1979 John Player Specials Commemorative Edition No. 3 Lotus Esprit S2 on 2040-cars

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Lotus has a new sports car in the pipeline

Lotus is bringing a new, yet-unnamed model to the market next year, as Autocar reports. The new sports car is likely to be based on a significantly updated Evora platform, and it will function as a link between the current lineup and a new portfolio, which can incorporate even sport utility vehicles and electrified products as well as a completely new sports car platform. To appeal to less-than-hardcore Lotus buyers, the new model will offer improved practicality and livability, with better ergonomics and comfort than current Lotus models. It will be a challenge to achieve this without compromising on weight; the earlier attempted Lotus re-invention in the early 2010s was based on five simultaneously unveiled concept cars that weren't as lightweight as desired, nor based on a solid foundation. Ultimately, the concepts led nowhere, and the then-CEO was terminated. When the time comes to update the Elise, Exige and Evora in the next decade, they will be based on a new architecture under development that will meet U.S. regulations from the get-go. The recently appointed CEO, Phil Popham, told Autocar: "The focus for now is on replacing the products we've got today — the sports cars," said Popham. "In a long time, Lotus has not had sight of what is required. You need a longterm plan, a product plan and a business plan locked down with investment. We have that plan locked in." Lotus' tie-in with new owner Geely can result in funding in the billions, with Geely assisting with engineering and manufacturing. Crucial Lotus input such as design and product planning will continue in Hethel, UK, but with Geely helping out elsewhere, in Coventry, Sweden, Germany and China. Currently, Lotus continues to use Toyota engine technology, but there is a possibility that future Lotus models will use Geely-related powertrain parts.

Lotus says the electric Evija is a trailblazer that will influence future cars

Lotus, a company known for making nimble sports cars, is stepping outside of its comfort zone to develop a 2,000-horsepower electric hypercar named Evija. Battery technology is heavy, so the limited-edition coupe won't be a featherweight like the Elise, but the firm's chief engineer told Autoblog it will be imbued with Lotus-ness. Keeping weight in check is easier said than done when you're dealing with four individual electric motors and a 70-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Matt Windle, the man in charge of the company's research and development department, explained the widespread use of composite materials like carbon fiber helps offset the mass. He cited clever packaging as another weight-saving measure. The part the steering column is mounted to is also used as a ducting for the HVAC system, for example. "We try to combine many requirements into one part to keep the weight down," Windle said. All told, the Evija (pictured) tips the scale at about 3,700 pounds. That's remarkably light for an electric hypercar, but it's heavier than any Lotus model in recent memory. And yet, Windle assured us it will still feel like a Lotus behind the wheel. That's partly because the battery pack is where the four- or six-cylinder would be in a mid-engined car rather than directly under the passenger compartment. This configuration gives the two passengers the impression of being wrapped in the cockpit while lowering the center of gravity. "We have the ability to deliver the driving dynamics and the performance that customers expect from a Lotus. It's the same dynamic setup, but with a different propulsion system," Windle pointed out. Lotus will initially cap Evija production at 130 examples, so there likely won't be enough units to fill demand, but that's par for the course when it comes to halo models. The numerous lessons learned from the project will trickle down into other models in the coming years, however, and the company has several products in the pipeline. "People do not understand that Lotus is still going. We want them to know we're still here, that we can still innovate," Windle said. "[The Evija] is not just a standalone product. The design language and the content that's in the car will give us direction as we shape future products that are coming. You'll see it as a trailblazer."

This Lotus Evora 410 is a custom tribute to the original Esprit

We love the Lotus Evora, whether it's in the current 400 trim or new 410 trim, and now an enthusiast has ordered up perhaps the coolest livery. It's an Evora 410 in an Esprit tribute scheme. And it isn't modeled after just any first-generation Esprit, but rather the car featured in the James Bond flick, The Spy Who Loved Me. The car is a one-off commissioned by a customer through the Lotus Exclusive program, which offers buyers the opportunity to have the car customized with special paint, graphics, body work, and interiors. In the case of this particular Evora 410, the car has a white paint job and features a bumper and blacked-out grille. Extending from the top of the grille is a black stripe that bisects the body. These cues represent the black bumper and stripes of the Esprit. Another nice touch is the Evora name on the panels just aft of the side windows. They've been written in the same font as the classic Esprit. Lotus also points out that the bare carbon-fiber engine cover is meant to look a bit like the glass hatch of the original car. They're all simple, subtle touches, but they come together to create a classy and convincing tribute. Inside, things only get better. The upholstery features Tartan inserts that were popular and common on '70s sports cars. The shift knob is also now made from wood. They're joined by a heaping helping of black Alcantara and red stitching. Mechanically, this Evora 410 is effectively unchanged from the standard model. But as we said, that's fine since the standard model, with its 410-horsepower supercharged V6, is excellent. It should be noted though that, being a standard 410, it does not have the ability to travel underwater. As mentioned at the top, this car is presently a one-off built for a customer using Lotus Exclusive. So don't expect to start seeing these at dealer lots. However, you probably could still order a similar car through Lotus Exclusive. Or you could use the program to customize your Evora 410 some other way, say in black and gold like the John Player Special Lotus F1 cars, or maybe the company's green and yellow racing colors. All we're saying is, as cool as this is, don't let that restrict you from trying something new. Related Video: