Car Promises That Weren't Kept

Ever wonder what happened to events in the auto industry that were supposed to occur but didn't? You might have seen a news story on a site like ours of a promise by an automaker that sounded legitimate with lots of potential, but in the end a decision was made and it never happened. We look back at a few from the past decade.

Lotus' New Lineup
Think back to November 2010, when Lotus unleashed its soon-to-come lineup into the lower halls of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The niche automaker had four near-production sports cars — the Elite, Esprit, Elan and Elise — plus a four-door concept called the Eterne. All five came fresh from the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The reception in America was phenomenal; Lotus even slapped model years as early as 2013 on some of them.

Turns out we were California dreamin'.

Detroit Electric SP:01: First Look

• Competitors: Pre-owned Tesla Roadster, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive
• Looks like: A lightly restyled Lotus Exige (basically a Tesla Roadster or Hennessy Venom GT)
• Drivetrain: Mid-mounted 201-horsepower electric motor, 37-kwh lithium-ion battery pack; choice of four- or five-speed manual or two-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Late 2013 (so they say)
• MSRP: $135,000

A new company using an old name has unveiled an extraordinary state-of-the-art electric sports car in the heart of the American auto industry. Detroit Electric, an electric-vehicle company that ran from 1906 through 1939 and built 13,000 cars well before anyone else was making EVs, has been reborn in the Motor City.

It intends to produce the SP:01 electric sports car using a Lotus Exige platform modified to accept an electric powertrain. Sound familiar? It should; that's the formula that created the original Tesla Roadster. But the Detroit Electric people say they have improved upon Tesla's designs, and the specs are indeed impressive.

2013 Lotus Evora at Roebling Road Raceway: Photo Gallery

Although the 2013 Lotus Evora somewhat resembles the sporty Exige and Elise — and maybe a racecar — make no mistake: It's the automaker's idea of a "daily driver." Cars.com reviewers had their day driving the Evora, the only model-year 2013 Lotus available on U.S. soil, at Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Ga. The sports coupe is larger, heavier and more expensive (starting at nearly $70,000), with bigger doors, narrowed door sills and a higher seating position. A 3.5-liter V-6 sends 276 horsepower to this Porsche 911 peer's 19-inch rear wheels. Check out the gallery below.

Recall Alert: 2007-08 Lotus Elise and Exige

Lotus is recalling 451 model-year 2007-08 versions of the Exige and Elise sports cars due to problems with the oil cooler line, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is an expansion of an earlier recall.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from Dec. 1, 2006, through Oct. 31, 2007 (check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb), and have an oil cooler line that could become detached. If this happens, oil could be sprayed in the engine compartment and on the tires, increasing the risk of a fire and a crash.

Lotus will start notifying owners on March 4, 2013, and dealers will inspect and replace the affected parts for free. Owners can call Lotus at 800-245-6887 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more information.

Related
Research the Lotus Exige
Research the Lotus Elise
Check out Other Recalls

James Bond Cars You Can Afford

The newest James Bond movie, "Skyfall," hits theaters Nov. 9 and marks 50 years of Bond coolness in motion pictures. The epitome of James Bond impersonation goes to a car collector in Ohio who dropped $4.6 million for the actual 1964 Aston Martin DB5 movie car driven by Sean Connery in "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball." The rest of us have to settle for scale models of the quintessential spymobile, as even DB5s not driven by 007 are highly collectable and worth nearly half a million dollars in pristine condition.

But there's hope yet. After 50 years on the big screen, Bond has piloted countless spy, getaway and chase cars. They may not be as cool as a vintage Aston Martin, but there are affordable Bond cars available to attain ultimate Bond nerdom.

Recall Alert: 2011 Lotus Evora

Lotus is recalling 80 model-year 2011 versions of the Evora coupe due to problems with the engine oil feed pipe, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from February through September 2011 (check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb) and use an engine oil feed pipe that could rupture. This could lead to a fire.

Lotus has not yet provided NHTSA with an owner notification schedule, but dealers will replace the oil feed pipe for free. Owners can call Lotus at 800-245-6887 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Related
Research the Lotus Evora
More Safety News on Cars.com
Check out Other Recalls

Recall Alert: 2005-2006 Lotus Elise and Exige

Lotus is recalling 5,037 2005-06 Elise and Exige cars because the oil cooler line may become detached, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles — Lotus says approximately 75% of the cars it’s recalling have this defect — the oil cooler line can become crimped and detach, spraying oil on the tires and increasing the risk of a crash. The oil also could spray on the engine compartment, causing an engine fire.

Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. For more info, owners can call Lotus at 800-245-6887 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2011 Lotus Evora Video

The Lotus Evora is an attempt by the British boutique carmaker to offer something that’s accessible to a larger cadre of folks. On paper, the four-seat coupe sounds more accommodating, but it’s not quite ready to compete with the Porsche 911 or Jaguar XK, according to Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek. The backseat isn’t useful, even to children, and the car would prove to be a challenging daily driver, overall. Watch the video to find out why.

2011|Lotus|Evora

Lotus Shows Future Lineup in L.A.

It would be impressive for a Toyota or a GM to show five all-new cars at a single auto show. For an exotic British automaker whose U.S. sales in 2009 amounted to some 600 cars, it’s virtually unprecedented. But that’s exactly what Lotus did, bringing the five models it unveiled at the Paris Motor Show to Los Angeles. The cars – three two-door sports cars, a hardtop convertible and a sedan concept – represent Lotus’ effort to push its lineup from five-figure performance models into six-figure exotic cars by 2015.

We had a ringside spot to all the action. KISS singer Paul Stanley took the wraps off the Elite – a 600-plus-horsepower hardtop convertible that Lotus calls its “ultimate gentleman’s car.” Sharon Stone unveiled the Esprit, a resurrection of the brand’s original V-8 supercar. Billy Baldwin unveiled the V-6 Elan, a nameplate last built in the 1990s. Lotus also had a redesigned Elise, set to arrive around 2015, as well as a four-door Eterne concept.

All five were in early form, as just about anything this far off might be. The gang represents a shapely direction one might expect, given the cars that came before the current Elise and Exige. Our favorites were the new Elise and Elite, as both cars’ proportions benefit from minimal front overhang.

Words don’t do the lineup justice. Check out the photos below and let us know what you think. We snapped the Elite, Esprit, Elan and Elise.

2015 Lotus Elise Concept at 2010 Paris Motor Show

• Looks like: A miniature Lotus Esprit Concept
• Defining characteristics: An affordable and wholesome super-handler
• Ridiculous features: Temperature controls on the driver-side door handle 
• Chance of being mass-produced: Estimated release in spring 2015 

Along with all the hoopla surrounding Lotus’ product expansion, the carmaker hasn’t forgotten about its most affordable entry, the Elise. While it’s still four years off, the Elise will remain a fuel-efficient and affordable option from Lotus.

The 2015 model will still be a two-seat, midengine design and remain relatively lightweight. Judging from Lotus’ specifications, the new Elise will weigh in at around 2,400 pounds, 400 pounds heavier than the current model.

The extra weight shouldn’t affect gas mileage, though. The 315-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder will feature stop/start technology, which Lotus promises will give the Elise class-leading power and fuel economy. The 2010 Elise achieves 21/27 mpg city/ highway. A hybrid variant will also be available.