What's all this about?
It's a new Lotus concept car, which not only previews the company's forthcoming design and production processes, but which also needs the occupants to wear some fancy robosuits to get the best from it.
Robosuits?!
All right, not suits, per se, but robotic textiles developed in conjunction with MotorSkins, which can respond to inflatable pods on the seats and the steering wheel. It's all a bit weird, if we're honest, so we're going to focus more on the car itself.
Which, we should point out, is called the Theory 1. It's an electric vehicle (EV), which means it fits in with Lotus' current portfolio of Evija, Eletre and Emeya production models. In the Theory 1's case, the motor is a potent 735kW (1,000hp) unit with a 70kWh battery pack.
Lotus uses its know-how in making things light - well, relatively speaking, in an EV's case - so the Theory 1 should be less than 1.6 tonnes, which means those outputs and all-wheel drive will see the car from 0-62mph in less than 2.5 seconds and on to a 200mph top speed. Yet it has enough battery power to be able to do up to 250 miles to a single charge, as well.
How has Lotus made the Theory 1 so comparatively light?
The chassis tub is made of recycled-chop carbon fibre, with the body panels composed of cellulose composite and polycarbonate. Lotus has made the motor and battery pack a 'stressed member' of the Theory 1's structure, which in turn means the car needs no subframes and is therefore less complex, and of course trimmer. Simplify, then add lightness, remember?
Anyway, with even the windows on the car made out of recycled glass, this is a Lotus holding true to the company's historical beliefs, while looking firmly into a high-tech, digital future. Yet it should also hug the road like a proper Lotus of old, too. It has double-wishbone front and rear suspension with active dampers, promising a low centre-of-gravity for greater nimbleness. Sitting on 20-inch front, 21-inch alloys, the Theory 1 has Pirelli P-Zero Elect tyres that are low-rolling resistance, increasing its electric range by ten per cent, yet they have enough grip to manage the massive torque generated by the 735kW motor.
Further features of the Theory 1 include active and passive aerodynamics, while the rear spoiler is mounted directly to the suspension to maximise its effectiveness vis-a-vis downforce.
And how about those doors?
They're not just for supercar showiness. First of all, like a McLaren F1, the Theory 1 has three seats inside: the central driving position, then two outboard passenger chairs. Now, to get into and out of a cabin with that layout, clambering in and out of a narrow opening - as you used to have to do with an Elise or Exige, for instance - would not be possible. Therefore, those doors on the EV provide easy 'step-in' access and they can also be opened in parking spaces that are only 20cm wider on each side than the two-metre-wide Theory 1 is in the first place.
All very cool. Will it make production?
Not sure. It's certainly previewing what Lotus is capable of in the near-future, but whether it would make a model in the current line-up remains to be seen. So we'll leave the final words on the Theory 1 to Ben Payne, the vice-president of design for the Lotus Group, who said: "With Theory 1, we've built on everything Lotus has achieved so far in its 76-year history, to push the boundaries for what it means to drive a performance vehicle.
"We wanted to demonstrate that you don't need to compromise - with both digital and analogue capabilities working harmoniously in the future car.
"In doing this, we are able to set a new benchmark for raw emotion, functionality and connection, bringing drivers the best possible immersive driving experience."
Matt Robinson - 17 Sep 2024
