Well, the latest hype in the world of EV is the new hybrid concept from Lotus, due to be unveiled next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The original Evora (pictured on CNet) is a very pretty car. The hybrid version? Well, we’ll see, but don’t be surprised if it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
In fact, CNet goes so far as to say that it’s a one up on the Chevy Volt (like that’s hard) and the Tesla Roadster (I doubt that). Nice try, shoving all those keywords into one title, CNet, but I’m afraid a Lotus can’t be compared to a Chevrolet with a straight face. Now the Lotus Evora and the Lotus Elise Tesla Roadster? Apples to apples there. Except the Roadster is all-electric and the 414E will be a hybrid (technically a range-extended electric). Maybe not really apples there either. Washington Reds to Granny Smiths at best.
Of course, I covered the simple press release from Lotus regarding the 414E Hybrid over at FutureCars.com. That teaser photo (which appears here, of course) is not much. It is sexy, though. In a hot car/EV-geek kind of way.
At any rate, Jalopnik does it justice in their review. Although both they and Car and Driver couldn’t help but throw in the Volt references. I’m starting to wonder if GM is paying auto journalists and bloggers for every Volt reference they can make – and double if it includes reference to a sexy sports car in the same sentence. If so… how do I get in on that? WTF?
It all boils down to this: Lotus teased a photo and a few tidbits of info on a promised reveal of a sexy range-extended electric hybrid sports car next week and it will have 414 horsepower. So? So they’re making like Apple and teasing just enough to get a lot of press coverage for what will probably end up being a non-functioning show model with a lot of drawings and speeches with European accents.
All the while, it’s probably some secret marketing plan by GM to keep hyping the Volt. At least it’s not that stupid song and dance thing they graced the Internet with. I won’t even bother linking to it. It’s horrid.
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