The untrained eye may have mistaken it for a simple aluminum chassis segment- though it was something far more special than that. On display at Lotus's Geneva Motor Show stand, the assembly of aluminum parts represents the first public showing of the manufacturer's Project Eagle.
The code-named project seeks to give the British performance automaker a flexible platform from which to create a selection of new vehicles over the next several years. The displayed chassis componentry is part of their Verastile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) which will house a yet-unknown new model. Little is known about the upcoming vehicle at this point, other than that it will draw heavily from the Elise family of vehicles and enter the market above the Elise, Exige and Europa. It is scheduled for a debut this summer at the British Motor Show.
According to Lotus officials, the company's expertise in niche vehicle engineering is helping them keep the project on the fast track. Mike Kimberley, CEO of Lotus cars, explains "this is a very exciting period for us at Lotus and the whole company is enjoying the challenge of delivering such an exceptional new Lotus car. By showing this front module at Geneva, we are proving that the new Lotus is a reality and that VVA is an advanced ecological technology from which further Lotus models will be produced, thus giving Lotus a true "multi-platform" line up over the next 5 years".
photo:Lotus
 |
| Front of Eagle Chassis |
The code-named project seeks to give the British performance automaker a flexible platform from which to create a selection of new vehicles over the next several years. The displayed chassis componentry is part of their Verastile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) which will house a yet-unknown new model. Little is known about the upcoming vehicle at this point, other than that it will draw heavily from the Elise family of vehicles and enter the market above the Elise, Exige and Europa. It is scheduled for a debut this summer at the British Motor Show.
According to Lotus officials, the company's expertise in niche vehicle engineering is helping them keep the project on the fast track. Mike Kimberley, CEO of Lotus cars, explains "this is a very exciting period for us at Lotus and the whole company is enjoying the challenge of delivering such an exceptional new Lotus car. By showing this front module at Geneva, we are proving that the new Lotus is a reality and that VVA is an advanced ecological technology from which further Lotus models will be produced, thus giving Lotus a true "multi-platform" line up over the next 5 years".
photo:Lotus