Lotus Theory 1 – from idea to practice

Three-seater spaceship
Lotus Theory 1 – from idea to practice

With the Theory 1, Lotus shows where the journey is headed in the next few years. After the first test drive, one thing is clear: the future of the brand will be anything but boring.

Lotus is going electric, that has long been a given. But how will the performance brand's future models differ from those of its competitors? The Theory 1 study, which brings together a phalanx of new approaches, provides a whole series of answers to this question.

The aim is to give the people behind the wheel and in the passenger seats an unadulterated, pure driving experience. No distraction from huge screen walls the width of the car, no information inflation. Instead, concentration on the essentials and displays exactly where they can be seen best. And this also means: no more of the usual mix of sometimes more than 100 different materials in one vehicle. The Theory 1 gets by with much less. Recycled, chopped carbon fibers are used most intensively. Other materials used include cellulose-based glass fibers, titanium, recycled glass panes, recycled polyester, recycled rubber, elastomeric polyurethane, transparent polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane and recycled aluminum.

Fast pads for fast corners

Chassis, body, interior – almost everything is made of carbon. Then there is a material developed with a Berlin startup for textile-based wearables on the seats and on the racing-style small, rectangular steering wheel. Small cushions in this can be inflated and deflated in a fraction of a second – for example in fast corners or, one idea for the future, as a tactile indication of excessive speed or leaving the lane. First impression when trying out the seat: That would definitely be more pleasant than the constant ringing or beeping that occurs in many current cars.

In the Theory 1, the pilot sits in the center, almost exactly in the middle of the manageable 4.49 meter long and two meter wide racer. And thus exactly between the two gullwing doors that open and close in an exciting choreography, taking up little space in tight parking garages, for example. The central position, the low windshield and the clear view of the suspension allow a good overview.

On the left and right outside, slightly set back, there is space for the passengers, with ample legroom and sound from the KEF audio system tailored specifically to them. Just below shoulder height, a laser light strip runs through the interior of the car, which can display the charge level or the indicator function, among other things.

The small 2D display in the steering wheel and the head-up display serve the purpose of minimizing distraction for the driver and providing them with all the necessary information despite their eyes being on the road. Laser light and OLED technology are also used on the outside, for example in extremely thin laser light strips on the front and an interactive light strip on the sides that reacts to touch and displays various status displays of the vehicle.

Extreme aerodynamics

The Theory 1 is also supposed to drive, of course, and do so pretty quickly. The front and rear sections, which are designed for extreme aerodynamics and include an active rear spoiler, show that the goals are ambitious. The height of just 1.14 meters and the gently curved roof section do the rest. Following the example of the Lotus 49 Formula 1 racer, the engine and battery unit were designed as a loaded element that absorbs the forces directly from the suspension. This reduces complexity and weight, and a subframe is not necessary. The rear wing was also mounted on the engine and suspension assembly to ensure that the downforce acts directly on the suspension and thus on the tires.

While the focus is on driving fun, the Theory 1's hardware is also prepared for level 4 autonomous driving. It has four LiDARs, six HD cameras and a combination of long- and short-range millimeter radars and ultrasonic radars on board, which enable a 360-degree detection range. Lotus promises that obstacles of any kind within a radius of up to 200 meters around the vehicle will be detected, even in bad weather.

Not a hypercar, but very fast

The Lotus study is not designed as a hypercar. Rather, it is designed as a vehicle that can be very fast if desired, but is also at least partly suitable for everyday use for fans of pronounced dynamics.

According to current ideas, the target value of “under 1600 kilos” live weight is offset by a 1000 hp electric motor in the rear, which should accelerate the Theory 1 to 100 km/h in less than 2.5 seconds and then to 320 km/h. The battery capacity of 70 kWh should ensure a range of around 400 kilometers. The study with the driving modes Range, Tour, Sport, Individual and Track is on Pirelli P-Zero Elect tires with 20 and 21 inches.

And what happens after the ceremonial unveiling of the Theory 1? Series production is definitely not planned, says Lotus. The study is a kind of collection of ideas in the original format, a cluster of driver-oriented technology for more driving pleasure and safety. And it is a platform for new materials that can reduce the ecological footprint of future cars. The car manufacturer is clear: Many of the innovations from the study have the potential to appear in exactly the same or at least in a similar form in future Lotus models.