2009 Lotus Esprit

Lotus wants to sell 1000 units a reason, reason why a cabrio version was also added.The 2009 Esprit is powered by a upgraded longitudinally mounted engine, with the adoption of a more modern BMW V8.The launch of the Esprit was caused by the decision to launch the "Project Eagle", a 2+2 V6 coupe that will be priced at around £40.000. The project Eagle will be unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Lotus Exige

Technical Specs

Standard Engine 1.8L I4

Standard Transmission 6 Speed Manual

Cylinders 4

Horse power @ RPM 218@7800

Torque @ RPM 159@5500 (foot-lbs)

For 2007 Lotus added the quickest street-legal car that it produces, the Exige S, to the U.S. lineup. The Lotus Exige is a two-seat mid-engine coupe that shares mechanical components with the Elise and was added to the U.S. lineup for 2006. The Exige is powered by the same 1.8-liter Toyota-supplied engine as the Elise and adds an aerodynamic hardtop body, front splitter, rear spoiler and underbody diffuser. Lotus Sport Suspension is standard and includes Eibach springs and Bilstein mono-tube shocks. Sport seats and lightweight forged aluminum wheels in matte black finish are also standard.

The 2008 Lotus Exige S 240 is the quickest street-legal production car from Lotus and for 2008 it will be offered for the first time in the U.S. Distinguished from the Exige S by the air intake on the roof that extends to the top of the windshield, the Exige S 240 boasts 240 horsepower is capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in just 4 seconds and reaches 100 mph in just under 10 seconds.

Lotus Elise

The Elise is an exotic mid-engine roadster from Lotus that was new to the U.S. market for 2005. The Elise went on sale in Europe in 1996 and became the best-selling Lotus model ever. True to Lotus founder Colin Chapman's vision of building innovative, lightweight, top-performing cars that are fun to drive, the Elise sits on a chassis weighing only 150 pounds, thanks to aluminum alloy extrusions and aerospace bonding techniques. Body panels are lightweight composite material. The Elise accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and top speed is nearly 150 mph.

Lotus adds the 2008 Lotus Elise SC to the Elise lineup for 2008, powered by a 220-horsepower supercharged 1.8-liter engine, a 14 percent power increase over the 190-horsepower Elise. The Elise SC is easily identified by the rear spoiler and a new split-spoke alloy wheel design. Both the Elise and the Elise SC feature a new instrument panel with backlit gauges and a high-definition LCD message panel.

Technical Specs
Standard Engine1.8L I4

Standard Transmission5 Speed Manual

Cylinders4Horse

power @ RPM189@7800

Torque @ RPM133@6800 (foot-lbs)

Test Drive: Lotus Evora 2008

Lotus has a long-standing relationship with Polyphony, the game’s developer with Lotus cars appearing in each release of the Bafta award-winning Gran Turismo series. Now, thanks to the new title’s unprecedented realism (enabled by the ultra-powerful PLAYSTATION®3 system), Gran Turismo drivers will find their virtual ride in the new Lotus Evora to be startlingly similar to the real thing giving Lotus fans a taster of what to expect before the Evora is available to test-drive for real in Spring 2009.



Polyphony’s digital model of the Lotus Evora was unveiled simultaneously with the car at the British International Motorshow in London last week and fans can try their hand at the game via a demo pod situated on the Lotus stand for the duration of the show. Mike Kimberley, Group Lotus CEO remarked, “We are delighted to join forces with Sony Computer Entertainment and Polyphony once again on such a special occasion for Lotus. The Launch of the Lotus Evora is a milestone for us and represents a new and exciting phase of our development. I’d like to thank the Gran Turismo team fororganising this outstanding addition to our exhibit at the British International Motorshow and hope guests enjoy the first ride in our Evora, albeit a virtual one.” Guests to the Lotus stand at London’s Excel exhibition center will be able to navigate an Evora on the new London city circuit which was recently introduced to the GT series with the release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. The London city circuit takes in some of the city’s most popular landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross, the National Portrait Gallery and Trafalgar Square.