Lotus Theory 1 is an electric concept that signals the Chinese-British automaker’s future direction. It shows Lotus new focus on EV’s software side and autonomous driving capabilities, as Theory 1 is equipped with Lotuswear system which includes four deployable Lidars, Nvidia Drive platform, and L4 autonomous driving hardware capability.
The Lotus Theory 1 is a three-seater supercar built around a carbon fiber chassis. The concept measures 4,490 mm (176.8 inches) in length, 1,140 mm in height, and 2,000 mm in width, with a 2,650 mm wheelbase.
It weighs just under 1,600 kg (3,500 lbs), Lotus claims.
The concept EV is powered by a 70 kWh battery good for a 402 km (250 miles) range under WLTP conditions. Dual electric motors deliver 987 hp, enabling 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration in under 2.5 seconds. Theory 1 is an all-wheel drive (AWD) with a top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph).
Ben Payne, Vice President of Design, commented on the new EV, “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.”
The assisted driving features are built around the Nvidia Drive compute platform, which Lotus claims is the underlying stack for its Lotuswear technology. Theory 1 has L4 hardware capability, four deployable Lidars, six HD cameras, and a combination of long- and short-range millimeter radars, plus ultrasonic radars. Together, Lotus calls it a 360-degree autonomous driving sensor suite.
The Chinese Geely Group owns Lotus, and its EVs are mass-produced in China. It has two EVs on the market – the Lotus Eletre SUV and the Lotus Emeya sedan, both sitting on the EPA platform, which is an adjusted SEA platform from Geely.
There is also a third EV – the Lotus Evija EV supercar – unveiled in 2019. It is a limited edition only, unlike other Lotus EVs produced in the UK. In 2022, Lotus announced that eight cars had already been built, with deliveries to start in 2023.
No production information was released, but CarNewsChina expects that the model (or models) based on the Lotus Theory 1 concept will be mass-produced in Geely’s new plant in Wuhan, which started production in 2021 and where Lotus Eletre and Emeya are made for export markets.
