London,
UK – September 17, 2024 Lotus has unveiled Theory 1, its
first concept car that embodies the future of intelligent performance vehicles.
As part of
this, Lotus is launching The Lotus Theory, the company’s new design
manifesto that will form the foundation for all future Lotus cars, encapsulated
through three core principles - Digital, Natural and Analogue (DNA):
- Digital, which represents the
immersive, intelligent, and intuitive experience.
- Natural, brings to life
emotional, connected, human-centric design.
- Analogue, which is the brand’s
continuous advancement of performance engineering.
By
seamlessly blending together these core design principles with the latest
design innovations from Lotus, as well as cutting-edge technologies, Lotus is
able to simplify and enhance how a car should feel and perform. Theory 1
harmoniously fits around the driver and is able to adapt based on their needs –
delivering the ultimate driver experience.
Ben
Payne, Vice President of Design, Lotus Group 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 want
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 bring drivers the best possible immersive driving experience with raw
emotion, functionality and connectivity, at the core.”
Theory 1
reaffirms the company’s Vision80 commitment – a transformation into a global
performance technology brand. The innovations announced today are expected to
be implemented into future Lotus cars in the coming years.
The
ultimate immersive and intuitive driver system with LOTUSWEAR™
Lotus has developed its own proprietary driver system called LOTUSWEAR™,
which is an immersive system that aims to deliver a personalised experience to
every occupant in the car, designed to evoke a sense of raw emotion and pure
excitement – and further connect them to the road.
This
features an adaptive soft and lightweight robotic textile material, seamlessly
enabling the car to communicate with the driver and passengers and offer a more
intuitive and comfortable in-car experience. It aims to do this through
inflatable pods on the seating and steering wheel that will react in real time
to offer more support, grip, and subtle prompts via personalised haptic
feedback. For instance:
- Pulses on the left and right
sides of the wheel will indicate when the driver should make a turn
- There are five drive modes:
Range, Tour, Sport, Individual and Track, delivering comfort and enhancing
the driver experience & dynamic ability, as well as constantly
adapting to the driver’s surrounding environment. This aims to optimise
efficiency, performance, and comfort in any environment.
This
component has been created in collaboration with MotorSkins, a startup that specialises in textile-based
wearable robotics for every-day use. Theory 1 demonstrates the first time it is
being used in the automotive industry.
In
addition, LOTUSWEAR™ features 3D printed lattice structure headrests made in
partnership with global 3D printing technology company Carbon, to offer all occupants in the car maximum
comfort, whilst reducing the weight, improving material efficiency, and
optimising aerodynamics.
To ensure
every occupant can enjoy a truly immersive and unique audio experience, part of
the headrest is a binaural audio system, which has been designed in
collaboration with KEF. It offers individual bespoke
soundscapes for each of the occupants, that are further enhanced by the
subwoofer speaker located behind the driver seat. Occupants in the car
can:
- Enhance ‘speed’ sounds to deliver
a sense of thrill, exhilaration, and fun.
- Benefit from noise cancelling
abilities to improve concentration and enhance the listening
experience.
- Level-up entertainment by
providing an impeccable and immersive sound to further elevate the audio experience.
It uses
binaural audio technology to do this, which enables channel separation of the
sound arriving at each ear – delivering a full-bodied audio experience
that feels as if the occupant is sitting in the middle of a recording studio.
Part of
the proprietary driving system is the LOTUSWEAR™ Technology Line - a
functional technology band running inside and outside of the car, acting as a
communication device. It includes:
- Integrated OLED technology to
display multiple functions of the vehicle status to the driver and
occupants, as well as other road users and pedestrians e.g. detecting
the presence of an object or person close to the
vehicle.
- Lotus’ 360-degree
autonomous driving sensor suite. The fully embedded L4 hardware capability
consists of four deployable LiDARs, six HD cameras, and a combination of
long- and short-range millimeter radars, plus ultrasonic radars,
delivering 360° (5x) perception coverage. This ensures driver confidence
by scanning for obstacles at a radius of up to 200m around the car, in
every direction, even in low light or inclement weather.
The
LOTUSWEAR™ technology line is built on the high-performance NVIDIA DRIVE
compute platform – enabling redundant and diverse real-time sensor processing
at trillions of operations per second for greater safety and enhancing the
vehicle’s capabilities through advanced digitalization and adaptive parameters
for optimum driving dynamics.
The
LOTUSWEAR™ Technology Line is a homage to the purely functional joining “band”
on the Lotus Esprit. It is also an evolution of the line of technology that
Eletre and Emeya have within their interior architectures. By grouping the
technology all in a singular line throughout the vehicle, Lotus aims to keep
the design as minimal and harmonious as possible – a progressive expression of
its technology DNA.
A new
benchmark for user experience
Theory 1 seamlessly
integrates projections, screens, and haptics, with Lotus’ new design manifesto
to create a borderless user experience and provide the driver with information
quickly and easily through:
- Analogue interactive components
and notifications via the adaptive inflatable soft textile material by
MotorSkins.
- A digital system that uses
intelligent environmental light, LED and laser-light components, and
reflections on the windscreen to communicate information with the driver,
such as obstacle detection, braking, turns and more.
- Two laser lights on the
dashboard wings to indicate left and right turns, working in harmony with
the haptic inflation materials on the seats.
- Additional RGB LEDs on the
suspension modules, which are visible from the interior, and have green or
red signals, depending on the need for braking or acceleration.
- Clear, functional, 2D graphics
to display the main data on the steering wheel, ERMDs, and heads-up
display. This has been designed with simplicity at the core, using the
minimum amounts of fonts and graphic elements.
- Immersive 3D graphics, where a
grid of points evolve into lines that change length, colour and direction
according to vehicle speed, braking, turning, and drive modes - a homage
to the Arte Programmata movement from the 60s.
These key
features enable the driver to enhance their use of peripheral vision, meaning
they do not need to take their eyes off the road. In doing this, Lotus designed
a fluid and intuitive experience for the drivers, so they can focus more on
driving, minimizing distractions and further enhancing safety.
A
holistic design approach, with minimal materiality and true innovation
With current cars
made of an average of 100 A-surface materials, as a concrete action to a more
sustainable future and circular economy, Lotus started from scratch to build a
car with as few materials as possible.
As a
result, the ‘Challenge of 10’ was created, and it is Lotus’ intention and
ambition to push the automotive industry forward, demonstrating the company’s
north star for future material innovation.
Theory 1
has been designed with only ten main A-surface materials with performance,
durability, lightweight, recycled, and recyclable properties. This includes the
use of cellulose based glass fibre, recycled chopped carbon fibre, titanium,
recycled glazing, recycled polyester, recycled rubber, elastomeric
Polyurethane, transparent polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, and
recycled aluminum.
The
Challenge of 10 demonstrates Lotus’ commitment to pure minimalism, which is a
nod back to Lotus’ simplicity of construction and lightweight principles of the
company’s heritage vehicles.
This
philosophy is also demonstrated in the LOTUSWEAR™ driver system with the soft
robotic fabrics in collaboration with MotorSkins, as well as 3D printed
lattice structure headrests in partnership with Carbon.
In
addition, Lotus has tapped into global electronics manufacturer Kyocera SLD
Laser, Inc., a Kyocera group company, to deliver industry-leading laser lights
in both the interior and exterior, in order to deliver a safe, powerful, and
advanced lighting system, whilst drastically reducing component size and
weight. This includes ‘Next Generation’ laser wire DRL functions, which are
less than a millimeter in diameter, and main and dipped-beam functions which
are delivered through lenses of 7x35mm.
With these
principles as the foundation of Lotus design DNA, the company’s intent is to
enhance the performance of its cars in line with racing principles, which Lotus
was renowned for. Its aim is also to make performance cars more accessible by
simplifying the design and technology, making it as easy as possible for anyone
to use.
Enhancing
dynamic performance, handling, and speed
Theory 1 extends
Lotus’ expertise in engineering to bring drivers an electric car that performs
exceptionally and unlocks driver confidence by making the experience as fun and
engaging as possible.
This
includes advanced active and passive aerodynamic techniques including cooling,
active rear spoiler, and passive rear underbody. All of this, along with the
low centre of gravity, enhances stability and increases the lightness of the
vehicle.
Theory 1
seamlessly integrates advanced aero and cooling systems, which are designed to
work in harmony and increase efficiency. This includes:
- The nose cone on the vehicle
has diffuser and drag-reducing air deflectors, with an air curtain
that minimises the car’s wake. This has been inspired by Lotus’
racing heritage.
- A contoured underfloor which
directs air through low drag NACA ducts into the cooling system, and
outlets creating a blown air foil reducing separation, as well as enabling
more powerful force.
- Side pods in the vehicle which
have been meticulously designed to isolate turbulent wake from the
attached airflow, guiding it towards the rear.
In
addition, inspired by the revolutionary Lotus 49 Formula 1 car, Theory 1 has
been designed to use its motor and battery assembly as a stressed member to
take the forces directly from the suspension – reducing complexity and weight,
with no need for a subframe.
The rear
wing has also been mounted directly to the motor and suspension assembly to
ensure the downforce acts directly on the suspension mounts, all the way
through to the tyres - reducing losses and frontal lift. The rear suspension
system also features a pull rod design, which delivers a more compact package
and lower centre of gravity.
The
ultimate advanced dynamic architecture, delivering a state-of-the-art and
seamless experience
Lotus has
developed a proprietary sports car door system that enables all occupants with
easy ‘step-in’ access to the car with its reverse opening and wrap-over design.
With this, Lotus has been able to achieve the smallest footprint it can with
the doors opened, allowing for practical use of doors even in narrow spaces.
For instance, if a car is parked in a tight car park with a 2.4-meter space,
the driver will still be able to get in and out of the vehicle with ease. This
has previously been a challenge with similar high-performance sports
cars.
Furthermore,
Theory 1 is a three-seater sports car which has a central driving position,
with a passenger on each side, nestled behind the driver. Inspired by
motorsports, the driver’s seat in the middle of the car provides the driver
with the best possible visibility of the road ahead, as well as easy access to
all controls.
The inside
of the vehicle structure has also been shaped around the human body, with the
seating integrated into the structure. Lotus has designed the car, to respond
to the occupant’s body. For instance, the steering wheel and pedals all move
towards the driver.
The car
also features steer-by-wire, which enables precision and control at every turn
and the ability to adjust steering ratios, speed and feel. This is designed to
deliver precision and the smoothest ride, further enhancing driver confidence,
and connecting them to the road.
The
pinnacle driving experience, powered by the Lotus DNA
Theory 1 features
bespoke Pirelli tyres belonging to the P Zero family, Pirelli’s Ultra
High-Performance (UHP) range. These have been developed specifically to enhance
the vehicle’s performance, with particular attention to limit the environmental
impact, and include Elect - Pirelli’s most advanced set of technologies
developed to emphasize the characteristics of electric cars.
Pirelli
Elect tyres have a structure and materials that support the weight and the high
torque typical of vehicles with electric powertrains, providing longer
durability, less tyre wear, and optimising battery range. These tyres are
present today in the company’s electric vehicles including its hyper-SUV,
Eletre; hyper-GT, Emeya; and hypercar Evija.
The car
also details the latest advanced performance braking systems from AP Racing,
who Lotus has had a long-standing relationship with. It goes all the way back
to the 1967 Lotus 49 and AP Racing today provides the brake systems in Lotus’
current product lineup including Evija, Eletre and Emeya. Theory 1 features a
super lightweight, high performance carbon ceramic braking system, with
near-net Monoblock aluminum forged body with asymmetric design – reducing
material where not needed.
Target
technical specifications
|
Powertrain
and Performance |
|
|
Category |
Theory 1 |
|
Battery
capacity |
70 kWh |
|
0-100
km/h (0-62 mph) |
<2.5
seconds |
|
Max power |
1000 PS |
|
Top speed |
320 kph |
|
WLTP combined range |
402 km /
250 miles |
|
Drivetrain |
AWD |
|
Dimensions |
|
|
Category |
Theory 1 |
|
Height |
1140 mm |
|
Length |
4490 mm |
|
Width
(including cameras) |
2000 mm |
|
Width
(excluding cameras) |
2000 mm |
|
Wheelbase |
2650 mm |
|
Front
track |
1720 mm |
|
Rear
track |
1700 mm |
|
Front
overhang |
1052 mm |
|
Rear
overhang |
790 mm |
|
Weight |
<1600
kg |
|
Body
and Chassis |
|
|
Category |
Theory 1 |
|
Tub |
Recycled
chop carbon fiber |
|
Body |
Cellulose
composite and polycarbonate |
|
Greenhouse |
Recycled
glass |
|
Steering
and Suspension |
|
|
Category |
Theory 1 |
|
Steering |
Steer by
wire |
|
Suspension
type |
Front and
read double wishbone |
|
Damping
system |
Active |
|
Wheels
and Brakes |
|
|
Category |
Theory 1 |
|
Tyres -
front |
Pirelli
P-ZERO Elect – 265/35 R20 |
|
Tyres-
rear |
Pirelli
P- ZERO Elect – 325/30 R21 |
|
Rims –
front |
20 X 9.5J |
|
Rims –
rear |
21 X
11.5J |
|
Brakes |
AP Racing
6 piston calipers Near-net
Monoblock forged |
|
Front
discs |
390 x 36
mm |
|
Rear
discs |
390 x
36mm |
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