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Extended Production for Lotus Evora

The British manufacturer has given a five year stay of execution for the new Lotus Evora after Dany Bahar, the Chief Executive of Lotus, has revealed the Norfolk-based company’s radical plans. Bahar confirmed that the new Elan has been delayed until 2017, thus extending the life of the current Evora.

Other changes in the tweaked five-year plan include confirmation that Lotus will build it’s own 570hp 4.8-liter V8 engine at Hethel to power the new Esprit, planned to go into production on 2013. The Chief executive of Lotus has also confirmed, according to Autocar.co.uk, that the Lotus Proton city car that will be called Ethos is due to enter production, selling as a low-volume Lotus badged luxury car in Europe and a more affordable Proton in Asian markets. Bahar didn’t mentioned whether the car was a pure battery model or a hybrid.

The 4.8-liter powerplant will be a brand new V8 that will be engineered by the Lotus Engineering division. It will run for the first time this August and weighs just 170kg, significantly lighter than the Toyota unit. Also, the engine is 40% smaller that the previous Toyota motor. Lotus is testing a four cylinder engine of 2.0 to 2.5-liter displacement that are based on one cylinder bank of the V8, that could be installed on a 250hp hybridised Elise replacement until 2015.

Lotus has also made plans for opening an improved test track at Hethel. Nigel Mansell will be joining the program, due to the fact that it will be an F1 suitable test track.
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