New Lotus Evora IPS Races Into New York to be Unveiled at the East Side House Settlement Gala Preview of the 2011 New York International Auto Show

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 21, 2011, Lotus Cars Ltd. will host the 12th Annual East Side House Settlement Gala Preview of the 2011 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) at the Jacob K. Javits Center.  This glamorous evening will offer guests a private preview of the entire New York International Auto Show before it officially opens to the public, and an exclusive first look at the 2011 Lotus Evora S and the Lotus Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift), as they are unveiled for the first time in North America.  The event is chaired by Philip L. Yang, Joan P. Young, Chris LaSusa, and Elia Zois, and the benefit committee is chaired by Fe Fendi and Mariana Zois. Over 1,300 leaders from Wall Street, fashion, arts, sports, and Society will attend this high-octane evening to benefit East Side House Settlement, a leading social services agency that serves children and families in the South Bronx.

The Gala Preview includes cocktails, a private dinner for benefactors and a specially curated display of iconic Lotus cars from the brands' glorious past and new product exclusives.  Highlights include the North American debut of not one but two exciting additions to the award-winning Evora range, the supercharged Evora S and Evora with IPS.  The evening's dramatic pinnacle is the arrival of the Evora IPS, which will be driven in during dinner. This will mark the start of an exciting live auction of the sports car, which is otherwise unavailable for purchase in North America.  Potential buyers will be invited to bid for the chance to jump the long waiting list and be the first person in North America to own this stunning new sports car.

The Lotus Evora IPS is a new 6-speed paddle-shifted automatic version of the Evora and won't enter the US market until the fall of 2011. The IPS version allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes, with a seven-time-award winning technology.  The driver also has the option of selecting 'sport' mode, which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience, allowing the driver to truly feel each gearshift and be in complete control of the transmission.

In the cocktail area, Lotus will also display the exceptional photo exhibition, Metamorphosis, a unique collaboration between Lotus and the award winning French artist Gerard Rancinan. Metamorphosis is a selection of stunning images, which capture the essence of Lotus evolution.

"We are thrilled to partner with Lotus Cars Ltd. for the Gala Preview, which is a critical source of private funding for East Side House Settlement.  Proceeds will be essential toward benefitting the motivated students that we serve and in continuing our efforts to create long-lasting opportunities for the communities of the South Bronx with a focus on education and technology training as gateways out of poverty," said John Sanchez, Executive Director, East Side House Settlement.

Proceeds from the Gala will support East Side House Settlement's highly successful college preparation programs, which are crucial in promoting education and employment for the residents of the South Bronx. East Side House's three college access programs have provided financial aid counseling or financial assistance to the 354 students who were accepted to college over the past three years . The event is made possible through the generosity of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association and the New York International Auto Show, as part of a proud tradition of dedicated community service.

"This event is a celebration of our 12-year partnership with East Side House," said Candida Romanelli, Director, New York International Auto Show. "It is so important that we, as an industry, continue our efforts toward helping young people attain their goals through education and employment."

Dany Bahar, CEO, Lotus Cars Ltd., said, "This is a fantastic opportunity to be the first person to own the stunning Lotus Evora IPS, the latest variant of the multi-award winning Evora. We're also looking forward to getting feedback on the supercharged Evora S, this car should impress even the hardest to please sports car fan. Just as Lotus believes in delivering high-performance sports cars and an exhilarating driving experience, we believe passionately in giving back to the community. East Side House provides its students and their families the very best classroom prep and technology training for high school and beyond so we are very proud to partner with them for this special event. "

About East Side House Settlement: East Side House recognizes education and technology training as the gateways out of poverty for the children and families of the South Bronx. By helping to motivate students to graduate from high school and enroll in college, East Side House Settlement is a community resource for the poorest Congressional district in the United States. For more information please visit www.eastsidehouse.org.

SOURCE New York International Auto Show