Tuesday 8th February 2005

Lotus GT breaks cover

Prototype tours Hethel backroads

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The new Lotus GT has broken cover. According to a story in Autocar, the £30,000 car has been touring the roads around Lotus' home base in Hethel, Norfolk.

Lotus' official line is that the car is still 'under consideration' and that it's ‘still very much a feasibility study’. The picture comes from a design study that Lotus registered with the Patent Office last year (see link below).

Lotus plans the mid-size sports car, intended to fit into the Esprit's slot, as a more refined GT-style car than the track-focused Elise. It'll be bigger, wider and have a longer wheelbase, and be competition for the Boxster and Audi TT. Apparently, rear seats are still under discussion because the body style means that it would be tough for anyone to get into them.

More importantly, Lotus has yet to decide on an engine, according to Autocar. It'll be mid-mounted but could be a Toyota V6 or in-line four.

Autocar story: www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/

PH patent story: www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=9025

[Gooby]

Woo Hoo! looks brilliant!
Just nit picking but the Elise 111R is more than enough to see of a boxter or a TT. What is the point if you are not going after 911?

[Iceman82]

I guess they are thinking in terms of comfort and refinement perhaps, as well as horse power. The price is in the same range as the boxster and TT, so needs to have something special to lure people away from those I guess and I suspect that performance is where it will excel, along with comfort. Looks lovely IMO!!

[b10]

Whatever happened to the Lotus V8? Probably too big for this car but was it not an excellent engine?

[boggy]

This look's so much better than the initial picture, I love it ! it looks wicked ! differently consider buying one if it's under 40k hurry up guy's !

Boggy

[racefan_uk]

It'll sell better in the US than an Elise will, especially against the Boxster and TT.

Looks like the M250 concept might just get an airing after all, it's only 6 years down the road now...

[boggy]

Yes look's very similar doesn't it, I love it! also
agree with your other comment just what's needed for all those long winding road's in the States. I'm sure they love the Elise but this would suit the market much better me thinks ?

Boggy

[tommomic]

Love it.

If they squeeze in those rear seats with enough room for the sprogs, then I'm definitely putting an order in!

Great move Lotus.

>> Edited by tommomic on Tuesday 8th February 12:41

[cathalm]

Correction to the articl, this is not intended to replace the esprit, there will be a fully fledged esprit supercar to do that, this is the puppy to go in the middle. Check out the lotus calendar this year for some of their design studies on the new esprit. All reports seem to overlook the lotus v8 as its engine, don't know what's wrong with it, perhaps emissions or some such. Still, this more comfy elise style machine looks to be a good un.

[t1grm]

At 30K with a V6 this is hardly an Esprit replacement. The last of the line Esprit was around 65K IIRC with a 3.5l V8. The Esprit replacement needs to take the fight to the 911 and the Tuscan. This just looks like another Elise variant. All IMHO of course

[lovecraft4]

Will be interesting if we will see it at any upcomming motor shows. If it breakes cover there were one step closer to getting it

wounder when they'll confirm it???

[shadowninja]

fingers crossed!

[a666j]

Oh yes... loving it muchly. Regarding the market position, surely it'll be battling the upcoming Porsche Boxster/911 hybrid - let's hope our dear Norfolk friends get it on the forecourt in time to properly battle...

Sod global warming - we've still got some glorious years ahead....

[crankedup]

IMHO all sports car manufacturers need a 2+2 to hook into a wider market. Even when the car is older it will still keep attracting buyers who need the 2+2. Cant believe that TVR have axed the Cerbie without a replacement in the wings.

[errek72]

For the love of god please use a decent (sounding) engine. An Alfa V6 should do the trick.
Left with the choice of a Boxter, or a Lotus/Toyota that dynamically is superior... I'd take the Boxter just so I wouldn't hear a washing machine behind me each time I'd accelerate.

[telecat]

I think there's a problem with attaining the emissions on the V8.

[splodge s4]

t1grm said:

At 30K with a V6 this is hardly an Esprit replacement. The last of the line Esprit was around 65K IIRC with a 3.5l V8. The Esprit replacement needs to take the fight to the 911 and the Tuscan. This just looks like another Elise variant. All IMHO of course

Agreed, whats happened to the British supercar, its got to be expensive, unpractical, be a pain to live with & have the looks that people move out your way on country roads. They're even on about back seats for christ sake! In my mind leave the Audi TT's & Boxsters, lets go after the 360's & Mercelago's, (however thats spelt)...come on lets see ya balls!

[ErnestM]

- The V8 will not hit emissions (lack of a VVT type scheme is the main culprit IIRC).

- This is most definitely the "middle" car in the lineup.

- The Esprit replacement will be designed to go after the 360/Gallardo market. Will be about $90,000 to $100,000US. Will NOT be based on VVA and SHOULD have a V8. Current rumours are about 500bhp probably through a Toyota sourced motor, massaged by Lotus and force induced. Also rumoured to have a "flappy paddle" gearbox for the F1 wannabes (ErnestM raises hand).


ErnestM

[John Nowak]

Are we all looking at the same car? That grey... thing up there?

It's hideous!!

[boggy]

No John,

Click on the link in the first paragraph or alternately click on the link below :

www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=213390

Boggy

[white_fly]

This car could really be something if they were to go with a toyota V6, especially if they would provide the option of the supercharger that comes straight from TRD. Here is a link to a Toyota MR2 with a supercharged V6.
http://brad.bedell.home.comcast.net/misc/mr2/