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Future Plans From 'Across The Pond'.
Re: Aug. Issue of CAR Magazine - Lotus
is laying the groundwork for its Esprit repacement as well as a new mid-engined two seater to fit between the current Elise and new Esprit. They're
unlikely to arrive before mid-2007. Sources say the flagship will remain true to the Esprit's lightweight mid-engined blueprint and should cost 50,000 lbs. - close to the outgoing Esprit. No word on engines yet, but Lotus is scouting about and looking at overhauling its 3.5-litre flat-crank V8. The second model will take a lot from the aborted M250 show car unveiled in 2001. That slinky mid-engined two seat coupe was canned because it wasn't engineered for the U.S. - but both these new Lotuses will be global players.
Where: Hethel, Norfolk
Founded: 1952
Staff: 1,450 in UK, 1,550 Worldwide
Dealers: 23 in UK, 140 Worldwide
Production in 2003: 1,753 Lotuses, 120 Vauxhall VX220's.
Models: Elise, Exige
Turnover In '03': 154.3M lbs.
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