The Lotus Elite is coming back!.. In 2014. Lotus has announced that by 2014 the all-new Lotus Elite will be born. At the 2010 Paris Motor Show they intend to display a pre-production prototype which will closely match the production car due to follow.
The new Elite is a step up for Lotus as the car is significantly more advanced than their current cars in terms of power, performance, and unfortunatley price.
Powering the Lotus Elite is a front-mid mounted 5.0 litre V8 which produces 620 horsepower. Lotus are predicting that this engine will give the car a 0-62 mph (100km/h) time of around 3.6 seconds. Top speed is a projected 195 mph.
Lotus also plan to offer a hybrid drivetrain as an option. Although they haven't been entirely clear on exactly what performance it will provide, a electric motor housed in the transmission is how they plan on doing it. The Lotus Elite hybrid will also employ a KERS system to recirculate the kinetic energy usually lost during braking.
Thanks to the engine's location, there's room in the new Lotus Elite for four people - although the rear seat passengers will probably have to limber up before attempting entry.