Edmunds Inside Line interview with Dany Bahar about the future of Lotus
2015 Lotus Eterne – The Statement of Intent
Enter the Eterne, the four door super saloon from Lotus. If the Elite is elegance incarnate then the Eterne is elegance redefined.
The Eterne is a true four door, four seater sports GT. It’s the ultimate expression of refined style, sophistication and grace. But wait. An elegant, graceful sports car? Surely not.
A sports car by definition can’t be graceful. Powerful, exciting, aggressive yes, but not graceful. Yet here it is, the ultimate paradox – the Eterne. Power and grace, performance and elegance, beauty and strength all in one stunning package.
With a 5.0 litre pressure charged V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS the Eterne is aiming for best in class performance and efficiency.
In keeping with the rest of the new line-up, the Eterne will benefit from hybrid technology.
Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “The Eterne is sensational to look and as with the rest of the range it also over delivers in all other aspects as well. Similar to the Elite, it’s a car of perfect contradictions, it’s compact yet spacious, high performing yet low emitting, relative lightweight yet still reassuringly solid.”
“We truly believe that there is a market for the Eterne, there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of design, capacity and performance. The biggest difference between the Eterne and it’s class competitors is that it’s not an evolution of an existing two-door model, it’s a deliberate and considered stand-alone creation. It’s the ultimate four door sports car.”
Sometimes there are no rules to be broken, so it is time to define them instead.
Eterne Specification
| Layout | 4 seater, front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive is optional |
| Engine | Petrol, hybrid optional |
| Hybrid Technology | Hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS |
| Cylinder | V8 |
| Capacity | 5.0 litre |
| Power/Torque | 620 PS / 720 Nm |
| Rev limit | 8,500 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.0 seconds |
| Top speed | 315 km/h |
| CO2 approx (CO2/km) | 220 g/km** |
| Weight | 1,800 kg |
| Seats | 4 |
| Transmission | Full Hybrid transmission |
| Drive | RWD, AWD optional |
| Start of production | Early 2015 |
| Enters the market | Spring 2015 |
| Price indication | Circa £120,000 |
| **Using optional hybrid | |
2015 Lotus Elise – The Grown Up
Oh yes, here it is! There’s still room for the Elise at Lotus but what a difference a decade or two makes. The Elise due for release in 2015 is a sexy, agile beast of a car. Finally the Elise comes of age.
Aesthetically it’s definitely pleasing to the eye, it’s bold directional body gives you subtle hints of the Elise of old so it still seems a touch familiar but at the same time, it couldn’t be more different.
Perhaps a small example of how the car has changed would help. Aside from strong graphic styling, the practicality of the car has had a major overhaul too with sizeable improvements made to the ingress and egress – in simple terms, no more acrobatics but still all the fun you expect from the Elise.
Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “We worked very hard on getting the Elise 2015 exactly right, it’s our entry level car so it needs to give a proper introduction to the Lotus driving experience.”
“The Elise you can buy now is still a fantastic car, make no mistake, Lotus remain very proud of it, but this is a natural progression for us moving forward. The Elise 2015 will also be class-leading in terms of performance and efficiency but it will do more than that it will take the Elise model to the forefront of its class across the board.”
“The design of the Elise 2015 is perfect for the target market, it’s young, strong, confident, verging on ruthless, it mirrors the engineering and technology. It’s the next generation Elise for a new generation of Lotus drivers.”
Fear not though, despite the dramatic upgrades the Elise 2015 has lost none of the cheeky charm that made the two-seater sports car famous, it still retains performance through lightweight and handles like a dream – albeit a quite aggressive and tension filled dream. With a 2.0 litre inline 4 pressure charged engine delivering up to 320 PS, the Elise 2015 should reach 0-100kph in under 4.5 seconds.
The Elise 2015, proving great things come to those who wait.
Elise Specification
| Layout | 2 seater, mid-engined, rear wheel drive |
| Engine | Petrol with start/stop option |
| Hybrid technology | Mild hybrid, i.e. start/stop technology |
| Cylinder | 4 |
| Capacity | 2.0 litre |
| Power/Torque | 320 PS / 330 Nm |
| Rev limit | 7,800 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.3 seconds |
| Top speed | 270 km/h |
| CO2 approx (CO2/km) | 150 g/km** |
| Weight | 1,095 kg |
| Seats | 2 |
| Transmission | 6 Speed Manual, DCT optional |
| Drive | RWD |
| Start of production | Early 2015 |
| Enters the market | Spring 2015 |
| Price indication | Circa £35,000 |
| ** With new technology | |
2014 Lotus Elite – A New British Expression of Exclusivity
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 and the optional use of hybrid technology with KERS are typical examples of Lotus tailoring technology to deliver perfect performance.
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 5.0 litre V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS meaning drivers can expect to go from 0-100 km/h in approximately 3.7 seconds.
Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer 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 that total 2+2 production represented over 20 per cent of Lotus build between 1948 and 1996 (pre small car platform) and 11 per cent over all, this sector has been very successful for us in the past and now the Elite raises the benchmark higher still.”
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The Elite will redefine “modern classic”.
Elite Specification
| Layout | 2+2 seater, front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive |
| Engine | Petrol, hybrid optional |
| Hybrid technology | Hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS |
| Cylinder | V8 |
| Capacity | 5.0 litre |
| Power/Torque | 620 PS / 720 Nm |
| Rev limit | 8,500 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.7 seconds |
| Top speed | 315 km/h |
| CO2 approx (CO2/km) | 215 g/km** |
| Weight | 1,650 kg |
| Seats | 2+2 |
| Transmission | Full Hybrid transmission |
| Drive | RWD |
| Start of production | Early 2014 |
| Enters the market | Spring 2014 |
| Price indication | Circa £115,000 |
| **Using optional hybrid technology | |
2013 Lotus Elan – The End of Compromise
As the old saying goes, you can’t have your cake and eat it. In the past we were educated to believe we can’t have it all. But that was the past. Today’s driver demands more and the Elan delivers.
The Elan is the beating heart of the new Lotus line-up. It’s a high performance sports car, that much is clear, it’s a Lotus after all, but thanks to some clever innovations the Elan also has everyday usability too.
With a 2+2 variant, the Elan should be the only car you need. Set for release during the second half of 2013, the Elan features a 4.0 litre V6 pressure charged engine capable of delivering up to 450 PS and taking into consideration its relative light weight of 1,295kg, the Elan’s performance edges on supercar.
From a styling perspective, the Elan is built like an athlete with a muscular physique and perfect poise. It’s a thoroughbred, rigid with tension, ambitious and addictive, nothing but best in class will suffice for this car.
It’s not enough to simply provide performance and exceptional looks, innovation is also integral to the Elan’s appeal. In keeping with the rest of the new Lotus range, the Elan features optional hybrid technology with KERS.
Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “If there was ever a car to make you drive the long way home, it’s the Elan. Perfect for both road and track, the Elan not only ticks all the boxes, it creates new ones too.”
“The Elan will convert people to Lotus, I would challenge people not to become addicted to driving it. It will also go a long way towards dispelling the old misconceptions about this class, that in order to have high performance you must sacrifice usability – those days are gone.”
“Once you drive an Elan you won’t look back, it will give you things you didn’t even realise you were missing – that’s the essence of Lotus and the Elan perfectly captures that spirit.”
One car, zero compromise.
Elan Specification
| Layout | 2 seater (optional 2+2), mid-engined, rear wheel drive |
| Engine | Petrol, hybrid optional |
| Hybrid technology | Optional KERS |
| Cylinder | V6 |
| Capacity | 4.0 litre |
| Power/Torque | 450 PS / 465 Nm |
| Rev limit | 7,800 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds |
| Top speed | 310 km/h |
| CO2 approx (CO2/km) | 199 g/km** |
| Weight | 1,295 kg |
| Seats | 2 |
| Transmission | 7 Speed DCT |
| Drive | RWD |
| Start of production | Summer 2013 |
| Enters the market | Autumn 2013 |
| Price indication | Circa £75,000 |
| **Using optional hybrid | |
2013 Esprit Revealed
The most eagerly anticipated Lotus makes its return. Without doubt, this is the car that the true Lotus aficionados have been waiting for: The ultimate Lotus.
The new Esprit represents the very essence of exclusive supercar driving. It picks up and exceeds the legacy of it’s forefathers. Think of it as a statement of superiority. Think of it as Lotus CEO Dany Bahar’s personal statement of intent, his vision for the future of Lotus.
Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “The Esprit is the ultimate supercar. In the past when people thought of the Esprit, they thought of the movies, Bond, Pretty Woman,
Basic Instinct but this time around, the car is the star of the show.”
“One has to be very careful when taking on the challenge of reinventing such an iconic classic as the Esprit – everyone has an opinion. There’s a fine balance between acknowledging the greatness of the past whilst at the same time rapidly leaping forward to the future and ensuring that this car not only does the name Esprit justice but also the Lotus brand. I think we’ve managed to find the balance and in doing so created a new icon, a car people will find hard to resist.”
“Not only does the Esprit look incredible but it has the performance to match. We’ve stuck to the Lotus core values of performance through lightweight and teamed them with future technology and exceptional engineering to ensure that the Esprit will be the leader of the pack. The design is aggressive, you have to see it to appreciate how low and wide the proportions are but it still retains a level of dignity, of class and most of all exclusivity. I’m very proud of this car.”
Powered by a 5.0 litre V8 pressure charged engine delivering up to 620 PS, the Esprit retains exceptional performance through it’s unique lightweight design making it the ultimate expression of Lotus supercar ownership. It is the supercar that will redefine ride and handling, performance, comfort and exclusivity.
The styling of the Esprit echoes the performance with strong lines throughout the sleek low body. The symmetry through the mass and proportion of the Esprit give it an intense look, it’s the perfect example of the new Lotus DNA in action.
The Esprit is more than an evolution, it’s a redefinition.
2013 Esprit Specification
| Layout | 2 seater, mid-engined, rear wheel drive |
| Engine | Petrol, hybrid optional |
| Hybrid technology | Optional KERS |
| Cylinder | V8 |
| Capacity | 5.0 litre |
| Power/Torque | 620 PS / 720 Nm |
| Rev limit | 8,500 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.4 seconds |
| Top speed | 330 km/h |
| CO2 approx (CO2/km) | 250 g/km** |
| Weight | 1,450 kg |
| Seats | 2 |
| Transmission | 7 Speed DCT |
| Drive | RWD |
| Start of production | End of 2012 |
| Enters the market | Spring 2013 |
| Price indication | Circa £110,000 |
| **Using optional hybrid technolgy | |
2014 Lotus Elite Unveiled
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.
Elite Specification*
Layout: 2+2 seater, front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive
Dimensions:
Length: 4.60m
Width: 1.90m
Height: 1.32m
Engine: Petrol, hybrid optional
Hybrid technology: Hybrid gearbox with integrated electric
motors and KERS
Cylinder: V8
Capacity: 5.0 litre
Power/Torque: 620 PS / 720 Nm
Rev limit: 8,500 rpm
0-100 km/h: 3.5 to 3.7 seconds
Top speed: 315 km/h
CO? approx (CO?/km): 215 g/km**
Weight: 1,650 kg
Seats: 2+2
Transmission: Full Hybrid transmission
Drive: RWD
Start of production: Early 2014
Enters the market: Spring 2014
Price indication: Circa £115,000
Last 2ZZ-GE powered Elise Delivered
Lotus commemorated their successful relationship with Toyota today (17th September) at a celebration at the British Embassy in Tokyo where Lotus CEO Dany Bahar presented Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda with a specially equipped Lotus Elise powered by the last ever Toyota 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine. The occasion marked the end of an era and the start of an even stronger relationship between the two companies.
As part of the celebration, Lotus CEO Dany Bahar said: “The presentation of Toyota’s last 2ZZ engine in the Elise is a symbolic gesture of our continued respect and deep appreciation for our partner not only acknowledging our past but also looking forward to our future together.”
Toyota Motor Corporation President responded: “A Toyota engine in a Lotus car creates a completely unique drive feeling – a special blend featuring the best of Lotus and Toyota that we hope many car lovers continue to experience and enjoy.”
Based on the successful cooperation with Toyota so far, Lotus has decided to take the relationship with Toyota to a new level that will enable Lotus to create tailor-made powertrain solutions for future Lotus cars.
For more details on exactly how Lotus will be partnering with Toyota in the future, simply look to the Lotus global unveiling at the Paris Motor Show on September 30th where Lotus will showcase their new line up to the world’s media. The eagerly anticipated event marks the dawn of a new era for Lotus and will highlight exactly why both companies are so proud of their relationship.
It’s an Evora but not as you know it
Ahead of the official unveil at the Paris Motor Show on September 30th, Lotus announce the latest evolution of the award winning Evora – the Evora S and Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option.
Lotus has taken the award winning Evora and re-created it with a 350 PS 3.5l V6 engine to create the Evora S. Dany Bahar Lotus’ Chief Executive Officer summed it up beautifully when he said: “You don’t realise what you were missing from your driving experience until you get behind the wheel of the Evora S.”
So apart from the obvious power difference, how is the Evora S different to the standard Evora? It’s another question we put to the CEO (given that he’s spent a little time behind the wheel, we thought he’d be best placed to answer questions). This is what he said: “It’s the next level of Evora experience. It communicates with you better, the suspension setting has been fine tuned for added power and control so it responds even more to direction. It’s an instinctual car, the experience is pure.”
“We were proud of the Evora but we’re even prouder of the Evora S, I feel like it does the true Lotus experience justice. The really great thing is that as we move forward the standard Evora should also benefit from some of these developments.”
The Evora S comes with a sport pack as standard featuring a ‘sport’ button which allows the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve. The sport button also raises the instantaneous rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control settings resulting in a total experience change. There are cross-drilled brakes for improved cooling. And here’s a heads up for those who buy into the old adage ‘you can tell the men from the boys by the size of their toys’: the external emotion of the Evora S has been improved with a completely new active exhaust which means that at the push of a button the car sounds just as dramatic as it feels.
Commenting on the Evora S, Lotus Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Prillmann said: “The Evora S is a natural progression for us but more than that, it’s a taste of what people can come to expect from the next generation of Lotus cars. It retains core Lotus values such as performance through lightweight but it also gives more than that. It’s the perfect combination of top performance, style and comfort. Form doesn’t sacrifice function in the case of the Evora S.”
So there you have it folks, the next generation of Lotus Evora, the Evora S, set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.
But that’s not all. In addition to the Evora S, Lotus also presents the IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option. This inception of the seven-time-award-winning (who’s counting? We are!) Evora sees an automatic 6-speed gearbox with Lotus developed transmission control with a 3.5 l V6 engine delivering 280 PS assuring a superior automatic driving experience.
The IPS version of the Evora allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. The driver also has the option of selecting ‘sport’ mode which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience allowing the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission.
Commenting on the development Dany Bahar said: “The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We hope it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. It’s been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and we’ve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience.”
Evora S Technical Specification
| Model | Evora S |
| Engine | Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I |
| Emissions | see below due to wheel options |
| Transmission | 6 speed manual |
| Chassis | Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure |
| Steering | Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering |
| Suspension | Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension |
| Bilstein high performance gas dampers | |
| Eibach coaxial coil springs | |
| Performance data | |
| Standard wheel option | |
| Fuel consumption – urban | 14.5 l/100km |
| Fuel consumption – extra urban | 7.4 l/100km |
| Fuel consumption – combined | 10.0l/100km |
| CO2 Emissions | 235 g/km |
| 19/20” wheel option | |
| Fuel consumption – urban | 14.6 I/100km |
| Fuel consumption – extra urban | 7.6 I/100km |
| Fuel consumption – combined | 10.2 I/100km |
| CO2 Emissions | 239 g/km |
| Max power | 350 PS / 257.5 kW @ 7000 rpm |
| Max torque | 400 Nm / 295 lb ft @ 4500 rpm |
| 0-60 mph | 4.6s |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.8s |
| Maximum speed | 172mph |
| Vehicle mass (unladen) | 1437kg |
Evora IPS Option Technical Specification
| Engine | Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I |
| Emissions | 208 g/km |
| Transmission | Electronically controlled 6 speed automatic |
| Chassis | Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure |
| Steering | Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering |
| Suspension | Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension |
| Bilstein high performance gas dampers | |
| Eibach coaxial coil springs | |
| Performance data | |
| Fuel consumption – urban | 12.6 l/100km |
| Fuel consumption – extra urban | 6.6 l/100km |
| Fuel consumption – combined | 8.8 l/100km |
| CO2 Emissions | 208 g/km |
| Max power | 280 PS / 206 KW @ 6400rpm |
| Max torque | 350 Nm / 258 lb ft @ 4700rpm |
| 0-60 mph | 5.3s |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.5s |
| Maximum speed | 155mph |
| Vehicle mass (unladen) | 1436 kg |
[press release from Lotus]