Lotus Eagle - world’s first photo

The first picture of the top secret Lotus Eagle has been revealed ahead of its British International Motor Show debut. Codenamed Lotus Project Eagle, it will be the company’s most powerful car since the Lotus Esprit and will boast a top speed of more than 150mph. The Lotus Eagle will be the most important new car for the British sports car builder since the Lotus Elise was unveiled in 1996, and should help bolster a significant sales boost.

Bigger than the Elise, the new sports car will be given its official name at its motor show launch party. It’s a two-plus-two seater, with two full-sized front seats and two small rear seats for short journeys, kids and baggage – similar to the layout in a Porsche 911.

And its engine is placed in the middle of the car, behind the rear seats, for optimum weight distribution and balance. It’s expected to be fitted with a 3.5-litre V6 engine sourced from Toyota but heavily modified by Lotus to give it racier attributes and more than 270bhp.

This should accelerate the lightweight Lotus from 0-60mph in less than five seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 160mph. Expected to cost between £40k and £50k, the Lotus Eagle will cost less than the £60k British-built Farbio GTS, which also features a 3.5-litre V6 engine, and roughly the same as the two-seat Porsche Cayman S.

As with the rest of the Lotus range, the Eagle will be built using special construction techniques and composite materials and to keep its weight low. It will be more comfortable and refined than the Lotus Elise, making it better suited to long distance driving.

Lotus has concentrated on making its interior more luxurious and it should feature less hardcore seats and more lavishly furnished cabin than the stripped-out Elise.

© Source: autotrader
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