Futuristic Lotus E-R9 concept racer revealed
Shape-shifting body, quad electric motors and swappable battery wrapped up in 2030 Le Mans conceptLotus has revealed a radical new concept that attempts to imagine what Le Mans racers will look like in 2030.
Designed by the same stylist who created the Lotus Evija hypercar, the Lotus E-R9 has been touted as a technical showcase by the small British sports car-maker with real thinking that could debut in its upcoming supercars.
Featuring Lotus' most radical design yet, the E-R9 (E-R for endurance racer and number 9 paying tribute to the car-maker's first Le Mans racer) has been virtually engineered by Lotus Engineering – the brand's consultancy arm.
According to the aerodynamicist responsible for the E-R9's wild shape, the concept incorporates tech that Lotus is currently developing.
The most striking new thinking wrapped up in the Lotus E-R9 is its use of 'morphing' body panels that actively change the shape of the car to suit the driving situation.
Built-in air-flow sensors automatically activate the advanced aero, with the ultimate aim being to minimise drag on the straights and maximise downforce under braking and while cornering.
The driver can also make manual adjustments according to the prevailing conditions to adjust the shape-shifting body.
There's no word on what drives the Lotus E-R9, but it's thought to be a development of the mighty 1467kW pure-electric powertrain found in the Evija, with Lotus confirming the racer gets a high-output electric motor in each wheel.
To cope with that level of power and the accompanying sledgehammer of peak torque, the E-R9 gets trick torque-vectoring front and rear and across both axles to maximise traction.
Other new tech useful for an endurance racer is a structure that allows rapid battery swaps that have been designed to be interchanged during a typical pitstop for new tyres or a driver change.
No specific details have been given on what energy density, or even chemistry, the E-R9 is primed to receive, but the unveiling of this new racer suggests the Norfolk-based car-maker could be planning a return to Le Mans.
And 2030 would mark the 75th anniversary of its debut at the world's most famous endurance race.
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