The all-new Lotus Esprit will be revealed at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show before going on sale later that year in the UK and Europe. U.S. sales, said chief executive, Dany Bahar will start in 2014.
Bahar, who has just signed a new four-year contract with Lotus’ parent company Proton, said the base Esprit will be a hybrid with more hardcore versions shedding weight and higher engine outputs for increased performance. He added that Lotus’ U.S. headquarters will move from its current Atlanta location to “either Miami or New York” before the Esprit’s U.S. debut by which time he expects to have 50 dealers in place.
Lotus city car rival to Aston Martin’s Cygnet arrives in 2015 with a choice of EV and hybrid powertrains, a year after its launch as a Proton. The Lotus model, said Bahar, would reflect the brands core DNA of lightweight performance, but that will come at a price: here in the UK it’s likely to cost the equivalent of $45,000 although that still undercuts the Cygnet by more than $3000.
Before the new range appears, the limited -edition Evora GT will go into production beginning in April of 2012 while Bahar promised “exciting” developments for both the Evora and the Exige with a hard core and improved Elise in the offing.
Lotus expects to build 2670 cars this year with a 20% increased in revenue.
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