THEORY 1 CONCEPT PROVES LOTUS STILL CARES ABOUT BUILDING SUPERCARS

Lotus has lifted the covers off a new electric supercar concept called the Theory 1, a three-seater performance model designed to sit between the combustion Emira and the electric hypercar known as the Evija. It's a concept car in name and nature, but the reality is that this is a statement of what's to come from the inevitable electric successor to the Emira, which is why the styling, while outlandish, doesn't appear implausible for production reality - even if it looks like a forged carbon fiber assault on the eyes.

Hypercar Performance In A Supercar Package

Performance Specs At A Glance

• Target Weight: 3,500 lbs
• Power: 987 horsepower (1,000 ps)
• 0-62 mph: <2.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 200+ mph
• Electric Range: 250 miles

While the figures are by no means an indication of what a production version might boast, Lotus has lofty ambitions for this EV in concept form. First, it'll be lightweight (relatively speaking), with a target weight of 3,500 lbs (661 lbs lighter than the Evija and 564 lbs heavier than the lightest Emira). This is in part due to a smaller battery than we've become accustomed to, with 70 kWh of capacity good enough for a targeted 250 miles of range. 987 horsepower is derived from front and rear motors, making this supercar concept AWD. The rear motor is even bolted to the suspension as a stressed member, like a genuine race car. 0-62 mph should take less than 2.5 seconds, and Lotus claims a top speed north of 200 mph is in the cards.

Simplifying And Adding Lightness

Colin Chapman might be rolling in his grave at the use of his iconic saying for an electric supercar weighing 3,500 lbs, but Lotus has gone all-in on the weight-saving with carbon fiber absolutely everywhere. Most of it appears as exposed forged carbon fiber, which naturally saves weight by excluding paint altogether. But even the non-essential components are lightweight. Whereas a typical vehicle uses an average of 100 "A-surface materials" (materials that can be seen and touched at a surface level), Lotus uses just 10 for the Theory 1. Included among those are cellulose-based glass fiber, forged carbon fiber, titanium, recycled glass, polyester, rubber, and aluminum.

Compact Dimensions And Esprit-Inspired Styling

Bigger may be better to many, but Lotus has gone compact for the Theory 1 concept:

• Length: 176.8 inches
• Width: 78.7 inches
• Height: 44.9 inches

Those proportions are built around styling inspired by the Esprit's wedge-like design, but modern elements are found everywhere, including doors that open vertically and then slide to the rear, revealing a cockpit with seating for three, just like a GMA T.50 or McLaren F1, only here, the seats are built right into the carbon fiber tub, likely a variation of the Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture (LEVA). The interior design is one of futurism and minimalism, with controls that extend toward you, a head-up display that projects onto a black panel at the base of the windshield, and digital screens in place of wing mirrors.

Hidden Controls That Appear Only When Needed

But the most futuristic features are wilder still and include buttons that appear only when needed. Using a technology called fluidics, developed by MotorSkins, dozens of tiny inflatable pods are embedded beneath fabric surfaces on the doors, dash, and within the seats. Using this tech, buttons only appear when needed. If someone phones you, a button will appear for you to answer the call, for example. Lotus believes it can rid the industry of the touchscreen nightmare with this technology, relying only on displays for functions like cameras. This same technology will morph the seats, functioning as haptic feedback when, for example, a driver approaches you rapidly from behind in another car.

A Sound System Like No Other

Then there's the KEF-sourced sound system, which integrates speakers into the headrests, mounted within a 3D-printed lattice not unlike a technology BMW patented last year. Like the tech BMW describes, Lotus's headrests are printed from material with varying degrees of compression, making the headrests both comfortable and safe, while still being able to house the speakers that create a true binaural experience in which the sound feels like it's moving around you - something typically only capable with headphones. This sound system, which includes a subwoofer behind the driver, will also be able to help shape how you interact with the vehicle, creating noise and vibration reminiscent of the physical experience one might endure while driving a mid-engined combustion car - especially one from Lotus with minimal sound deadening.

Just A Concept, For Now

The Lotus Theory 1 is just a concept, for now at least. A production-bound electric sports will bear the internal codename Type 135 and is scheduled for a reveal in 2025, with customer deliveries starting in late 2026. Whether that will be a more road-ready version of the Theory 1 or something else entirely remains to be seen, but the Type 135 is targeting a sub-$95,000 price in a bid to rival Porsche's forthcoming electric 718 Cayman replacement.

While Lotus' future is electric as far as its road cars go, the company has a loophole through which it will be able to produce low-volume, track-only cars powered by combustion. These will offer loads of customization and, more importantly, lean heavily into the brand's history, while cars like the Theory 1, Type 135, and whatever else comes next, along with the Eletre and Emeya look to the future.

2024-09-17T22:22:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd