Lotus will launch this stunning replacement for the Elise in 2015.
The all-new Lotus Elise, revealed at today’s Paris motor show, is much like the car we know: it uses an extruded aluminium bonded chassis, albeit a little longer and with better access.
See the official pics the new Lotus Elise - now updated with Paris show picsRead more on Lotus's amazing expansion plans, including full details and pics of the other five new cars
As with the current car, it will be available as a coupe or a roadster, while a hardcore R-model is also planned.
Power will be via a supercharged 2.0-litre Toyota four-cylinder unit, good for 300 to 350bhp, depending on spec.
It’ll have a robotised manual gearbox (a twin-clutch unit is deemed too heavy for a 1095kg car) plus stop-start, but no KERS.
Lotus CEO Dany Bahar insists that all of the five new Lotuses revealed today at Paris will employ the purist engineering principles of lightness and simplicity pioneered in the earliest Lotuses by the company’s founder, Colin Chapman.
Prices for the new Elise range will be considerable more than the price of today’s cars, starting from around £40,000.
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Re: New Lotus Elise set for 2015
I like the looks, but it is too powerful and too expensive for the elise name. the current 136bhp is great because it is still fast in real world terms, 300+ is not necessary for an elise - is that not what the elan is for?
Re: New Lotus Elise set for 2015
If it is set for 2015 then they will need to start designing it in 2011 or 2012.
Re: New Lotus Elise set for 2015
I'm surprised more people aren't commenting on this!!! This car is not an Elise - the Elise has always been a cheeky little lightweight sports car. Soon there's going to be little to differentiate Lotus from Aston Martin, if they're not careful. It may look "stunning", but the Elise was never really about that. I'm not a fan, and I don't think current Elise owners will be either.