“Very low” CO2 emissions Lotus Elise on the cards
Lotus already has something of a good name with green car fans due to their ability to make great sportscars using relatively modest engines. The very low mass of the Elise and Exige enables them to be great-handling, quick machines that don’t require massive engines that produce obscene amounts of power and torque. Also, don’t forget that the Elise provides the underpinnings for Tesla’s Roadster. Now, Lotus is making a significant step to producing a true green sportscar themselves.
According to Lotus, before the end of the year they will be showcasing a new 1.5l , 3-cylinder pressure charged motor that should be capable of emitting CO2 emissions comparable to hybrid cars. The unit is being developed in conjunction with Siemens who are developing a high pressure fuel pump and centrally-mounted fuel injectors. Lotus is developing an integrated exhaust manifold; a cam profile switching system and a turbocompressor.
While the power output of this “hybrid” unit is likely to be lower than its “normal” Elise siblings, the car will apparently have a lower mass, so performance should still prove to be very exhilerating.
Source: Autoblog Green
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment