The updated 2016 Lotus Evora 400 has yet to cross the pond to the U.S., but Lotus->ke49 has already confirmed a roadster version is also underway. Speaking to Automotive News, Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales said Lotus will bring a drop-top version of the Evora 400 to the U.S. six months after the coupe->ke141 launches on this side of the Atlantic.

Since the newly introduced Evora 400 will arrive in U.S. dealerships in December 2015, it's safe to assume the roadster->ke1418 will hit these shores by June 2016.

"The roadster is the quintessential U.S. car. We are betting heavily on Florida and California with it," said Gales, who expects U.S. demand for the open-top Evora 400 to match that for the coupe. That's about 500 units a year for each version.

Gales went on to confirm that the roadster will feature a two-piece, Targa-style carbon-fiber roof that can be stowed behind the seats. Though he refrained from disclosing other details, it's safe to assume the roadster will be identical to the coupe from the top down, including the engine. As a reminder, the Evora 400's supercharged, 3.5-liter V-6 is good for 400 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque and pushes the coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and up to a top speed of 186 mph.

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Why it matters

What matters here is that Lotus returns to the U.S. with not one, but two sports cars.->ke506 Sure, these vehicles are practically identical save for the roof, but until Lotus brings more models to the U.S., the prospect of having a roadster alongside the Evora 400 is great news. Especially considering Lotus was forced to withdraw the previous Evora after the 2014 model year for failing to meet U.S. safety regulations.

2016 Lotus Evora 400

Find out more about the new Lotus Evora 400 in our full review here.