Lotus EliteNow that Lotus has unveiled its new design direction at the Paris Auto Show, the British manufacturer is ready to dish out a serving of the buffet they have prepared.The specific model that is to serve as an appetizer to whet our appetites is a drop top version of the Lotus Elite sports car set to compete with models like the Ferrari California, Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster, and Aston Martin DB9 Volante.The car is a long way away from becoming a prototype, but it is already rumored that the roof will be made of a combination of metal and glass. This will allow lots of light to enter the cabin when the hood is in place, but will facilitate keeping the overall weight down. The top will be fully electric and will tuck into a space behind the rear passenger seats.Like with the coupe version, the future roadster will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces around 542 HP with a 0-60 mph time of around 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph. An R version will develop an amazing 612 HP.The new model will be priced at £115,000 ($180,000 at the current exchange rates) and should go on sale in 2014.
