Lotus undeniably has a rich racing history. Lotus is one sports car maker that doesn't just look at the past, but also the future. In fact, the British carmaker is already setting its sights head to 2030 with its new design study. Dubbed the Lotus E-R9, this new design study envisions a next-generation all-electric endurance Lotus racer that would compete in races nearly a decade from now.
A Showcase Of Electrified Prowess and Aerodynamics
The E-R9 is meant to be a technology showcase of the carmaker's philosophy and capability in two fields: electrified powertrains and aerodynamics. This incredibly inventive race car concept was developed by both the engineering teams of Richard Hill (chief aerodynamicist at Lotus) and Louis Kerr (principal platform engineer on the Lotus Evija), its visual design was penned by the Lotus Design team led by Lotus Design Director Russell Carr.
For those wondering how the E-R9 got its name, the letters E-R stands for Endurance Racer, while "9" is its competition number picked to pay homage to the carmaker's rich racing history. Lotus as a team first competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours (1955) in a Lotus Mark IX.
If the E-R9 becomes a racing reality in 2030, its debut would celebrate the Mark IX’s 75th anniversary. The E-R9 is wrapped in black and gold finish as a nod to Lotus’ motorsport heritage.
Driven Like A Car, Flown Like A Fighter Jet
As designed, the E-R9 features a delta-wing upper body with a fighter jet-like canopy. It boasts the so-called ‘morphing’ body panels across its delta-wing profile. These panels feature active surfaces able to change shape to deliver max downforce on the corners and minimum drag on the straights. The shape change can be done automatically or manually by pressing a button.
In addition, the futuristic endurance EV racer has vertical control surfaces at the rear section that can generate aerodynamic forces to help the E-R9 change directions even at high speeds without having to worry about the tire grip. According to Lotus, this means the E-R9 can be partly driven like a car and partly flown like a fighter jet.
Adjustable Drivetrain For Each Wheel
Serving as the core of the Lotus E-R9 is an advanced electric drivetrain that powers each wheel independently. This electric drivetrain builds on the one installed in the Evija hypercar, although it can be adjusted by the driver even when running.
Source: Lotus