Lotus plotting $4 million pure-electric hypercar
Top-secret Omega project will see newly acquired Lotus go head-to-head with McLaren and BugattiLotus is secretly developing a million-dollar pure-electric hypercar that will help signpost the small British sportscar-maker's future under new owner Geely.
The new hypercar, developed under the codename Omega, will be priced at an incredible £2 million ($A4.5m) and made in strictly limited numbers. According to
, which broke the story, it is being created to be the fastest and most radical model in Lotus' 70-year history.Previewed by an all-new concept set to be revealed in 2019, the Omega hypercar is not expected to be related to any current Lotus models and should be based on a new platform that will use a bespoke pure-electric powertrain.
Due o sale early next decade, the Omega will be pitched as a direct rival to hypercars currently being developed by McLaren, Ferrari, Bugatti and Porsche.
Footing the bill for its costly development, Geely has reportedly green-lit the project because it views Lotus as its group's new halo brand; one that will offer customers unprecedented performance and also preview new technology -- not only for the British car-maker, but for fellow Geely-owned brands like Polestar, Volvo, Lynk & Co, Proton and flying car-maker, Terrafugia.
According to Autocar, Lotus engineers are now faced with the huge challenge of creating lightweight materials to offset the huge weight of battery cells that will be needed to provide for a range of at least 400-500km.
It's thought that to deliver the levels of performance required to upstage its established rivals, the Lotus hypercar will need to muster around 800kW-1200kW, while still being the lightest in its class.
To channel that level of power and accompanying torque to the road, all-wheel drive will be essential, and Lotus will also develop a unique energy harvesting solution, perhaps inspired by its time spent in F1.
Helping develop the new hypercar, Lotus has reportedly been allowed access to the Geely's new design centre in Coventry.
Now flush with cash, Lotus is on the hunt to recruit a team of new designers and engineers to not only develop project Omega, but to design and engineer the car-maker's first-ever SUV, plus a replacement for the current Elise, Exige and Evora.
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