Paris Motor Show 2010: Lotus

What an incredible show they had in store for us Lotus at the Paris Motor Show, where they unveiled a collection of new models that, as you can see in the photos, left us with our jaws well and truly dropped, and not just us but half of Europe, since the brand’s stand was so crowded that we could barely take photos of every model.

Honestly, at least in my opinion, no model on the brand’s stand stood out above the rest, since everything was new or a concept, each designed for a different purpose. Take the Lotus Elite, a true supercar that moves away from the brand’s tradition of “one less kilo is better than one extra CV“.

As you can see, we are looking at a 2+2 coupé with sleek styling, though it perhaps lacks the eye-catching spoilers or huge air intakes on the bonnet that appear on every Lotus model. Setting aside the striking aesthetics the English manufacturer has given this model, what caught our attention most is the engine, a powerful 5.0-litre V8 capable of producing 620 CV and 720 Nm of peak torque, with which the model should accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 to 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed, according to the brand, of 315 km/h.

Another model that has also drawn plenty of attention is the Esprit Concept, with which Lotus intends to make its way into the supercar world thanks to this striking two-seater, which looks both aggressive and modern, with an interior clearly focused on its equipment and the quality of its materials.

We have learned that this model will be fitted with the same engine as the Elite mentioned above, that is, a 5.0-litre V8 with 620 CV, with which Lotus expects this model to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds or reach a top speed of 330 km/h, all thanks to much more refined aerodynamics and less weight than the Elite.

For those who, at this stage of life, do not want a low-slung coupé in their garage, whether because of the discomfort of the three doors or because they need more seats to comfortably carry their whole family, Lotus has responded with the Eterne, a model designed exclusively to compete with the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide.

As you can see, this model also follows the design line set by the previous models, but it shares more than looks with its “siblings”: surprise, it also features the 5.0-litre V8 mentioned earlier. As an extra, this model will be available alongside an electric motor, helping to contain consumption and emissions, and offering four-wheel drive that many will appreciate. Looking at this model’s figures, Lotus has promised acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds and a top speed of 315 km/h.

Last but not least, among so many people we had the chance to see and take a reasonably decent photo, which you can view below these lines, of the Lotus CityCar Concept, a hybrid prototype that, although it has no production date yet, drew a lot of attention and questions.

As for the model, as you can see, it follows the exterior design of the models mentioned above and, in terms of dimensions, we were told it could be a car with the same or even slightly greater capacity than the famous Toyota iQ, but that is where the resemblance ends. Inside, as befits a concept, it was loaded with high-quality materials and, above all, thousands of little multimedia details that will surely never make it into a hypothetical production model.

As for the propulsion system, we are essentially looking at an electric motor capable of delivering peak power of 220 CV, drawing its energy from batteries as well as from an electric generator connected to a 1.2-litre engine. With this system the CityCar should be able to reach 170 km/h or accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds, with a range of 500 km.

Source | Highmotor Team