Lotus unveils FIVE models - BBC Top Gear Australia

30 September 2010 - 16:10

Paris 2010: Lotus unveils FIVE models

Lotus has officially steamrollered into the Paris motor show with five models and a bag full o' bravado.

Count 'em: the Esprit, Eterne, Elise, Elan (pictured above) and Elite have hit the stands and its a massive show of arms from a company famous for little sports cars, and some James Bond.

See official pics of the new Lotus models

Lotus CEO Dany Bahar now wants to position the Norfolk-based company further up the automotive tree, putting it straight in the firing line of Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche. No easy task.

So the collected firepower on display had better be good. And, well, it rather is.

We've got an exclusive inside scoop on this hot new metal in next month's TopGear magazine, but here's a quick scan...

Lotus Esprit: 550/620bhp 458 Italia and Gallardo rival that'll hit 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and feature an optional KERS module;

Lotus Eterne: four-door super-saloon to rival the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide with a Lexus-based V8 and a 0-100 of under four seconds;

Lotus Elise: OK, so not new, but will be bigger and pricier for 2015 with a planned 260kW range-topper;

Lotus Elan: sports car that will happily sit at around £75,000 and, says Bahar, be capable of 470bhp and of, erm, competing head on with a 911;

Lotus Elite: 2+2 supercar to rival Big Hitters like the DBS, 599 and SLS AMG. Nothing to worry about then.

Plans this big needs Big Brains, and Bahar has assembled some of the motor industry's biggest: Donato Coco (former Ferrari man), Stephan Pathenschneider (former AMG production boss) Claudio Berro (former Ferrari F1 team manager) are among the inner sanctum, while ex-GM car man Bob Lutz and Frank Tuch, head of quality for the VW group, sit on a part-time advisory panel.

So, Big Plans, lots of cars and a lot to chew on. Check out the full spec in next month's mag, but for now, dya' reckon Lotus can do it? And what are you most looking forward to?