Although it's bringing a special-edition Elise and a hardcore Exige to the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, the most interesting thing Lotus will display may be an engine - and one designed for use in hybrid vehicles, no less.
Thanks to its participation in a British consortium to build an eco-friendly luxury sedan, Lotus has prepared what it calls the "Range Extender engine" - a small-displacement engine intended to recharge ER-EV cars, like the Chevrolet Volt.
Lotus' engine design is a 1.2-liter three-cylinder. Lotus designed the engine as a "monoblock," which combines the cylinder head and engine block into a single piece. The firm claims nearly 17 parts are eliminated, as is the need for a head gasket.
In typical Lotus fashion, the engine is fashioned entirely of aluminum, and weighs a scant 125 pounds. Lotus claims the engine can run on high-octane gasoline, ethanol, or methanol fuels, and can ultimately produce 47 hp (37 kW) of power via the integrated generator.
Source: Lotus