Lightweight sports cars race into Motor Show

Lotus will give its new Europa S Grand Tourer its Asia-Pacific debut at Darling Harbour on 26 October, while Mazda will unveil the folding-hardtop version of its perennially popular MX-5.

The Europa S is based upon Lotus' mainstay model, the Elise, but has been extensively redesigned to provide higher levels of comfort and refinement.

The new model has a larger boot and luggage compartment as well as a higher roofline and lower sills for easier driver and passenger access.

Unique exterior styling and interior luxuries such as leather upholstery, carpets and driver and passenger airbags complete the package.

Despite the extra size and features the Europa S maintains the reputation of Lotus for lightweight aluminium chassis construction, tipping the scales at just 995kg.

The low kerb weight combines with a torquey 263Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine to give the Europa S a supercar-like 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.5 seconds.

Mazda, meanwhile, has used its expertise in lightweight engineering to give the MX-5 the retractable hardtop treatment.

The folding metal roof on the MX-5 Roadster Coupe adds just 37kg to the low weight of the soft-top model, thereby keeping the MX-5's lithe responses unaffected.

Mazda says that when the MX-5 Roadster Coupe goes on sale at the Sydney motor show in October it will appeal to a new group of customers.

"The Roadster Coupe will expand the MX-5's fan base, appealing to those who have expressed the desire to enjoy open-top driving in even greater comfort," says Mazda Australia's managing director, Doug Dickson.

Sales of the MX-5 soft-top have exploded so far this year, rising almost 420 per cent over the same period of 2005. The MX-5 Roadster Coupe and Lotus Europa S will be on display at the Australian International Motor Show from 5pm, 26 October and every day until 5 November.