Is the Lotus Carlton still Lotus' most powerful road car?

[LotusOmega375D]

Lotus seem to have produced a few cars up to 345/350bhp (Esprit V8, Exige S & Evora S), but has anything topped the 377bhp of the LC during the past 20-odd years? Even the 178mph claimed top speed of the manual Evora S is only 1mph more than that of the old girl. In comparison the automatic Evora S only manages 167mph & the Exige S 170mph.

I read about a new Evora GTE model for the Asian market that will up these figures if it comes to fruition, but as things stand, does the LC still stand clear at the top of the Lotus road car power tree after all these years?

[Thorburn]

There's a single Elise GT1 road car out there which is over 500bhp, but I don't think a full production model has been higher.

http://www.hazelnet.org/lotus/#elisegt1

The Evora GTE is set to be 437bhp.

[Eliser]

I reckon the LC is still top of the Lotus tree bhpwise - still an absolutely awesome and iconic car!

[jas xjr]

surely lotus are more about power to weight ratio ?

i do love pretty much everything they have ever built

[Oilchange]

377hp and 417 torques is what I seem to remember so unless the Evora GTE thingy goes above this then I think it's still the KING!

[harryowl]

Isn't the evora GTE going to be 440hp?