Lotus Eterne

Lotus made a step forward at this year’s Paris Auto Show with the unveiling of the company’s first hybrid four door super saloon. Called Eterne, the new model will go on sale in early 2015 and will be priced at £120,000 (around $190,000 at the current rates). The 2015 Eterne’s powertrain will combine a 5,0 liter V8 engine with a hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS. The total output of 620 HP and 720 NM of torque will help the Eterne to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds and to hit a top speed of 195 mph. "The Eterne is sensational to look and as with the rest of the range it also over delivers in all other aspects as well. Similar to the Elite, it’s a car of perfect contradictions, it’s compact yet spacious, high performing yet low emitting, relative lightweight yet still reassuringly solid. We truly believe that there is a market for the Eterne, there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of design, capacity and performance. The biggest difference between the Eterne and it’s class competitors is that it’s not an evolution of an existing two-door model, it’s a deliberate and considered stand-alone creation. It’s the ultimate four door sports car." Enter the Eterne, the four door super saloon from Lotus. If the Elite is elegance incarnate then the Eterne is elegance redefined.

2015 Lotus Eterne - 2010 Paris Auto Show

The Eterne is a true four door, four seater sports GT. It’s the ultimate expression of refined style, sophistication and grace. But wait. An elegant, graceful sports car? Surely not. A sports car by definition can’t be graceful. Powerful, exciting, aggressive yes, but not graceful. Yet here it is, the ultimate paradox - the Eterne. Power and grace, performance and elegance, beauty and strength all in one stunning package. With a 5.0 litre pressure charged V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS the Eterne is aiming for best in class performance and efficiency. In keeping with the rest of the new line-up, the Eterne will benefit from hybrid technology. Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “The Eterne is sensational to look and as with the rest of the range it also over delivers in all other aspects as well. Similar to the Elite, it’s a car of perfect contradictions, it’s compact yet spacious, high performing yet low emitting, relative lightweight yet still reassuringly solid.” “We truly believe that there is a market for the Eterne, there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of design, capacity and performance. The biggest difference between the Eterne and it’s class competitors is that it’s not an evolution of an existing two-door model, it’s a deliberate and considered stand-alone creation. It’s the ultimate four door sports car.”

Specification of Eterne are Layout 4 seater, front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive is optional. Engine Petrol, hybrid optional. Hybrid Technology Hybrid gearbox with integrated electric motors and KERS. Cylinder V8. Capacity 5.0 litre. Power/Torque 620 PS / 720 Nm. Rev limit 8,500 rpm. 0-100 km/h 4.0 seconds. Top speed 315 km/h. CO2 approx (CO2/km) 220 g/km**. Weight 1,800 kg. Seats 4. Transmission Full Hybrid transmission. Drive RWD, AWD optional. Start of production Early 2015. Enters the market Spring 2015. Price indication Circa £120,000.