Lotus Elite

Lotus has revealed the first photos of the new Elite, a 2+2 seat GT that provides a glimpse into the future product range of the reinvigorated brand.

The Elite, whose design is meant to convey elegance in its purest form, measures in at 4600mm in length, 1900mm wide and 1320mm high and weighs in at 1650kg, putting it firmly in 911 and Vantage territory. The aesthetic of the exterior is meant to communicate the capability of its front-mid mounted 5.0-liter V8 engine, which delivers up to 611bhp and can propel the car to 60mph from a standstill in 3.5 seconds.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says 'market requirements' led to the decision to create the GT: "There will always be those who believe that Lotus should stick to small sports cars but we didn't take the decision to design something like the Elite lightly.

"It's worth noting this sector has been very successful for us in the past," he added.

Scheduled to be released in spring 2014, Bahar is confident the Elite will set a new benchmark in design, performance and emissions.