There’s extra to the way forward for Lotus than massive electrical SUVs. That’s what the British firm as soon as well-known for its light-weight sports activities automobiles desires you to consider—and it’s why Lotus has revealed a putting new supercar idea, referred to as Idea 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. Not less than not but. Lotus aficionados will discover its title isn’t “Type” adopted by three numbers, as is idea automobile custom, nor does it start with an E, as nearly all manufacturing Lotuses do. As a substitute, it’s a manner of showcasing expertise that Lotus has deliberate for future automobiles and, simply perhaps, a touch of a supercar to return.
Talking solely to WIRED, Lotus design vp Ben Payne stated: “We wanted to recapture that sense of purity, but not to do a kind of pastiche of an Esprit, because that doesn’t make any sense. So it’s more about the spirit of that car, the logic of the design and how controlled it is in the execution.”
That sense of management is essential to all facets of the Idea 1. Lotus may have given it 2,000 horsepower to match its Evija flagship, but it surely settled at a extra cheap 987 hp (1,000 PS). It may have let its designers run wild with huge aero constructions, ground-effect followers, and different hypercar paraphernalia, or overdosed on idea automobile tropes like big touchscreen shows, synthetic intelligence, or a drone that takes off from the rear deck.
As a substitute, 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 period of maximalism, and people having to do one-upmanship and go above, above, above. And I think we’ve reached that point where it plateaus in stylistic terms, and also in the demonstration of tech.” He provides, “We’re not in a crazy numbers race with this car.”
Severely Fast, Remarkably Gentle
Though not loopy by 2024 EV requirements, Lotus continues to be pitching the Idea 1 as a critically fast supercar. It’s aiming for a variety 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 underneath 2.5 seconds, and a high velocity of 200 mph. That’s all the standard supercar packing containers ticked, but it surely’s nothing to provide 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 Idea 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 automobile has simply 10 “A-surface materials”—these being the supplies you possibly can see and contact with out digging beneath the floor—in comparison with the business 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 top of 1,140 mm (44.9 inches). Add this relative sensibility to the ingeniously sensible doorways, three seats, and glorious visibility, and it’s simple to think about what a manufacturing model may appear to be.
