It's the lead-up to the Paris Motor Show, and the first pictures of what promises to be one of the event's stars have been revealed. The Lotus Elite is packed with the latest technological innovations - the retractable hard top version will be a Lotus first, and the  optional use of hybrid technology with KERS will be big sellers when the car hits the market in 2014.  

Dany  Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus said: 'There’s no denying that the Elite is  breathtakingly beautiful to look at but it’s so much more than that, it’s  a car that over delivers in all other aspects as well. One could say it’s  a car of perfect contradictions, it’s compact yet spacious, high  performing yet low emitting, lightweight yet still reassuringly solid.  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.   

'Make  no mistake, there’s a definite market requirement for the Elite – it’s the  ultimate sports car feel with comfort and space. There will always be  those who believe that Lotus should stick to small sports cars but we  didn’t take the decision to design something like the Elite lightly, it’s  based on months of careful research and planning. It’s worth noting this  sector has been very successful for us in the past and now the Elite  raises the benchmark higher still.' 

Set  for release in spring 2014, this is an innovative, exciting GT that will  set a new benchmark in design, performance and emissions. A front-mid engind 5-litre V8 engine will deliver up to 600bhp-plus, giving an estimated 0-60mph time of 3.5 to 3.7 seconds.