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Lotus

DRB-Hicom signs off on new Lotus funding

Lotus Esprit

The future of Lotus Cars is brighter today thanks to word coming through that parent company DRB-Hicom has agreed to a new three-year plan. While the revised program isn’t quite as lofty as the five-model Bahar bonanza, DRB-Hicom says it will base its program around the Exige, Evora and Elise.

Hinting that the worst of the company’s financial woes are in the past, DRB-Hicom managing director, Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil, told Malaysian media: “We have cleaned up and we are moving ahead.

“We are coming out with the variants based on existing products—variants with improved technology, improved performance, improved quality as well as improved costing.”

Sales for Lotus have also improved markedly on 2012 numbers which saw a paltry 80 cars sold in the entire year. In 2013 a total of 70 cars were sold to the end of May. Lotus is now expecting to build up to 40 cars per month with up to 85% set for export.

The all-new Esprit, pictured above, has not been given a green light just yet, but it was close to reaching sign-off before DRB-Hicom took control of Lotus. It’s been speculated that under the right circumstances the project could be revived without breaking the budget.

[Source: Autocar]

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Lotus Motor Shows

Paris 2010: Lotus Esprit

Lotus Esprit

“The icon is back.” That’s how Lotus has titled their press release for the new Esprit. It’s only back in concept form right now, but Lotus says the car will be on sale in 2013. The new aggressive lines and sharp edges make a bold statement and position the Esprit right in the heart of supercar territory. A fact mentioned many times in the promo video below.

The Esprit will be powered by a 5.0 litre V8 producing an inspiring peak power figure of 620PS (456kW) and a very encouraging 720Nm of torque. Tipping the scales at 1450kg (roughly the same as a Golf R) the Esprit rockets to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 330km/h.

Lotus CEO, Dany Bahar, is pumped, “Not only does the Esprit look incredible but it has the performance to match. We’ve stuck to the Lotus core values of performance through lightweight and teamed them with future technology and exceptional engineering to ensure that the Esprit will be the leader of the pack. The design is aggressive, you have to see it to appreciate how low and wide the proportions are but it still retains a level of dignity, of class and most of all exclusivity. I’m very proud of this car.”

More pics, video and official press release are available after the break.