SOME of the sleekest British sports cars around were unveiled at Lipscomb’s launch weekend for its much-anticipated new dealership in Aylesford, writes .

The firm is operating from a temporary facility at its site in Forstal Road, which is set to house an £8million showroom for both Volvo and Lotus opening in November. With wheels firmly in motion for the project, there has already been strong interest in its high-octane stock.

There is a good-quality selection of used Lotuses on the forecourt ranging from an Elise at just over £11,000 to a fantastic example of one of the last of the great Esprit models.

One of its rising stars is the striking new Lotus Elise S, 1.8 litre two seater roadster.

It is billed as the Norfolk-based marque’s most affordable model to date at a highly-competitive £23,995. After a brief spin in one I was far from disappointed. Its handling was razor sharp and it had plenty of pace to boot.

Managing director of Lipscomb, Peter Barnes, believed there was a strong demand for its latest arrival and revealed that the site was ahead of schedule.

He said: "We have already sold our first cars and there has been a lot of interest. We were at the South East Lotus Owners Club track day at Brands Hatch recently and it was good to meet a lot of people who drive these cars. They attract a lot of die-hard enthusiasts as they are fine sports cars.

"This site is a big investment for Lotus and we are excited to be involved with it. In all we will be doubling the size of our staff to a total of around 55 and we are in this for the long haul."

For details see www.lipscomb.co.uk or telephone 0845 338 9909.