The World's Most Beautiful Cars

Now that the new Lotus Evora has been successfully launched in Europe, it's time to start delivering the new model to U.S. Lotus dealers. Production of U.S.-spec cars will be starting shortly so Lotus has finally defined a price point for the car beginning at $73,200. For that price you get the 276-hp Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 and a 6-speed gearbox.

Unlike the minimalist Elise and Exige, the Evora is fully trimmed out in a fashion someone might expect of a $73,200 car, including hand-stitched leather from Muirhead and aluminum trim that hints at the structure under the plastic skin. The tiller is adjustable for reach and rake, which, along with the larger size of the car, should make getting in and out much easier than in the Exige. Final EPA numbers haven't been published yet, but the Evora is expected to top 30 mpg on the highway while the 0-60 time will be just 4.9 seconds.

If you haven't yet seen the Evora in person, Lotus has just started a 44-city dealer open house tour around the U.S. The full schedule is in the press release after the jump.

Volkswagen has ended production of the Golf Mk I model in South Africa and announced that a limited edition of 1,000 Citi Mk1's (based on the Golf I) will be made as a commemorative series.

The Golf I was introduced in South Africa in 1978. In 1984 the Citi model, based on the Golf Mk I, went into production at VW's plant in Uitenhage as an entry-level vehicle slotted beneath the subsequent generations of the ever-growing Golf model. 377,484 Citi's have been produced in South Africa over the last 25 years.

The limited edition Citi Mk1 will be fitted with a 1.6 liter petrol/gasoline engine with 74kW/100 hp. It will come in only two colors, black and shadow blue metallic. Each unit will carry its series number on the dashboard and on the Mk1 logo on the exterior. The Citi Mk1 will sell for R113,500 (10,280 euros).

It has been strongly rumored that the Citi will be replaced by the 2009 VW Gol - a model Volkswagen produces in Brazil.

See press release for further Citi Golf Mk1 Limited Edition details.