Lotus unveils Theory 1: the future of intelligent performance

Ben Payne, Vice President of Design, Lotus Group said:  
“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. We want to demonstrate that you don’t need to compromise – with both digital and analogue capabilities working harmoniously in the future car. In doing this, we are able to bring drivers the best possible immersive driving experience with raw emotion, functionality and connectivity, at the core.” 

Lotus has developed its own proprietary driver system called LOTUSWEAR™, which is an immersive system that aims to deliver a personalised experience to every occupant in the car, designed to evoke a sense of emotion and excitement – and further connect them to the road.   

This features an adaptive soft and lightweight robotic textile material, enabling the car to communicate with the driver and passengers and offer a more intuitive and comfortable in-car experience. It aims to do this through inflatable pods on the seating and steering wheel that will react in real time to offer more support, grip, and subtle prompts via personalised haptic feedback. For example, pulses on the left and right sides of the wheel will indicate when the driver should make a turn   

Part of the proprietary driving system is the LOTUSWEAR™ Technology Line - a functional technology band running inside and outside of the car, acting as a communication device. It includes: 

• Integrated OLED technology to display multiple functions of the vehicle status to the driver and occupants, as well as other road users and pedestrians e.g. detecting the presence of an object or person close to the vehicle.   
• Lotus’ 360-degree autonomous driving sensor suite. The fully embedded L4 hardware capability consists of four deployable LiDARs, six HD cameras, and a combination of long- and short-range millimeter radars, plus ultrasonic radars, delivering 360° (5x) perception coverage. 

A new benchmark for user experience 
Theory 1 has integrated projections, screens, and haptics, with Lotus’ new design manifesto to create a borderless user experience and provide the driver with information quickly and easily through: 

• Analogue interactive components and notifications via the adaptive inflatable soft textile material by MotorSkins.  

• A digital system that uses intelligent environmental light, LED and laser-light components, and reflections on the windscreen to communicate information with the driver, such as obstacle detection, braking, turns and more.  

• Two laser lights on the dashboard wings to indicate left and right turns, working alongside the haptic inflation materials on the seats. 

• Additional RGB LEDs on the suspension modules, which are visible from the interior, and have green or red signals, depending on the need for braking or acceleration.  

• Clear, functional, 2D graphics to display the main data on the steering wheel, ERMDs, and heads-up display.

• Immersive 3D graphics, where a grid of points evolve into lines that change length, colour and direction according to vehicle speed, braking, turning, and drive modes - a homage to the Arte Programmata movement from the 60s. 

Inspired by the revolutionary Lotus 49 Formula 1 car, Theory 1 has been designed to use its motor and battery assembly as a stressed member to take the forces directly from the suspension – reducing complexity and weight, with no need for a subframe.  

The rear wing has also been mounted directly to the motor and suspension assembly to ensure the downforce acts directly on the suspension mounts, all the way through to the tyres - reducing losses and frontal lift. The rear suspension system also features a pull rod design, which delivers a more compact package and lower centre of gravity. 

Theory 1 is a three-seater sports car which has a central driving position, with a passenger on each side, nestled behind the driver.

The car also features steer-by-wire, which enables precision and control at every turn and the ability to adjust steering ratios, speed and feel. This is designed to deliver precision and the smoothest ride, further enhancing driver confidence, and connecting them to the road.  

Theory 1 also details the latest advanced performance braking systems from AP Racing, who Lotus has had a long-standing relationship with. It goes all the way back to the 1967 Lotus 49 and AP Racing today provides the brake systems in Lotus’ current product lineup including Evija, Eletre and Emeya. Theory 1 features a super lightweight, high performance carbon ceramic braking system, with near-net Monoblock aluminum forged body with asymmetric design – reducing material where not needed. 

Target technical specifications