light cars then Lotus can do what they want with the modern one.
 

Latest Posts

Back