There’s more to Lotus’ future than just big electric SUVs. That’s what the British company once famous for its lightweight sports cars wants you to believe, and it’s why Lotus has unveiled a stunning new supercar concept called Theory 1.
To be clear, this is not an electric revival of the Lotus Esprit, the wedge-shaped icon of the ’70s that was driven into the sea by James Bond. At least not yet. Lotus enthusiasts will note that the name does not follow “type” with three numbers, as is tradition for concept cars, nor does it begin with “E”, as with almost all production Lotuses. Dew. Instead, this is Lotus’ way of showcasing the technology it has planned for future cars, and perhaps even a hint at upcoming supercars.
Ben Payne, Lotus’ vice president of design, told WIRED in an exclusive interview: So what matters is the spirit of the car, the logic of its design and how it is controlled in execution. ”
Thanks to its reduced weight, the Theory 1 has a range of 250 miles on its modest 70 kWh battery.
Photo: Leon Chu
That sense of control is key to every aspect of Theory 1. Lotus could have given it 2,000 horsepower to match the flagship Evija, but settled on a more reasonable 987 horsepower (1,000 PS). They let designers take liberties with giant aero structures, ground-effect fans, and other hypercar accoutrements, and overused concept car metaphors like giant touchscreen displays, artificial intelligence, and drones that take off from the rear deck. I could have done that.
Instead, Lotus has done what it is best known for and, in the false words of founder Colin Chapman, “simplified and added lightness.”
Mr Payne explained: “There was this era of maximalism, where people had to outdo themselves and go above, above, above. And both in terms of style and in terms of demonstrating technology. But I think we’ve reached a point where we plateau.” He added, “We’re not having crazy numbers of competition with this car.”
extremely fast and surprisingly light
That’s not all that crazy by 2024 EV standards, but Lotus is still marketing the Theory 1 as a very fast supercar. It’s aiming for a modest 70kWh battery, an all-wheel drive system with a rear motor fixed directly to the motorsport-style suspension, and a range of 400 miles with acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in less than 2.5 seconds. Top speed is 200 mph. These are all the requirements for a supercar, but they’re not enough to give Rimac sleepless nights. Or you can approach Lotus’ $2.3 million Evija awkwardly.
More important than obvious power is weight. Lotus says the goal is for the all-carbon Theory 1 to be less than 1,600 kg (3,500 lb), or about 300 kg lighter than the Evija. Lotus says the car has just 10 ‘A-Surface materials’ (materials that can be seen and touched without digging beneath the surface) to further the weight-saving point (industry The average is 100 pieces). The 10 types include cellulose-based fiberglass, chopped carbon fiber, and titanium, as well as recycled glass, polyester, rubber, and aluminum.
It’s also a reasonable size for a modern supercar, measuring 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) wide, 4,490 mm (176.8 inches) long, and 1,140 mm (44.9 inches) high. Add to this relative sensibility the ingeniously practical doors, three seats and excellent visibility, and it’s easy to imagine what the production version would be like.
