So here it is, the Lotus Elite, the first taste of what's to come from Lotus in the future. Look up elegant in the dictionary and you'll find variations on the following 1. dignified grace in appearance, movement, or behaviour, 2. superb taste in design, style and 3. something elegant; the ultimate refinement.
The ground-breaking new Elite is exactly that. It's compact yet chic body is elegance incarnate. It's not only exquisitely elegant, in keeping with Lotus' core values, it's a car of substance incorporating some of the very latest technological innovations Lotus has to offer. The slick retractable hard top version and the optional use of hybrid technology with KERS are typical examples of Lotus tailoring technology to deliver perfect performance.
Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus said: "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. 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.
"Make no mistake, there's a definite market requirement for the Elite - 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."
Set for release in spring 2014, this is an innovative, exciting GT that will set a new benchmark in design, performance and emissions. And it's not all about sleek lines and stunning bodywork with this particular 2+2, what hides beneath this shark like exterior perfectly does the aesthetics justice. A front-mid positioned 5.0l V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS meaning drivers can expect to go from 0-100 km/h in approximately 3.5 to 3.7 seconds.
Company press release, last updated on September 20, 2010
I agree that the new Elite is a tour de force, but I'm diappointed. Back in the 60's, I was riding with a friend of my father's in a new XKE. Traveling with us was another friend in a Corvette. We were traveling from Morgantown, WVa to Oak Hill, WVa on the old Rt. 19, a very curvy road for almost it's entire length. To say that were were "pushing it" would have been an understatment. The Vette was in front and we followed; all in a light drizzeling rain. As I rode along, I happened to glance out the rear and noticed a white car behind us; which happend to be getting closer. Within moments, the little white car was on our tail, then passed us, then the Vette and disappeared around the next bend in the road. That car was a Lotus Elite. To be frank, this guy smoked us. Ever since that day, I've had a soft spot for Elites. The light, well handling Elite, with "enough" power, was, to me the top of the heap when it came to sports cars.
The new one is pretty, very powerful, with all the technological ad-ons one would expect from this class of automobile. Unfortunately, it's not a reincarnation of the original, but a completely different animal. I personally miss the original concept (lke the "7"), but then I suppose I'm a throw-back to a more simple time, when life and cars were simpler too.
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Elite
So here it is, the Lotus Elite, the first taste of what's to come from Lotus in the future. Look up elegant in the dictionary and you'll find variations on the following 1. dignified grace in appearance, movement, or behaviour, 2. superb taste in design, style and 3. something elegant; the ultimate refinement.
