Lotus brings back the Esprit as an electric three-seater with a very modern look

Lotus remains a brand of supercars that must be taken into account. A few decades ago, in the 1970s, the British brand, now under Chinese control, launched the Lotus S1 Esprit. This model returns to life this year thanks to the production of a prototype that also marks the path the brand will follow in the near future.

The Lotus Theory 1 does not receive the S1 Esprit name, but it is perfectly clear that this model has been the most obvious inspiration for the designers when shaping it. One of its highlights is that it has three seats, a body made of carbon fibre and, thanks to this, its weight stays at around 1,600 kg.

The visual appearance is very important, and a strong aesthetic impact is achieved thanks to the carbon fibre that is visible on the bodywork. Something that helps reinforce the exterior image is the design of the doors, which use a butterfly opening design and offer a spectacular look when they open.

As a good prototype, it is equipped with several elements that point to the future of the brand. For example, an adaptive robotics system has been installed in the steering wheel and seat, covered with fabric, which will assist the driver on every journey. These are small inflatable capsules that emit pulses, telling the driver through touch when to turn or even functioning as buttons.

Another novelty is steer-by-wire, which could bother the brand’s most enthusiastic fans, as they are more used to the handling offered by a traditional steering system. Another reason to look at this concept model is the tyres. It has been fitted with Pirelli P Zero Elect tyres. These have been developed to reduce rolling resistance and allow range to be increased by up to 10%.

These tyres are fitted to other Lotus models such as the Eletre and the Emeya, so they are already familiar to the brand’s fans. The Theory 1, despite being an electric vehicle, feels like a fully fledged Lotus and has been designed to focus on the driver and deliver a sense of pure, intense driving. Many of the elements present in this concept model will reach production vehicles at some point, so it is a very practical preview of many innovations.