Lotus will spread the futuristic design language from the electric Evija hypercar through its range, as it moves away from the iterative designs of the Elise and Exige.
“It’s a fairly good snapshot of what we are doing [in the future],” Lotus design chief Russell Carr said, speaking exclusively to CarExpert.
“Obviously we are not going to do Russian dolls, cars in different sizes or sausages in different lengths.
“But there are certain characteristics – and I am certainly pushing that we have this sense that the cabin is sunk as far down as possible between the wheels and we have a strong presence on it.
“A car that is really planted makes reference to racing cars, classic cars [such as the] ’60s Type 30, Type 40, and Type 11, and even the current Exige.”
Lotus, which is owned by Chinese company Geely, is set to begin a new era of product expansion, including a potential revival of the low-cost Elan next year.
Numerous other models, including a rumoured SUV, are expected to follow the new entry-level mode.
Carr joked like all car designers, he reserves the right to change his mind, but said the Evija was setting a new design language for the British brand.
“[The Evija] definitely gives a flavour of how our cars are going to be. They will be sculptural meeting aerodynamic requirements, weight efficiency and driving dynamics,” he said.
The Lotus Evija is a technical and aesthetic showcase for a company that is on the cusp of a rebirth.
Some of the more extreme aerodynamic features of the Evija won’t be possible on more affordable models, but the details, feel, and design language will follow.
Stay tuned for an in-depth look at the Evija’s next-generation configurator.
