After months of spy shots, teaser pics and a rather odd viral advertising campaign, the Lotus Project Eagle has finally broken cover.
We aren’t allowed to tell you its name at this stage so we’ll refer to it as the EXXXX because it sounds suitably top secret.
As you can see, the EXXXX is significantly larger than anything else in the current Lotus range (Elise, Exige, Europa and 2-Eleven) but it’s instantly recognisable as a product of Hethel.
The EXXXX is the first all-new Lotus since the original 1995 Elise, although it uses the same extruded and bonded aluminium chassis technology as its smaller stable mates.
Lotus might be renowned for making lightweight cars, but the EXXXX tips the scales at 1350kg, exactly the same as a Porsche Cayman S. Its Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine produces 15bhp less than the rival Porker at 280bhp, while peak torque of 252 lb ft arrives at 4700rpm.
Standstill to 60mph is claimed to take less than five seconds while top speed is said to be somewhere in the region of 160mph. We know that on-paper figures tell less than half the story, but they aren’t setting our pants on fire. Lotus’ claim that the EXXXX offers 911 pace for Cayman money will take some proving.
The Lotus does have the added advantage of two rear seats though, which we’ll be trying to squeeze into at the British Motor Show next week. A two-seat version with a luggage shelf in lieu of the rear perches will also be offered.
Lotus is also promising that the car requires less physical dexterity to get in and out of than the four-cylinder models, thanks to bigger door apertures and more slender sills, while two 99th percentile American males (6ft 5in tall) can fit in the front.
This lanky pair will be welcomed by a swoopy, wrap-around dashboard and a touch screen infotainment system, courtesy of Alpine.
“Project Eagle is the biggest milestone Lotus has achieved since the Elise was born 13 years ago,” says Mike Kimberley, Lotus’ CEO. “We are currently working at broadening the appeal of the Lotus brand through an aggressive 5-year model plan of which this car represents the first exciting step.”
The company is already talking about a convertible and ultra-high performance versions, although entire production will be limited to 2000 units per year.
We’ll be pointing our video cameras at the EXXXX on Tuesday at the British Motor Show but for now, feel free to take a guess what it might be called below. Try and keep it clean.
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