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.
