Lotus has officially pulled the sheet off its Evora 414E Hybrid concept at the Geneva Motor Show. The Evora 414E Hybrid marks the second Lotus-powered hybrid to debut at the Geneva show, joining the Italdesign Giugario Proton concept.
Based on the Louts Evora platform, Lotus engineers removed the car’s standard drivetrain, replacing it with a plug-in series hybrid drive system. Although heavily focused on efficiency, the Evora 414E doesn’t lose sight of Lotus’ performance heritage.
Power for the Evora 414E is provided by a pair of electric motors – one located at each rear-wheel – with a single-speed reduction transmission allowing torque vectoring between each unit. Each motor produces 207 PS (204 horsepower) – explaining the 414 nameplate – resulting in a 0-60 time in under 4 seconds. To improve the driving sensation, the concept also includes a sport mode that simulates a seven-speed transmission.
Like most next-generation hybrids, the Evora 414E utilizes lithium-ion batteries. The concept’s batteries can be charged via a typical household plug or the car’s onboard generator – a 1.2L three-cylinder Lotus Range Extender gas engine. The gas engine generates an additional 47 horsepower. Lotus says the Evora 414E can travel up to 35 miles on all-electric power, with the gas engine bumping the car’s total range to 300 miles.
The Evora 414E also features Lotus’ HALOsonic Internal and External Electronic Sound Synthesis, a system designed to improve pedestrian safety outside the vehicle through an external sound system. In addition to proving an audible warning to those outside the car, the system also simulates four engine sounds for the driver, including a V6, V12 and a futuristic propulsion sound.
Lotus has yet to announce any production plans for the Evora 414E concept, but we suspect the show car will be making the leap to production within the next few years.
