The new Lotus Europa S, whose production has just been announced, is intended as a more practical (and more comfortable) alternative to the company's bare-bones Elise and Exige sports cars.
It follows the Lotus philosophy of performance through light weight, tipping the scales at only 995kg through the use of advanced high-tech materials - and will be in South Africa around the middle of 2006.
The car has an extruded and bonded aluminium chassis, composite body panels and a composite energy-absorbing front crash structure.
There's also a bigger boot and easier cabin access than the Elise, thanks to lower chassis sides and a higher roof. Full leather interior, driver and passenger crash bags and carpets will all be standard.
It's not a derivative of the Elise/ Exige series, which carry the Lotus type number 111; the Europa S has been allocated type number 121.
Lotus head of product Tony Shute said from England: "The Europa S is a sophisticated GT car that complements our existing range.
"The 'Grand Tourer' concept provides the driver with a refined environment incorporating innovative styling features without compromising the performance and handling with which Lotus is synonymous."
The Europa - a longstanding name with the brand and one which put thousands of people into performance cars during the 1960's and 1970's - has a two-litre turbo engine producing a claimed 149kW at 5400rpm and 263Nm at 4200rpm.
Lotus says it develops about 90 percent of that at only 2000rpm, propelling the car from 0-100km/h in about 5.5sec and on to 160km/h (the old 100mph) after 14 seconds.
Top speed is about 225km/h and the car's power-to weight ratio is 150kW/ton.
Design chief Russell Carr said the form of a design should reflect the spirit of the car.
"The track-focused personality of the Exige is characterised by shrink-wrapped athletic forms concentrating on agility and power," he said, "but the Europa S has a more fluid, understated language reflecting its more sophisticated persona."
Lotus managing director Clive Dopson explained the reasoning behind the introduction of a GT car: "The Europa S is an important addition to the range. It re-affirms our position in the sports car market and allows Lotus to extend its product appeal beyond our traditional customer base."
- Production of the Lotus Europa S is scheduled to begin at the Lotus plant in Hethel, England in July 2006. It will go on sale worldwide in the third quarter of the year at about £33 000 (R360 000). SA prices will be announced closer to that time.