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Report: Lotus Working On V-6 Powered Elise And Exige

Viknesh Vijayenthiran

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Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of... More

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Mysterious Lotus test-mule spy shots

HI-RES GALLERY: Mysterious Lotus test-mule spy shots

Lotus is probably in the best financial position it’s been in for years, with its debts about to be cleared and production at full capacity. Focus now turns to what’s in-store for the future and one of the bright spots on the horizon is a new-generation of the Esprit.

However, captured recently in spy shots was a strange test-mule of an Elise wearing widened wheel arches and bigger intakes, which suggests that Lotus is planning a new or updated version of the lightweight sports car.

According to the guys at Autocar, Lotus plans to shoehorn a V-6 engine into both the Elise and the Exige. Test vehicles are said to have sounded like they were running the same engine as the bigger Evora, which means the cars could be packing a 3.5-liter V-6 with 276 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque on tap.

Lotus was originally planning to launch a V-6 powered Exige last year but the car, along with a V-6 Elise, will now likely be released towards the end of this year. These should keep sales of the Elise and Exige bubbling along until replacement models arrive around 2012.

[Autocar]