Lotus Esprit Will Be Hybrid, Performance Models Gas Only
Lotus has plans to release their new next-generation Esprit at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and more details were recently released on their next sports car. The base model Esprit will be a hybrid, sporting a 100-hp electric motor and a naturally aspirated V8 engine.
Other variants of the Lotus will be more race inspired, ditching the electric motor and hybrid tag for more weight savings and additional horsepower. More details on the other models weren’t released, but we can expect a more pure driver’s car and everything “unnecessary” will be removed from them, as well as an abundant use of carbon fiber. Unfortunately no specs were released on the naturally aspirated V8 powerplant either.
The new Lotus Esprit will go on sale in Europe starting in Summer of 2013 and will mark the beginning of Lotus’ five-year, five-model plan.
[Source: Topspeed]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation
A Lotus is a serious driving performance car not a hybred grocery getter, and should never be one. Whats next a Lotus four door or an SUV If so they're done, the hard-core devoted Lotus drivers will move on. Its bad enough Lotus has dropped the Elise and Exige. Whatever they come out next will be priced so high they will sell a few, damn few. Perhaps they don't know the economy is lousy at the moment with nothing good for the forseeable future. The Evora is bad enough in my mind. What would Colin say?? Keep'em light, affordable and great looking. Customers will come looking and buying..