Shown to us six weeks prior to the show as a work-in-progress clay model at Lotus headquarters near Hethel, England, here’s what we know regarding this swoopy, four-seat four-door: Like all recent Lotus cars, as well as the newly announced stuff, the Eterne will draw on the Toyota/Lexus powertrain arsenal for motive force. For the Eterne, that means a turbo- or supercharged (Lotus isn’t clear which) 5.0-liter V-8 rated for 612 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual.
The Eterne will be available with all-wheel drive, and there is also a hybrid version in the product plan. The hybrid system will feature an electric motor/generator sandwiched between the engine and transmission, according to Lotus. Hybrid performance details were not forthcoming, nor were chassis dimensions, although Lotus did reveal that the car will share structural elements with the Elite 2+2 coupe.
