Lotus unveiled today at the 2010 Paris Motor Show the Elise Concept, a new car set to make its official debut in 2015. The concept is inspired by the current Elise model and uses an extruded aluminium bonded chassis, albeit a little longer and with better access. Regarding the design, this is completely new and brings something from the 2014 Lotus Elite. Just like the current model, the 2015 Elise will be available as a coupe or a roadster, while a sporty ‘R’ model is in the works.
Under the hood the car features a supercharged 2.0-litre Toyota four-cylinder unit that can deliver between 320 to 500 hp, depending on the spec. The engine will be mated to a twin-clutch manual gearbox plus Stop&Start.
An optional paddle-shifted automatic transmission will also be available. For this entry-level model, Lotus will not offer the hybrid KERS technology, used also by the Formula 1 cars. The car has a total weight of 2,409-pound (1,029 kg) and can spring from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.3 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). Regarding the price, the 2015 Elise is expected to carry a price tag of around £40,000, or $63,000.
