The Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid concept, unveiled today at the Geneva motor show, is a technology showpiece rather than previewing a production car.
Based on the Lotus Evora platform, the 414E's standard drivetrain has been removed and replaced with a plug-in series hybrid drive system.
Power for the Evora 414E is provided by a pair of electric motors – one located at each rear-wheel – with a single-speed reduction transmission allowing torque vectoring between each unit. Each motor produces 204bhp or 207bhp, which explains the 414 name.
The concept’s lithium ion batteries can be charged via a typical household plug or the car’s onboard generator – a 47bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder Lotus Range Extender petrol engine.
Lotus claims the car hits 0-60mph in less than 4.0sec.
Lotus says the Evora 414E can travel up to 35 miles on all-electric power.
Lotus is hoping to sell this technology, and is using the Geneva motor show to showcase it to clients.
Also aiming to sell the Evora's chassis architecture as did with VX220 so expect to see another sports car with this chassis.
To improve the driving sensation, the concept also includes a sport mode that simulates a seven-speed transmission at work.
This is activated via a flappy paddle system that makes the noise of a gear change, and puts a jolt through the motors if you 'downchange' while decelerating using engine braking.
It also features Lotus’ HALOsonic Internal and External Electronic Sound Synthesis, a system designed to improve pedestrian safety through an external sound system.
In addition to proving an audible warning to those outside the car, the system also simulates four engine sounds for the driver, including a V6, V12 and a futuristic propulsion sound.
A Lotus source also confirmed the company is aiming to sell the Evora's chassis architecture as it did with the VX220, so expect to see another sports car with this chassis.
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Re: Lotus Evora hybrid revealed
This is well out of date now but regular readers of Autocar ought to be able to correct the car information in their heads - the energy information remains the same. The paper is called 'Nazi Sharks (or why Top Gear haven't done their arithmetic)' and should go some way to explaining why the industry is favouring petrol/diesel electric initially (please don't forget that a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is also electric).
www.claverton-energy.com/download/289/ is the non-commecial download; it's also available with somewhat better formatting on my own site which I won't list here but which one could Google.
I don't consider 'even' Lotus are considering electric power since I believe I can remember Tiff Needell testing a Lotus with some kind of sound synthesis device back in the nineties, suggesting that they were thinking about it at least that far back. Not sure I like the idea, but I'll reserve judgement.
Cheers.
Re: Lotus Evora hybrid revealed
Re: Lotus Evora hybrid revealed