Now that plans for the Elan sports car model by Lotus has been placed in the backburner, this has left the British company with some cash at their disposal which otherwise would have into the making of the Elan. Lotus though has decides to spend it wisely, as they have decided to re-appropriate the money to develop their very own lineup of engine units.
Project Boss Dany Bahar in an interview went on record saying, “This is a big [financial] hit because it’s expensive to do an engine. But because the Elan is not happening now we have got capital expenditure headroom for engine development.”
For a start Lotus would be coming up its own V8 that could make things tough for the Ferrari 458 Italia that is also fitted with a V8 powerplant. The V8 from Lotus will deliver anywhere between 550 and 570 hp with testing expected to take place in July 2011. The engine would be fitted on the Esprit model to begin with. Thereafter Lotus intends to make one for its Eterne model that is under production and which would be a V6 engine. The cars are to be done up on a new aluminum platform that would make them quite light.
Meanwhile the Elan, as per Lotus is quite similar in looks to the Esprit model and therefore will not be making its appearance closer to the end of the five year plan that the company have set up.
Source: topspeed
