Nobody associates family cars with Lotus, but the APX concept car on the Lotus stand managed to draw the crowds despite the world debut of the Europa S next to it; with good reason too as it turns out.

The APX showcases Lotus Engineering's innovative VVA (Versatile Vehicle Architecture), a flexible means of producing niche models for medium production runs without prohibitive investment costs. The APX uses high-pressure aluminium die-castings, stampings and extrusions as well as what Lotus calls riv-bonding to hold it all together. The result is impressively low weight, yet good structural integrity. Despite seating seven occupants and packing four-wheel drive and a 3-litre supercharged engine, the APX (Aluminium Performance Crossover) weighs in at just 1,570kg.

Under the sharp nose of the concept (styling, as with everything else on the APX, was carried out in-house) lies a Lotus Engineering designed 3-litre V6 engine. Thanks to a supercharger, it outputs 300bhp and back that up with 266lb.ft of torque. Both the engine and the APX itself are subject to a disclaimer in the press material: "not just a Lotus Engineering concept, but a feasible prototype close to production; it is not a concept indicating a strategic direction of Lotus Cars". That may be so, but VVA will be utilised very soon by Lotus Cars, when it launches an all-new supercar into the market in 2008 to replace the Esprit. It may not house this new engine, though let's hope we get to experience it in something a little more interesting than an MPV at some stage.

Shane O' Donoghue - 22 Mar 2006