In an effort to make the Eagle more commuter-friendly, Lotus has equipped the coupe with enough interior amenities to make an Elise owner cry foul. Inside the leather-lined cabin, passengers get to enjoy an Alpine stereo equipped with a 7-inch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, and an iPod connection, along with storage bins, cupholders, air conditioning, and blue LED lighting. Traction control and tire-pressure monitoring are included in the package, and the added length has allowed Lotus to fit an extra set of seats only suitable for small children and double-jointed circus performers. Thankfully, Lotus will be offering a seat-delete option further down the road.
Prototypes were spotted at the Nurburgring over the last several months, and according to Lotus, the Eagle is considerably faster than the Elise around the circuit and more planted at speed than the Exige. Lotus plans to produce 2,000 coupes each year and a convertible variant and high-performance version is already in the works.
Pricing and performance stats won't be released until the production model debuts early next year, but expect a 0-60 time of under five seconds, a 160mph top speed, and a new name that continues the Lotus tradition of E-themed monikers.
We go Crazy for the Aygo Crazy
For an automaker largely devoid of performance offerings, the Aygo Crazy is proof that a few rabid piston heads still live within the bowels of Toyota HQ.
Based off the diminutive hatch sold in Europe and Japan, the Aygo Crazy concept lives up to its name, dispatching the abysmal 67bhp, 1.0L engine that usually resides up front in favor of a rear-mounted, 197bhp, turbocharged 2ZZ. With only 2,200 pounds weighing the one-off down, the Crazy will run to 60 in under six seconds before topping off at an untested 127 mph.
The stripped city car benefits from a bespoke widebody kit, carbon-fiber rear wing, six-point rollcage and makes due without power steering, ABS or any form of electronic intervention. Wrapped in 225/45/17 Goodyear gumballs, 17-inch wheels hide suspension bits pilfered from the last generation MR2 Roadster, with MacPherson struts at all four corners and adjustable TEIN dampers keeping this admittedly insane ride planted at speed.
Toyota estimated that it spent upwards of $200,000 building the Aygo Crazy concept, so unless you've got a sick sense of humor, a penchant for snap oversteer, and an unhealthy line of credit, don't expect to order one at your local dealer.
Rumors&Lies
* It's official. Daryl Alison took delivery of the very first Nissan GT-R sold (officially) in the U.S. at 12:01 a.m. on July 7. The Nissan enthusiast and Z-car aficionado was joined by automaker execs and notorious hot-shoe, Steve Millen, in a late night ceremony at a dealership in Universal City, California. Hey Daryl, we've got a line on a nice set of Rays and a cat-back exhaust if you're interested.
* Infiniti is in the process of developing a new rear-wheel-drive coupe to slot in below the G35. A concept version is expected to debut within the next year utilizing the new 370Z's shortened platform. A 2.5L V-6 is rumored to power the coupe and expect the 3.7L V-6 currently found underhood of the G37 to migrate over to the G-series sedan sometime next year.