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Thread: Lotus City Car Concept

  1. #1
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    Lotus City Car Concept

    And now for something completely different ...

    Making its debut at the Paris Motorshow 2010, the Lotus City Car concept expertly blends the latest Lotus Engineering series hybrid drivetrain technology with Lotus Design sophistication.
    The Lotus City Car concept provides a showcase for Lotus Engineering’s Electrical and Electronic Integration and Efficient Performance competencies, featuring an advanced series hybrid drivetrain with the Lotus Range Extender engine. This innovative concept car highlights the adaptability of the drivetrain technology and the exceptional capability of Lotus Design.

    Advanced hybrid technology from Lotus Engineering

    The City Car concept features a Lotus Engineering designed and integrated series hybrid drivetrain, with a single-speed transmission that delivers low emissions, optimised performance and electric-only operating range for city use.

    The drivetrain provides the vehicle with an EV range of 60 km to cover the majority of daily journeys operating as a plug-in EV, with the Range Extender engine enabling longer trips and alleviating “range anxiety”. Using Range Extender technology allows the vehicle to be specified with a smaller, lighter and less expensive battery pack than a regular EV.

    The 500 km full range and quick refuelling capability of the range extended City Car concept highlight the flexibility of this technology for use beyond the city environment. The City Car concept draws on Lotus Engineering’s established core competencies of Electrical and Electronic Integration and Efficient Performance to optimise the highly complex integration of the series hybrid drivetrain.

    With a total vehicle weight of less than 1400 kg and 240 Nm of torque instantly available, the Lotus City Car concept has class leading acceleration; 0 - 50 km/h in only 4.5 seconds and 0 - 100 km/h in 9 seconds, when operating as an EV under battery power. The top speed of the Lotus City Car concept is 170 km/h, with a charge sustaining top speed of 120 km/h and all this performance is achieved by a drivetrain that returns CO2 emissions of 60 g/km on the ECE-R101 test schedule.

    The 1.2 litre, 3 cylinder Lotus Range Extender engine, specifically designed for hybrid vehicle applications, drives a 240 Nm, 54 kW continuous (162 kW peak) generator. The Lotus City Car concept boasts zero emission capability when running in EV mode and in keeping with Lotus Engineering’s focus on sustainable transport, the Range Extender engine is designed for flex-fuel operation on ethanol and methanol as well as regular gasoline.

    Exclusive Lotus Design

    This stunning concept car created by Lotus Design brings Lotus exclusivity and brand character to a concept vehicle that revels in the city environment. It is beautifully sculptured, possessing a solid, purposeful sportscar stance, while offering features that maximise functionality in the city.
    With its chic body and overtly sporty nature, the Lotus City Car concept exudes style and sophistication. The distinctive Lotus mouth and diffuser give the car purpose, with the wide track, low ride height and big wheels reinforcing the sportcar styling.

    The design features an impressive use of space with very efficient packaging constrained within the compact vehicle dimensions. The Lotus City Car concept provides enhanced visibility for the driver and low emissions to optimise use in urban life.

    A dramatic glass roof is incorporated into the design to further increase visibility; under the glass roof the interior is upholstered in a luxuriant green and yellow tartan fabric and immaculately finished with a technologically advanced Lotus steering wheel. The high specification of the Lotus City Car concept is emphasised by the mix of carbon fibre, sumptuous leather and high quality equipment.

    Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus said, “Lotus Design has created a vehicle that condenses the essence of Lotus into a low carbon city car, with many inspired design touches. The progressive technology from Lotus Engineering gives the car an advanced drivetrain that can be operated in Zero Emissions EV mode or run on its flex-fuel engine.”

    Adding “As you would expect from Lotus, the City Car concept is an exquisitely designed, highly efficient vehicle with class leading performance - in this concept car, Lotus Design and Lotus Engineering have provided the perfect solution for life in the contemporary city environment.”
    Layout 3 door, 4 seater, rear wheel drive
    Drivetrain Series hybrid drivetrain
    Range Extender engine 35 kW, 1.2 litre, 3 cylinder engine
    Engine fuel Flex-fuel (methanol, ethanol and petrol)
    Battery Capacity 14.8 kWh
    Power/Torque 162 kW peak (54 kW continuous)/ 240 Nm
    0-50 km/h 4.5 seconds
    0-100 km/h 9.0 seconds
    Top speed 170 km/h
    Range 500 km
    EV range 60 km
    CO2 emissions 60 g/km on the ECE-R101 cycle
    Weight Less than 1,400 kg
    Transmission Single speed transmission
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
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    Lotus City Car Concept #2
    Attached Images Attached Images

  3. #3
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    This is 800lbs heavier than the Elise.

    Lotus is dead, aren't they Ferrer?
    "Kimi, can you improve on your [race] finish?"
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  4. #4
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    Yes very.

    Worse of all, though, is an Elan with a 4 litre V6.

    Surely that must be worse than a front wheel drive Elan...
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  5. #5
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    Lotus.

    WTF.

  6. #6
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    We've plainly entered the twilight zone.
    <cough> www.charginmahlazer.tumblr.com </cough>

  7. #7
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    While I can appreciate Lotus attempting to position themselves in a broader market, 2800lbs plus 36 mile EV range equals fail.
    Never own more cars than you can keep charged batteries in...

  8. #8
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    I'm pretty sure this should've been a Proton with "design input by Lotus" maybe thrown in somewhere.

    A Lotus though? They're overreaching here.

  9. #9
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    It's a Lotus because they want to sell the tech to people. If it was a Proton then it'd just be a Proton - this way they can get outside money to help develop it, then make a Proton version once it's been sufficiently improved.
    Life's too short to drive bad cars.

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    0-100 km/h in 9 seconds?? Was any lotus ever that slow?

  11. #11
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    The original Elite was 0-60 mph in 11.4 seconds and the original Seven with the Ford 1.2-liter side-valve engine (a whole 40 bhp!) was about 16 seconds.
    Life's too short to drive bad cars.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by csl177 View Post
    While I can appreciate Lotus attempting to position themselves in a broader market, 2800lbs plus 36 mile EV range equals fail.
    Perfect for town commuter/shopping use though.
    No point carrying a few ton of battery around so you can "go" 200 miles if all you do is 5
    A not unreasonable solution especially as it hits the UK tax-brackets and so will be cheap to tax and not incur any London congestion charges me ? cynical ??
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  13. #13
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    I think there was also talk of it lowering the average Co2 Emissions for the Lotus Range?
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  14. #14
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    I'm sure this can be justified in many many ways, but fact remains it's an econobox. A Lotus econobox.

    If they want to lower Co2 emissions and/ or display new tech to potential buyers, why not do so with something more Lotus-like? Like a Tesla.
    Names starting with an 'E' seems to be in vogue with Lotus so I'm sure an all-electric Elise called... err... Electric wouldn't be too hard, would it?

    I'd even be willing to tolerate an Elise based on a Tesla based on an Elise, but this city runabout? Lotus is indeed dead.

  15. #15
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    All electric just doesn't hack it yet and never will till we have renewable electric energy production

    I'm pleased Lotus will not ruin sports cars with half-arsed attempts at "eco" !!
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

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