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We get a rare glimpse into the future of one of our favorite sports car makers at the 2007 L.A. auto show.
Having attracted our attention with a smattering of brand-new variants of the Elise and Exige S at the 2007 L.A. auto show, Lotus’s affable chief vehicle engineer Roger Becker gave us a rare glimpse into the short- and long-term future of one of our favorite purveyors of sporty automobiles.
“Project Eagle”
In late 2008 or early 2009, Lotus will introduce a coupe which Becker calls “Project Eagle.” With two-plus-two or two-plus-zero seating and a V-6 engine, Project Eagle (we love the name…please, please, please don’t change it, Lotus) will represent the next rung up on the ladder from the Elise/Exige S. Becker did not say where the engine will be located, although we expect it will be behind the driver, in spite of the difficulties of packaging two-plus-two seating in a rear- or mid-engine car. Lotus did say, however, that the car would have a six-year lifecycle before a full model change.
2011 Esprit
Two years after Project Eagle, we’ll see the long-awaited Esprit replacement, which will use Project Eagle’s platform while wearing “a whole new body.” Lotus would not divulge any powertrain details on this one, but we expect it to be a really fast, V-8–powered, two-seat, mid-engine sexpot, as was the last Esprit sold here in 2004. In other words, it should offer Ferrari F430 Coupe, Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe–levels of performance without the $200K price tag.
New Elise/Exige
In 2012, Lotus will introduce a redesigned version of the beloved Elise/Exige, “a car that will go on forever,”, according to Becker. Other than saying it would continue being a featherweight with a mid-mounted four-cylinder engine, he would not elaborate further. No worries. As long as we know it’ll “go on forever,” we’re happy.
Flower Power: The Future of Lotus - Auto Shows - Car and Driver November 2007
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