Lotus

Lotus has a lot to say about its breathtaking new Theory 1 concept car. It "embodies the future of intelligent performance vehicles," and its design encapsulates "three core principles – Digital, Natural, and Analogue (DNA)."

After recently setting the Nurburgring Nordschleife 12.9-mile track record, the Lotus Evija X lays a smoky trail of rubber straight into the hay bales at the start line at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in two seconds. Not the kind of record anyone wants.

For bragging rights to be the world's fastest car, Nurburgring Nordschleife is the benchmark. The Lotus Evija X – an all-electric hypercar – entered the 'Ring, looking to take the crown from the Mercedes AMG-One on the famous racetrack in Germany.

Lotus is aiming to go 100% electric by 2028, a mission that's seen it launch hyper-SUVs and hyper ebikes. Now it's turned its attention to hyper-chargers. Its Flash Charge hardware will be future-proofed for outputs up to 450 kW.

Yes, it's a bike. And yes, it's an exorbitantly expensive Lotus ebike, not a cheap Lotus car. But the 21.6-lb (9.8-kg) Lotus Type 136 is so loaded with singular heritage and cutting-edge tech that it could be to cyclists what the great Esprit was to drivers.

Fifty-three years ago, Lotus founder Colin Chapman set out to discover how Lotus design principles could be applied to a Can-Am Series race car. The long-time-coming result is a V8 known as the Type 66 – and only 10 of them are being built.

Two years ago, Lotus unveiled the Emira V6 and described it as "the most accomplished Lotus sports car ever made." Now the British automaker has unveiled a four-cylinder version, which it says is the most powerful 4-cylinder car it's ever produced.

Ten-minute EV charging has been teased for years now, but charging times remain much slower. Even if the 6-min Nyobolt battery doesn't pan out in the real world, it gives us an idea of what an all-electric 2023 Lotus Elise successor might look like.

Salon Privé is best known for its globally recognized Concours d’Elégance, but over the 15 years since it began, it has grown into a week of automotive celebration that encompasses important car and luxury product launches and an upmarket lawn party.

Lotus moves about as far away from its recent history of light, stripped-down coupes as possible. With a 600-hp electric AWD, LiDAR units that pop up when called upon and touchscreens all over, the new Eletre SUV is a comfy, high-tech machine.

The Quail is the stage upon which prestigious marques show their finest wares for the first time and while 2021 saw a bumper crop of new models, this event is more than a hypercar showroom, it is a celebration of automotive excellence spanning all eras.

After 25 years, the Lotus Elise, along with its Exige and Evora siblings, steps aside, leaving the spotlight to the Emira. Lotus' newest sports car wears a new set of Evija-inspired clothes and continues in the tradition of light, agile performance.