The Elite’s 5.0-liter V-8 is based on the mill in the Lexus IS F, but it has been reworked and force-fed—although whether that means turbo- or supercharged remains to be seen—with swagger-friendly results: 542 hp at 8000 rpm in the standard car, 612 at 8000 in the R-Spec trim. Both will come only with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which recent patent filings suggest was developed in-house. A hybrid model will sit atop the range. Lotus hasn’t released details about the gas/electric system, but the setup likely pulls some technology from the company's 414E hybrid concept shown at last year's Geneva auto show. A steering-wheel-mounted “push to pass” button will allow drivers to briefly boost power, much like the KERS systems deployed in F1 for the 2009 season. Lotus estimates that the Elite will run to 62 mph in as few as 3.5 seconds and that the high-po version should reach a top speed of 196 mph.
