[Administrator]

When Lotus first showed the Exige 270E Tri-Fuel at the Geneva Auto Show back in 2008 it was seen more as an engineering project than a concept car. That, however, may change.

Recently the vehicle was put on display at the Shanghai Auto Show in China and interest was so high China's Lotus distributor is pushing for a production model. Youngman Auto, a joint-venture between Lotus and the Chinese government (that's how they do things in China), has now made an official request to Lotus in the U.K. to build a consumer version of the sports car.

As the name suggest, the Tri-Fuel Exige can operate on any one of three energy sources: gasoline, bioethanol and methanol. It is, therefore, a three-way FlexFuel vehicle.

And that "green" engineering doesn't come as the cost of performance either. Quite the opposite actually. The Exige 270E Tri-Fuel (again, as the name suggests), makes 270hp from a supercharged Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four-cylinder. Lotus estimates the car can hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and tops out at 158 mph.

Lotus corporate has not made any claims about the production request but we'll be sure to bring you news as it develops.

More: Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel Could See Production on AutoGuide.com

 

[Randy Chase]

:drool:

 

[agirls]

Is that the only picture available? It looks hot!

 

[Demonized]

Is that the only picture available? It looks hot!

Let me google that for you

 

[milehitom]

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eE0F81BXZgI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eE0F81BXZgI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

It's always fun to see this again. :drool:

Maybe Lotus will also supply a conversion kit...I can dream, can't I?

Tom

 

[bueno]

Let me google that for you

Ouch.

 

[chotto]

Is that the only picture available? It looks hot!

Try searching tri-fuel. It's been talked about a lot. AutoEurope has had this car at their place for a long time. They showed it at the auto show.

 

[eliiz]

Well, it´s sure something to do in these days, but 270bhp aren´t enough anymore, when there´s many Honda or Audi converted cars that are over 300bhp. 360bhp or more!:coolnana:

 

[Vishus_1]

If Lotus is planning on building this, I don't see it coming as an 09. I would expect 2009 production to end, as it typically does, somewhere around June. Usually dealers place orders 2 months ahead of that (which has already passed). So if Lotus does build this it will be a 2010 with 2010 bodywork.

 

[ads_green]

Lotus would be insane unless they can get solid protection on the technology (which doesn't exist) .
Otherwise it'll simply be ripped off by a local firm.