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 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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This beautiful Lotus Elite will be on show on the 2010 Paris Motor Show in the form of a 2+2 GT coupé. The revived Elite name is applied to a model which represents the third generation described as a modern classic by the Lotus company. We’ll have to wait for a while before we see it on the market though, with production starting only at the beginning of 2014 and sales kicking off in spring of that year.

The Lotus Elite measures 460 cm long, 190 cm wide and 132 cm high and weighs 1,650 kg. At this stage the new model is expected to cost 115,000 pounds (about 140,000 euros) but with production so far away, we think this will probably fluctuate in time. The Lotus Elite will also be available as a hybrid option with Lotus Kers technology. The ’standard’ model will be equipped with a Toyota 5.0-litre V8 with 620 hp and 720 Nm of torque. It should reach a top speed of 315 km/hr and achieve 100 km/hr in 3.5 seconds. Emissions will be about 215 g/km of CO2.

Lotus Elite

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