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Apparently, selling platforms to Tesla and Dodge to make electric cars out of gave Lotus an idea.  Why not make an electric car of their own?  Well, it looks like they’ll be introducing a prototype for one in March.

The Lotus EV (which has no name yet) will be a range-extended EV.  Of course, being a Lotus, it will be a sports car for the higher-end market.  The only information the company has to offer so far–through Michael Kimberly (CEO)–on the project is that the car will get in the neighborhood of 300-400 miles per tank of gasoline with an all-electric range of about 1/4 or more of that.

Motor Trend speculates that the engine will be from GM, like the Fisker Karma’s is, but Toyota can’t be overlooked as a provider too, since they’re working closely with Tesla and providing the engines for the Elise and Evora.  Besides, this car would be in direct competition with the Lotus-platformed Dodge EV, so it’s not likely in GM’s best interest to help Lotus build it.

Lotus already has experience and tooling for the job, since they build the Tesla Roadster at their Hethel, England plant.  Other projects that Lotus’ R&D department is working on include a hybrid limousine, a fuel-cell taxi cab, and a 2-stroke engine that can burn anything remotely flammable.

Of course, this car is just a bunch of talk until Lotus actually produces one for show in March, but the company isn’t known for hype-without-delivery.  So no grain of salt is needed here.

Source: Wired