Given the press announcement’s use of the words ‘elegant’ and ‘elegance’ four times in three sentences, we can assume that Lotus intends its surprise for Paris – an all-new Elite – to be extremely chic / stylish / graceful (take your pick from the thesaurus).

The Elite certainly suggests a totally new styling direction for Lotus plus, less surprisingly, plenty of technological trickery – from the ‘slick’ retractable hard top to the option of hybrid technology with KERS.

The rear-wheel-drive 2+2 prototype has a 5.0-litre front-mid-mounted V8 engine delivering 611bhp and 720Nm of torque, which should enable the 1650kg car to accelerate to 62mph in something between 3.5 and 3.7 seconds.

First impressions are good, but the anticipated price tag is around £115,000 – which will put it up against some very serious machinery when it comes onto the market in spring 2014.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photo: Lotus