Wow what an utter rapeage of the Lotus brand. As in, did anyone at the company remember what brand they were working for? Like years and years of history just didn't even matter. This is an utter MASSACRE of the Lotus name and I think it is RIDICULOUS and frankly SPINELESS for Lotus to even THINK of putting a two-ton grand tourer on the drawing board.

That said, I WANT ONE... just not under the Lotus name. It makes me very upset Lotus couldn't find a way to go mainstream without resorting to a two ton grand tourer SL fighter. You can be an Aston Martin/Ferrari fighter and stay true to your sporting, weight-is-everything history so, so easily and this car could NOT be further away from that. Too bad by the time it reaches production it'll lose the big wheels, fancy door handles and door mirrors and headlamps that make it exciting. Under all the tinsel lives a fairly basic design. Not to mention, it's got all the usual sport car swoops and fast lines but it does NOT look like a Lotus AT ALL. It could literally pass for any car, even a cool Kia concept. It is exciting but it is GENERIC.

People are all hung out about that crazy Lexus engine. This car should be just that; a LEXUS. Hard top convertible? Hybrid power train? Back seats? This should be an SC. And no car that fits the bill of an SC should EVER be called a Lotus, quite frankly. Lotuses are about weight, handling precision and, oh yeah, weight. This is just... I can't even.

 

The front and side views of the car scream of Aston Martin and Ferrari which is probably why I like the design.

I agree it doesn't look like a typical Lotus, but I don't see a problem with it. It's simply another car to add to their fleet. One anomalous car (in terms of weight/handling/concept) does not necessarily portend an overall change in Lotus's original philosophy of lightweight extremely good handling track cars.

 

There is something generic about it, I can't put finger on it but same thing like with new McLaren MP4. It looks good but nothing special.

I swear to god I got the RX8 vibe from front and Mazda Shinari (Shanari?) concept from the side.

Anyway I will be a skeptic about this one since Lotus is known for vaporware in the past. If they bring this car with all the technology they stated in PR for the said price I will be amazed and surprised at the same time.

 

I'm going to save til 2014!

 

3700lbs including retractable hardtop, hybrid system, and KERS?

Can we have a version without the above and several hundred pounds weight reduction, pretty please?


Yep, I'm pretty much in the same boat. Easy solution: Toyota should buy Lotus. Merging of certain products into other marques optional. Problem solved.

 

This.

An Esprit has no business weighing 3700lbs.

As I've said before, I don't mind Lotus going after this market to ensure it's survival and growth, as long as cars like the Elise and Exige don't get perverted and the Future Esprit stays true to the "Add lightness and simplify" school of thought.

Unbunch the panties. While I share your point of view somewhat, I'd rather have a lotus that has this type of car in their lineup, than no lotus at all. They NEED to grow to survive. This isn't say Porsche (who had no business building the Cayenne) who are the most profitable automaker out there (yes above Lexus).

And Yes, I wish the Next SC could be basically this (sans KERS for me please).

A million times this.

 

This should have been the GS F. Thumbs up for lotus.

 

idie

*drools*

This is a bang for your buck supercar.

I got 4 years to save

Top speed... max's out at 195 mph though.

7-Speed DSG booyah. Plus the Evora S is suppose to have paddle shifters, wickedness.

 

Wow, serious fun.

 

The part in bold was what I thought first as well. The Elise and Esprit have iconic body styles. This one, sorry to say, may look nice, but to me it's bland and doesn't have that "Lotus Flare".

 

wow, I expected to see a revised cockroach style (my opinion of the exige), but this design is very clean

I was thinking 2014 is waay too far, but the timing might actually work out well

I agree with everyone regarding the GSF comment. Lexus is going to lose alot more sales if they don't get their act together.

 

A 3700-lb Lotus? With a big V8 for a powerplant? Colin Chapman would roll over in his grave. His passion, of course, was always as small and light as possible. You remember my funny (but true) story pretzeling in and out of the Munchkin 2007 Elise when reviewing it, don't you? .

Yes, with over 600 HP (and who knows how much torque), 3700 lbs. isn't much, but even without a formal test-drive to verify it, I have doubts that this car is going to drive like a classic Lotus.

 

Well it being front engined verifies your statement.

 

now who's copying.

 

Mike, you totally beat me to quoting this! Yeah, Colin Chapman is rolling over several times.

BUT, I guess this is what might help the brand and company survive. I'm kinda thinking this "Elite" is to Lotus, what "Cayenne" is to Porsche. Actually, come to think of it, if they did make a 4-door, front-engine Lotus, with the 3.5L supercharged Toyota engine and kept the weight somewhat down, it could very well sell like hotcakes. Who knows...