In a detailed report from InsideLine, Lotus CEO Dany Bahar is looking to larger car manufacturers to buy Lotus so that the company can continue to develop its standalone models and make the investment required to build its line-up. The publication mentions a name like Toyota as an example of the kind of pairing up the CEO would like to see, as he embarks on a mission to do the following:

• expand the Lotus product portfolio
• reposition (we add relaunch) the brand as a premium marque competing with the likes of Porsche
• increase annual sales to six to eight thousand units a year by 2015

With that plan in mind, it’s clear that added investment and a significant backer is probably required. In the meantime, amongst all the marketing glitter from Lotus of late, the road to product development has been a rocky one. After recent reports that the Lotus Elan is being shelved, Autocar now says that Lotus has a hit list of 150 things it wants to change about the Elise and Evora.

Continue reading: Lotus sale and 150 changes to Elise and Evora?

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Bear with us as we try and piece this story together. Spanish Autoblog quotes an EVO interview with Dany Bahar in which the Lotus CEO says that the Elan project is being postponed indefinitely. So far we haven’t been able to find the story on the EVO site so we’re guessing it’s in their latest print edition.

The Elan was one of the many models that the revived (or perhaps reviving is more appropriate?) Lotus brought to the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Apparently though, Lotus now considers the V6 Elan to be too close to the Evora model, although reports currently said the Elan and the Esprit were too similar. And so the company is considering undertaking significant updates to the Evora itself, and lengthen its career instead.

Other news has been revealed in the interview, including the fact that work on the Esprit and Elite is continuing, and that the two models will share many components, most important a V8 engine with 550 hp. On this particular project, we’ve already heard that Lotus is planning on develop the engine in-house. It could prove to be a purist’s powertrain with a sequential transmission or manual, but no dual-clutch. More after the jump.

Continue reading: Lotus Elan abandoned?

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The new Lotus Elan and Lotus Esprit models are too similar to each other. The models, presented at the 2010 Paris Motor Show as concepts, have undergone a survey process at Lotus with both fans and customers saying they’re not different enough. Criticism was also aimed at what is perceived as a “heavyweight” future Elise model.

According to Autointernationaal.nl, designer Donato Coco is already at work to distinguish the Esprit and Elan, although it will be a race to the finish as the models have been planned for a 2013 debut. Both models are set to get more personality but it’s looking increasingly difficult for Lotus to forge its new identity if customer and fan reaction is this.

The models presented at Paris last year showed a new direction for Lotus, with additional “family” models and a broader appeal to the entire line-up. Lotus designers are at work on the Evora restyling, which should carry that model through to 2013, and the Elise and Elan vehicles should now get a different vision.

The Elise has been rumoured to weigh about 1,100 kg and should be equipped with a four-cylinder engine with 320 hp. We have been critics before of Lotus CEO Dany Bahar’s seemingly excessive focus on marketing a message that wasn’t backed up by a clear product direction. But now it looks like Lotus will be hard at work at the drawing board to make the product offering the core of the message.

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The 2014 Lotus Elite is a beautiful car designed to steal customers away from Porsche, Ferrari and co. and it might just achieve that. The Elite is intended to be the epitome of Lotus tradition and technology in a mix of gorgeous styling and technical prowess. While you’d expect the company to wax lyrical about its own vehicle, the Elite is definitely the favourite in the Lotus garage - described as fantastic, seductive and a ‘different breed of sportscar’. It’s their ‘gentleman’s’ car and seeing this video with all its elegance and classical music, we’d have to agree.

But, as at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Lotus doesn’t stop there. A new era? Bring it on, we say. After the jump you’ll find more pics and videos from the rest in the Lotus line-up and frankly, we’ll forgive them for going way over the top. Our wish list just got very long….

Lotus Elite

Continue reading: Lotus models videos: Esprit, Elan, Eterne, Elite and Elise

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There is so much eye candy at the Lotus stand at the 2010 Paris Motor Show that frankly, we didn’t know where to look. An incredible line-up from the company includes the Lotus Elise, the Elite, the Esprit, the new Elan and finally the Eterne. All clearly named with the letter ‘E’ as per tradition and meaning that no-one will ever name a Lotus after me. Anyway, Lotus gave us the full range from a classic, historical model right down to a new, revolutionary (to say the least) member.

The Lotus Esprit, icon of the company is still quite something to look at. The new version has a 5.0-litre V8 with 620 hp (from Toyota). The Lotus Elan, described as perfect for both road and track, has a 4.0-litre V6 with 450 hp while the Elite, future grand touring model for Lotus, has the same impressive eight-cylinder as the Esprit but in a different costume. What’s more, Lotus is making its V6 and V8 engines available in the future in hybrid form with a kind of KERS technology that will go alongside the standard version.

The new Lotus Elise is also on show having a 2.0-litre turbo engine with 320 hp and start&stop technology. It will arrive only in 2015 though, so that’s a long wait if you just happened to be in the market for one of these. Then there’s the surprising, but lovely, Lotus Eterne sedan-coupé with the same V8 as the Esprit and Elite. Meanwhile, the Concept CityCar almost disappeared in this tidal wave from Lotus, but the prototype model is equipped with a flexfuel engine and an electric motor which can work independently. And if you’ve not had your fill yet, the Evora S and Evora IPS are also at the show.

Continue reading: Lotus Esprit, Elite, Elan, Eterne and Elise live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show

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