AFTER weeks of teasers, the wraps have finally come off the all-new Lotus Elite.

The newcomer brings back a famous Lotus model name from the past, but this is very much a super sports machine for the 21 century with a very modern price tag expected to be in the region of £115,000.

Beneath the sleek and elegant two-plus-two bodywork, the new Elite incorporates some of the very latest technological innovations Lotus has to offer including a retractable hard top and the optional use of hybrid technology.  

A front, mid-positioned five litre, V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS drives the rear wheels via an automatic transmission and will power the new car from 0-60mph in little more than 3.5 seconds and on to a  mind-blowing top speed of 195mph.

Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus says: "It's a car that we are exceptionally proud of at Lotus and we truly believe that there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of styling and performance."

The public will get its first glimpse of the Elite at the Paris motor show next month, but it will be a long wait before anyone can actually get behind the wheel, for it is still very much under development and is not set for release until spring 2014.