As we first informed you a couple of days ago, Lotus’ Project Eagle sportscar will bear the name Evora. Unveiled to the public for the first time at the British Motor Show in London, the Evora is a 2+2 coupe fitted with a mid-mounted Toyota sourced 3.5L V6 engine optimized to deliver 280 PS. While Lotus hasn’t announced official performance figures, the Brits support that the rear-wheel drive coupe which weighs in at 1,350 kg or 2,976 lbs will be able to sprint from 0 to 60mph (96 km/h) in under 5.0 sec and achieve a top speed of 160 mph or 257 km/h. Maybe even more importantly, the Evora not only features the most inviting interior you’ve ever seen in a Lotus but in the company’s own words, the cabin “will accommodate two 99th percentile (6ft 5in tall) American males in the front seats.” Is there some particular reason that Lotus decided to use American males as an example for the Evora’s spaciousness?

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Though this has not been officially confirmed, CarScoop has been tipped off that the all-new Lotus 2+2 Coupe, currently known as the project Eagle, will be named “Evora” when it makes its world debut at next week’s British Motor Show in London. The Evora will be available for order from spring 2009 as a 2+2 as well as a 2-seater. The basic versions will be equipped with a modified Toyota Camry 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 Hp. Click here to read more details on the new Lotus coupe.

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While it could be argued that Lotus already builds the greenest sportscars on the planet, the British automaker seems keenly aware that the world’s gas-burning ways are quickly being swept under the carpet. What started with the dual-fuel capable Lotus Exige 265E - which got a bit more power out of ethanol - moved on to the tri-fuel capable Exige 270E. The 270E rumbled with a bit more power from either ethanol or methanol. Now, the classically-British automaker is dabbling in solar power, among other green trickery on its upcoming Eco Elise. Specifically, a few roof-mounted solar cells will help efficiency by keeping the electrics charged up while some innovative and lightweight components have been added to the already lightweight chassis structure.

Interesting tidbits include a new hand-painted water-based finish which “saves energy and reduces emissions of solvents from the paint shop.” The hardtop and rear spoiler have been made from a hemp composite, as have various interior pieces like the seats and some fabrics. The fabric used on the seats themselves is a certified eco-friendly wool and the carpets are sewn from sisal. Overall weight has been reduced by over seventy pounds. If you happen to be in London later this month, the car will be debuted at the Motor Show. There are plenty more eco-facts floating in the press release, which we’ve pasted after the break.

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 These are the first official images of Lotus’ all-new sports coupe that currently bears the project name “Eagle”. To be fully revealed during at the British Motorshow on 22nd July, the Eagle is not only the first model from Lotus since the Elise in 1995 but it’s also the only mid-engined 2+2 in production. Though we’ll have to wait for Lotus to reveal more images of the Eagle, we can’t help but wonder why the Brits designed their first all new model in 14 years in the likes of a stretched Elise… Style aside, the Eagle will be powered a modified version of the Toyota Camry’s 3.5-litre V6 producing 280 Hp. Lotus says that early indications suggest a maximum speed of 160 mph or 257 km/h with the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint from standstill estimated at sub 5 seconds (prototype figures). The British sports carmaker plans to hand-build 2,000 units of the Project Eagle each year with sales set to begin in spring 2009. Other derivatives are also planned for the future, including a convertible and an ultra-high performance two-seater version Continued

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Lotus will unveil an environmentally-friendly version of its sporty roadster called Eco Elise at the British Motor Show that opens its doors on July 22. Unlike most eco-friendly propositions of our time, the Eco Elise study doesn’t revolve solely around tailpipe CO2 emissions. Instead, the Brits tried a holistic approach to ecology by using sustainable materials, cleaner manufacturing processes, renewable energy generation and of course, by reducing the car’s weight. The renewable materials that have been incorporated into the Eco Elis project include hemp (industrial cannabis) that’s used on the car’s composite body panels, spoiler and seats, eco wool for the upholstery and sisal for the carpet. Cleaner manufacturing processes have been achieved by utilizing the latest water based paint technology. As for renewable energy generation, the Eco Elise’s hemp hard top incorporates a set of solar panels that provide power for the car’s electrical system. 

“Performance through light weight” is synonymous with Lotus, so a reduction in mass was a priority for the company’s engineers. The weight reduction philosophy has even extended to the audio system with a lightweight stereo and speaker system from Alpine that saves an impressive 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). The Eco Elise also uses special lightweight wheels that reduce the unsprung mass and contribute a weight saving of approximately 15.8 kg (34.8 lbs) over the already light Elise wheels.

Overall, the weight saving programme for the Eco Elise has resulted in a total saving of around 32 kg (70.5 lbs) over the feather light Elise S, which consequently reduces the fuel required to drive the car. See photos after the jump. Continued

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 Some of you may recall Ernesto Freitas, the Portuguese designer who created the modern-day Ferrari Dino that actually went into production. Well, Ernesto and his company LusoMotors have returned, this time with the mid-engined LM23 that follows in the footsteps of the classic Lotus 23b track racer of the mid-60’s. The LM23’s design is inspired from the Lotus 23b, and the overall result is pretty neat. But the LM23 isn’t about looks, it’s about track racing. The LM23 utilizes a space frame chassis made of steel tubing, with double skin aluminium alloy sheets, riveted and glued with inner foam reinforcements. The track racer’s outerskin is made out of fibreglass and carbon fibre components. Continued

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Lotus Exige

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