Lotus World Car Concept

[Mark H]

Lotus recently undertook a project initially funded by the International Council on Clean Transportation and undertaken with the California Air Resources Board, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The goal was to develop a vehicle with the Toyota Venza's interior package, capability, performance, wheels and tires, that weighed considerably less (for CO2-reduction purposes) and cost little or nothing more to produce. A full report on that project is due out soon, but Lotus Engineering gave us a peek at an internal pet project the team undertook using the lessons learned and technology deployed on the feathery Venza project. This project, which started with a clean slate, was aimed at delivering an affordable people's car with world-class fuel economy that matched the people/cargo carrying capability of the very basic Tata Nano Europa (the first-world upgrade of India's volks wagen).

 

To minimize frontal area and drag the cabin seats two passengers close together and slightly aft of a centrally located driver, with a 9-cubic-foot luggage area or fourth occasional seat behind them. The 155/80R13 tires and wheels are positioned outboard of the greenhouse area, to provide a stable track, while minimizing frontal area. The combined effect allows the greenhouse to adopt an aero-efficient teardrop shape when viewed from above that contributes mightily to the projected 0.19 drag coefficient.

 

The central driving position means one cabin suits all world markets, though the single top-hinged door is envisioned to be located on whichever side would point to the curb. Instead of an instrument panel, drivers would mount their smart phone or tablet, and most data would exist in "the cloud." The 600cc 50-hp engine lies flat, just ahead of the rear axle, which it drives via a shaft-drive motorcycle transmission. Lightweight materials spanning the gamut from magnesium to aluminum, composites, and high-strength boron steel are used to ensure sufficient crash protection while keeping the curb weight to just 1150 pounds. Target price is sub-$9000, with 0-60-mph performance in the 8-9 second range with a 120-mph top speed and fuel economy of 84 city/127 highway projected, it matches the Nissan Leaf's 99-mpg-e combined rating.

 

 

But of course Lotus Engineering's researchers have Lotus Cars blood in their veins, and so while they were doodling, they went ahead and envisioned a people's performance variant, with meaty 215/70R14 tires, a 100-hp engine, bigger brakes, starchier suspenders--the works. Computer simulation suggests this model would generate 1.0g lateral grip, accelerate to 60 mph in about 5.5, top out at 150 mph, and brake from 60-0 in 110 feet. Weighing in 100 pounds heavier with drag area increasing to 3.65 from 3.45 sq m (the coefficient would increase to 0.20), fuel economy will drop, but Lotus' computers suggest it would still average 65 mpg at a steady 80 mph. This world performance car would cost $15-$20K--a bargain next to any Brabus Smart car.

 

For now the Lotus World Car concept exists only as ones and zeros in the computers at Lotus Engineering, but it's an idea whose time will most certainly be looming sooner rather than later.

 

Images here:

 

http://www.midlandsl...ld-car-concept/

 

http://www.motortren...ld_car_concept/