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The full inside pages.
According to Lotus, the Exige S model, weighing 2,057 lb (933 kg), has the following specifications:
The Eterne is a true four door, four seater sports GT. It’s the ultimate expression of refined style, sophistication and grace. But wait. An elegant, graceful sports car? Surely not. A sports car by definition can’t be graceful. Powerful, exciting, aggressive yes, but not graceful. Yet here it is, the ultimate paradox - the Eterne. Power and grace, performance and elegance, beauty and strength all in one stunning package. With a 5.0 litre pressure charged V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS the Eterne is aiming for best in class performance and efficiency. In keeping with the rest of the new line-up, the Eterne will benefit from hybrid technology. Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “The Eterne is sensational to look and as with the rest of the range it also over delivers in all other aspects as well. Similar to the Elite, it’s a car of perfect contradictions, it’s compact yet spacious, high performing yet low emitting, relative lightweight yet still reassuringly solid.” “We truly believe that there is a market for the Eterne, there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of design, capacity and performance. The biggest difference between the Eterne and it’s class competitors is that it’s not an evolution of an existing two-door model, it’s a deliberate and considered stand-alone creation. It’s the ultimate four door sports car.”
Specification of Eterne are Layout 4 seater, front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive is optional. Engine Petrol, hybrid optional. Hybrid Technology Hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS. Cylinder V8. Capacity 5.0 litre. Power/Torque 620 PS / 720 Nm. Rev limit 8,500 rpm. 0-100 km/h 4.0 seconds. Top speed 315 km/h. CO2 approx (CO2/km) 220 g/km**. Weight 1,800 kg. Seats 4. Transmission Full Hybrid transmission. Drive RWD, AWD optional. Start of production Early 2015. Enters the market Spring 2015. Price indication Circa £120,000.
Lotus won’t replace the Esprit until early 2011, company boss Mike Kimberley has said. The British supercar is being totally redesigned after Lotus put it on the back burner to fast-track the new Lotus Evora. Now there are hints that the range-topping Esprit could be offered as a hybrid, possibly using a mix of Lotus and Toyota technology. Kimberley has said he wants to offer “guilt-free, high performance motoring” and admits the company is “working on something”. With Lotus’ long-held expertise in lightweight structures, it has a wide-ranging engine development and alternative propulsion programmes on the go.