Thousands of pounds have been offered for images and information on the car, but it is not until now that the British manufacturer has publicly released a picture.With no official name yet, the car has been dubbed "Project Eagle" and looks set to go on sale in 2009.
The model will be the first to be released by the Norwich-based company since the iconic Elise in 1995.
Lotus chief executive Mike Kimberley said: "This is the biggest milestone Lotus has achieved since the Elise was born 13 years ago."
The Eagle comes with a price tag of £60,000 and, unlike a traditional two-seater sports car, has been designed to seat four.
It is capable of speeds of up to 160mph and can reach 0-60mph in less than five seconds.