There’s extra to the way forward for Lotus than large electric SUVs. That’s what the British firm as soon as well-known for its light-weight sports activities vehicles desires you to imagine—and it’s why Lotus has revealed a hanging new supercar idea, known as Concept 1.
To be clear, this isn’t an electrical rebirth of the Lotus Esprit, the wedge-shaped ’70s icon pushed into the ocean by James Bond. No less than not but. Lotus aficionados will discover its identify isn’t “Sort” adopted by three numbers, as is idea automotive custom, nor does it start with an E, as virtually all manufacturing Lotuses do. As an alternative, it’s a manner of showcasing know-how that Lotus has deliberate for future vehicles and, simply perhaps, a touch of a supercar to come back.
Talking solely to WIRED, Lotus design vp Ben Payne stated: “We needed to recapture that sense of purity, however to not do a form of pastiche of an Esprit, as a result of that doesn’t make any sense. So it’s extra concerning the spirit of that automotive, the logic of the design and the way managed it’s within the execution.”
That sense of management is essential to all facets of the Concept 1. Lotus may have given it 2,000 horsepower to match its Evija flagship, however it settled at a extra affordable 987 hp (1,000 PS). It may have let its designers run wild with huge aero buildings, ground-effect followers, and different hypercar paraphernalia, or overdosed on idea automotive tropes like big touchscreen shows, synthetic intelligence, or a drone that takes off from the rear deck.
As an alternative, Lotus did what it’s best recognized for and, within the apocryphal phrases of founder Colin Chapman, it “simplified, then added lightness.”
Payne defined: “There’s been this era of maximalism, and other people having to do one-upmanship and go above, above, above. And I believe we’ve reached that time the place it plateaus in stylistic phrases, and in addition within the demonstration of tech.” He provides, “We’re not in a loopy numbers race with this automotive.”
Significantly Fast, Remarkably Mild
Though not loopy by 2024 EV requirements, Lotus continues to be pitching the Concept 1 as a significantly fast supercar. It’s aiming for a spread of 250 miles from a modest 70-kWh battery, an all-wheel-drive system with its rear motor bolted on to the suspension, motorsport-style, a 0 to 62-mph time of below 2.5 seconds, and a high pace of 200 mph. That’s all the standard supercar bins ticked, however it’s nothing to offer Rimac sleepless nights—or certainly get awkwardly near Lotus’ personal $2.3 million Evija.
Extra essential than outright energy is weight. Lotus says the all-carbon Concept 1 has a goal of sub-1,600 kg (3,500 lbs), or round 300 kg lower than the Evija. To additional drive the weight-saving level dwelling, the automotive has simply 10 “A-surface supplies”—these being the supplies you possibly can see and contact with out digging beneath the floor—in comparison with the trade common of 100, based on Lotus. The ten embrace cellulose-based glass fiber, chopped carbon fiber, and titanium, in addition to recycled types of glazing, polyester, rubber, and aluminum.
It’s additionally sensibly sized, so far as trendy supercars go, with a width of two,000 mm (78.7 inches), a size of 4,490 mm (176.8 inches), and a peak of 1,140 mm (44.9 inches). Add this relative sensibility to the ingeniously sensible doorways, three seats, and wonderful visibility, and it’s straightforward to think about what a manufacturing model may appear like.