Lotus boss Jean-Marc Gales is keen on a switch to powertrain options available from other Geely-owned brands, although the sportscar maker will continue using Toyota engines for the immediate future, Autocar reports. Geely completed its purchase of a majority stake in Lotus from Proton in September 2017.
Geely group engines would most likely be from Volvo, which tech is being used by other brands in the umbrella such as Lynk & Co. Volvo’s petrol engine stable currently has a 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo and several versions of a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo, with the option of an added supercharger.
The UK mag says that it’s expected that Lotus would use in-house expertise to boost performance from any Geely-sourced engines, as it does with Toyota units today. Volvo has electrified “Twin Engine” versions of its three- and four-cylinder engines, and those could be powerful enough to propel Hethel’s high performance sportscars. Volvo is also developing all-electric models.
There’s also the powertrain used by the upcoming Polestar 1 coupe. It combines a 2.0 litre engine providing power to the front wheels, a 46 hp/150 Nm integrated starter generator, and two 109 hp electric motors for the rear wheels. Total system output is 600 hp/1,000 Nm, with up to 150 km of electric range.
On the Lotus crossover that has been talked about for seemingly ages, now due within four years, Gales said: “Crossovers can be hybrid or full electric.” On electrification in Lotus sports cars, Gales thinks that there’s still life in the internal combustion engine. “There are some years left for combustion engines in sports cars, but maybe a mild hybrid would work,” he said.
The Lotus chief is open to the idea of an EV sports car. “The pace of development in electric drive is incredible and batteries are also moving fast,” said the man who has helmed Lotus since 2014.
GALLERY: Lotus Exige Sport 410
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Of course enough with toyota name, later Toyota fans syiok sendiri imagine driving lotus car
Geely making a smart move.
10, 20, 30 years down the road, when you sit with your grandchilren just like the Geely boss.
“Let me tell you a story about how, I, took that one chance, that one time. Prevented the downfall of this country so you could enjoy the life in our beloved Malaysia you have now.”
Lotus & Geely took their chance too then
Choose for ProTiga or choose for more public transports.
Choose wisely.
Geely might not exist anymore. Tun Mahathir will take Proton private.
Poor john. I am sorry brother
Don’t forget to get new models in for Lotus instead of -5kg limited edition every other months.
This is Geely ultimate plan. After a while they just use their own engines and even name.
The same fate for Proton too. After a while, Malaysia won’t have a Proton name, a Proton company and a Proton car. It will only be Geely cars sold in Malaysia.
Goodbye 35 years of history of being a car maker.
seriously dude.. people dont buy “brands” to destroy the brand. if what you say is true.. then bye bye mini, coz in a few years.. there wont be any more mini but small bmws running around.. likewise with every other brand owned by a major car brand. Companies are more about brand value than just the actual product a person buys. anyone can build a product in a short time, but brands take years to build.
35 years of a failed protectionist policy that brought about expensive cars for everyone in malaysia, 35 years of wasting taxpayers money, is that not enough?
It is not failed policy, pipu still could buy foreign brands and more Honda sold than P1
Who you vote?
Most some people want atuk to lead the country, which will introduce further protectionist policy to protect his cronies.. How la like that..
Who cares, jepunis cars are not good pun
Betul betui, jepunis cars are craps and junks
Aren’t you the happiest person if Proton no longer exist? Mr Mike Lam aka Rajoo Selvam, Muthusamy Perisamy and many dubious dupes.
Geely Lotus pon harap tukar yang lagi bagus.
Bangkit lah wahai Rakyat Malaysia! Tunggu apalagi.
Pilihlah utk ProTiga atau pilihlah utk melebihkan pengangkutan awam.
Pilihlah dgn bijaksana
Ok noted..tq
There goes a legend…geely got what they wanted…
they gained
its still LOTUS. the british car company. why cant people understand something simple as that.. VW owns lamborghini.. so buy bye bye lambo? there goes a legend? then what about volvo? its still volvo isn’t it?
At least Volkswagen didn’t make Lamborghini to change their traditional of using internal combustion engines…and I believe they could have if they wanted.So maybe you should learn to understand how changing something that had been continued for generations would affect.
before using Toyota engines Lotus was using Rover K series engines since Elise MK1. So, what did you mean by ‘changing something that had been done for generations’? theyve been changing engines ever since the beginning- Early Lotus engines were actually Ford’s.
Geely’s main interest is acquiring the expertise and technology. So like Volvo, they would likely let Lotus do their own R&D and make cars like they usually do. Only this time, they can do those things with Geely’s money and management skills.
When Lotus was still under Proton, critics b*tched about Lotus not making profits and not cheap enough for Malaysians to buy. Now, when it’s under Geely, people lament about Lotus ‘no longer Malaysian-owned’. Haters going to hate, no matter what!
to be fair, both are valid complaints. lotus was making hundreds of millions pounds losses and require constant financial support from proton . and now, proton will be back to rebadging china cars (instead of jap cars). what a shame. 30 years of R&D grants down the drain.
I love the Suprima S handling by Lotus.
Now that Geely owns both Lotus and Volvo, I can’t wait for a car that will have Volvo safety, engine/drivetrain and infotainment along with Lotus handling.Volvo is not good with handling, and Lotus is not good with features and infotainment, and the two compensates for each other’s weaknesses to get the best of both worlds.
Will continue driving my old car, until they make such a car. Lotus handling is the best!