Lotus has released the first official pics and details of its all-new mid-engined 2+2 sportster, which makes its world debut at the British Motorshow in London on July 22.
The new car -- which is known for now only by its project name 'Eagle' -- is billed as a more holistic offering than the Elise and Exige models, which have found a devoted following among hard chargers and track-day enthusiasts.
The newcomer's name will be announced at the British motor show, but word around the traps is that it will be known as the Ethos.
Touted as the first all-new car from Lotus since the iconic Elise in 1995, deliveries of Project Eagle will begin in the first half of 2009 and its maker claims it will enter the sportscar market as the only mid-engined 2+2 in production.
Lotus says the wedgy coupe is "designed for people who desire exotic sportscar characteristics of stunning design, exclusivity, dramatic proportions and performance. Project Eagle also offers real-world usability and a unique sense of occasion."
As per the Elise and Exige, the Eagle's powerplant is sourced from Toyota, but rather than the four-cylinder units of its lesser siblings, the latter relies on a 3.5-litre V6 borrowed from the Aurion and Lexus ES350, but with power upped slightly to 210kW.
Project Eagle's kerb weight hasn't yet been divulged, but Lotus says it "employs innovative lightweight chassis technology to ensure visceral all-round dynamic performance, in keeping with the great Lotus tradition."
Official performance figures are also yet to be announced but Lotus says its estimates point to a v-max of 256km/h and 0-60 mph (0-96km/h) sprint in under five seconds (virtually on par with the Porsche 911 Carrera).
Even in the very early stages of development testing, Lotus ride and handling engineers report that it is considerably faster around the daunting Nürburgring circuit than the Elise and more stable at speed than the Exige.
Anti-lock brakes will be standard on all models, and likewise traction and stability controls. However, Lotus says it's worked closely with Bosch to make these systems as non-intrusive as possible.
Unlike some of Lotus's minimalist offerings, Project Eagle "cocoons occupants with sumptuous leather surfaces juxtaposed with contemporary high-tech features."
Styled in-house by Lotus Design, the Project Eagle retains some of the brand's familiar styling cues, but its design language is decidedly edgier.
As well as being sold in a 2+2 configuration (the rear seats are for kids or short journeys), the car will also be available as a purely two-seater, the space in the rear being allocated to luggage storage.
The boot features a novel fresh air cooling system to reduce the effect of heat ingress from the engine bay and is reportedly large enough to accommodate a set of golf clubs.
Lotus says other derivatives of Project Eagle are also planned for the future, including a convertible and an ultra-high performance version. But even so, it won't be a high-volume proposition, as Lotus plans to build just 2000 of the handcrafted cars each year.
Hollywood actor and car enthusiast Patrick Dempsey is reportedly one of the high-profile collectors who are on the waiting list for a test drive.
To comment on this article click here