Lotus Elite Revealed as a Lightweight V8 Hybrid with 612bhp Punch

With the Paris Motor Show just a few weeks away, new concepts and future cars are appearing left, right and centre. One we had to share is the latest offering from Norfolk-based Lotus: the Elite. Moving away from the company’s recent mantra of small, lightweight, go-kart-like sports cars such as the Elise and Evora, Lotus hopes the Elite will move the brand forward — and perhaps even become a modern classic.

This 2+2 sports car is planned for production in 2014. Rather than taking on Ferrari and Porsche head-on, Lotus is aiming for something slightly different. At 1,680kg, thanks to aluminium body panels, it will be the lightest car in its class. Power comes from a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 paired with two electric motors. CO₂ sits at 215g/km, and the numbers get even more interesting: 542bhp as standard, or a huge 612bhp in the higher-spec version. Expect 0–62mph in just under 3.8 seconds.

For the tech-minded, Lotus is also fitting a KERS system lifted straight from Formula One. It captures energy under braking and can deliver an extra 50bhp boost at the push of a button — preferably not at the wrong moment. And if that wasn’t enough, the Elite features a retractable hardtop roof integrated neatly into the bodywork, adding even more glamour to the design.

Expect prices to start from around £115,000, and for this level of technology combined with Lotus’ pedigree, we can’t help thinking it might actually be a bit of a bargain.