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Zap released a sketch of the new ZAP-X flagship crossover, which will feature electric in-hub motors with enough juice (664 HP) to propel the AWD mini-ute to 155 mph. As mentioned earlier, this vehicle is being developed on the Lotus Aluminum Performance Crossover platform. Though generally similar to the APX, this sketch indicates that Zap intends to take their crossover in an even sportier direction. Press release after the jump. – Matt Hardigree More »
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Back when Lotus Engineering showed off its Aluminum Performance Crossover (APX) concept car at the Geneva show last year, most assumed it was a showcase for the company's new, lightweight architecture, and nothing more. But news hit the wire this morning that Lotus will use that crossover SUV as the basis for a joint venture with ZAP, the company that came to prominence last year for federalizing Smart cars and selling them in the US, despite being disavowed by DaimlerChrysler. The companies say the all-electric model will challenge the Tesla all-electric sportster in performance, with the equivalent of 644 hp and a top speed of 155 mph — and a range of 350 miles on a charge. No word on price, but the prototype will show up at the North American Dealers Association (NADA) annual meeting and leisure-suit exhibition. – Mike Spinelli More »
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The lightweight lovers at Lotus (a totally unplanned alliteration, honestly) released press-ready shots of the company's Aluminum Performance Crossover (APX) concept. Not an indication of the company's production plans, the APX is a showcase of Lotus Engineering's aluminum Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA), which it would gladly outsource to any carmaker who'll bite. The four-wheel-drive APX seats 5 + 2 (the far rear seats are jumpers) and is powered by a 300-hp, supercharged V6 gas engine — though it weighs in at a svelte 3,461 lbs. (More pics after the jump.) More »
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Lotus Engineering, the company's soldier-of-fortune division best known for engineering parts of other carmakers' cars, will show off a new design concept built on its latest kitbag, the VVA (Versatile Vehicle Architecture), in Geneva this year. Despite its 3-liter, 300 hp V6 and other accouterments, don't think of the APX concept as a harbinger of some new Lotus-badged SUV; it's a product demo of the VVA platform, which the division hopes to sell to other carmakers. VVA, the company says, will allow very different looking cars to be built on a common architecture. Of course, Lotus will use the platform in house too, particularly as the basis of its new Esprit V8 supercar, expected any year now. More »
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