The Lotus Elan Concept combines a muscular physique with perfect poise. True to the Lotus ethos add speed, add lightness', the Elan is designed to deliver a thrilling driving experience with stunning style.
The company didn’t offer an official reason for this, but tried to find a “politically correct” way of explaining it. The carmaker told Car and Driver that it will give the Evora “a more traditional life-cycle”. We’ll remind you that the Evora was only supposed to be an intermediate step that would create a pathway between Lotus’s former and new identity. Thus, the vehicle was supposed to be replaced by the Elan in 2013.
Power for the Lotus Elan comes from a 4.0L V6 engine making 450-hp. Mated to a 7-speed transmission and weighing in at 2,489 pounds, the Elan runs from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds while hitting a top speed of 193 mph.
Lotus Elan concept is a 2 seater (optional 2+2), mid-engined, rear wheel drive car and weighs 1,295kg with its CO2 emission at 199 g/km. The concept car has an elegant cockpit and flaunts awesome flat-bottom and flat-top steering wheel. It’s got a plenty of carbon fiber treatment and high-tech goodies, including digital race track readout for track days.
Like the Evora, the Elan features 2+2 seating, suggesting that the new Evora may not really have a long life at Lotus. Prices for the production Elan are estimated to start around $118,500.
The Elan is slated for production in 2013, and it appears to be farther along than Lotus’ other cars, as interior images were released as well.
Lotus seems to be really staking their claim with the new Elan. Other than perhaps Elise, we could see this being the biggest seller in the new Lotus lineup.
