Lotus Reveals Venza-based Concept

Here’s Lotus at it again. By “it” we mean experimenting on lightweightedness. There’s no doubt that Lotus has come up with wondrous cars thanks to their belief in lightweightedness.

Now check out how they plan to make even passenger cars lightweight. This here’s a lightweight concept based on the Toyota Venza. Keep in mind that the Venza’s a mid-sized crossover.

The Lotus engineers aims to reduce the total weight of the car by 38% while keeping impact on costs at +3% by 2020. Less weight on the car increases its power-to-weight ratio thus decreasing engine load making it more efficient. Lotus claims that it can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 23%.

Part of the lightweight strategy is to use just 211 parts and use a mix of lightweight materials such as aluminum, magnesium, composite, and steel compared to the Venza’s pure steel construction.

Lotus Evora Carbon

So Lotus is coming up with variants of the Evora. We’ve already heard about the 414E Hybrid that Lotus is showcasing at the Geneva show. Alongside the hybrid, Geneva motor show audiences will also be able to check out this souped up Evora – the Lotus Evora Carbon.

The Evora Carbon derives much of its features from the Evora race car that competed in the GT4 series.

The car features a white water-based pearlescent paint that provides great contrast with the carbon-fiber panels. The car sits atop 19-inch alloys with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires.The diffuser and splitter are both made of carbon fiber.

While the 414E Hybrid might just remain a concept car, the Evora Carbon might just make it as a production model.

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid Concept

Lotus seems like they’re on a roll building the much-acclaimed Lotus Evora and even going back to top-tier motorsport competition in Formula One. Now, Lotus has a slew of technology that they want to showcase.

Meet the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid concept – a showcase of Lotus’ current developments in hybrid technology.

Powering the car are two electric motors driving each of the rear wheels. Each of the motors create a massive 207 (204) hp (hence the 414) that allow the car to zoom to 60 mph from standstill in sub-4 seconds.

The system will also make use of a 1.2L range extender engine that we’ve already seen in other Lotus hybrid concepts allowing the car to go 300 miles. On pure juice, the car is only capable of going 35 miles.

Lotus has been on making their cars quite efficient. Their belief in lightweightedness has given fruit not only to great performance but to great efficiency as well. Their foray into hybrids could really be the start of a new generation of agile and efficient cars.

Proton Concept Packs Lotus Hybrid Drivetrain

It’s great to see Malaysian automaker Proton get into the hybrid business. Besides, they do now own Lotus and a Formula One team. Shame, really, if they don’t come out with better technologies.

This here is Lotus’ Proton concept car which will be showcased at the upcoming Geneva motor show come March. The car is set to showcase the “advanced” hybrid powertrain that Lotus has been working on.

The drivetrain features a 1.2L 3-cylinder Lotus range extender engine complementing an electrical drive system. Unlike current hybrids, the electrical drive system will be the one powering the car and it’s mated to a single-speed transmission.

The internal combustion engine will only kick in to provide an extended range once the battery power is depleted. The batteries are charged by the range extender engine or by plugging to a regular household outlet.

Lotus Elise Gets a Facelift

When it comes to agility, the Lotus Elise can give many cars twice its price a real trashing. This here’s the new facelifted Elise. The wasp not only gets improved styling, it’s also greener.

Powering the car is a range of choices that include a new 1.6L engine for the S model, a 1.8L for the R model that dishes out 192 bhp for the R model and the supercharged version of the 1.8L for the SC model that dishes our 217 bhp. A six-speed close-ration gearbox comes standard across models.

The car still mainatins its lightweightedness so all that power in a light body promises the same agility that the Elise has been known for.

The facelift includes a new front bumper, splitter and clasmshell. The front light cluster’s also repositioned to give the car some daytime running LEDs. The back gets a new bumper and engine cover.

Options include alloy wheels and cruise control.

Formula 1: Lotus F1 Racer Unveiled

The Lotus comeback is nearing its completion. All it has to do is to make it to the starting grid and across the starting line.

Just less than half a year since Lotus was awarded its position, Lotus F1 is now ready to race. The car sports the famed green and yellow livery – a proud reference to the years of Lotus racing.

Team principal Tony Fernandes and technical director Mike Gascoyne are both hopeful that the team will be a great revival of the Lotus tradition.

Piloting the Lotus car are experienced drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen.

The car was unveiled at the Royal Horticultural Hall in front of 400 people.

Source: Autocar