Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda and Lotus CEO Danny Bahar in Elise R.
When the tarp is lifted at the upcoming Paris Motor Show look for Lotus to unveil more than just a new model. The British maker plans to announce details of its expanded partnership with Toyota, an alliance that is expected to involve both street and racing efforts.
Promising to “take (their) relationship to the next level,” the two makers intend to work together on “tailor-made powertrain solutions for Lotus cars,” they say. The news was a significant development, presenting a positive spin on what could have been troubling development for little Lotus.
The British maker has long depended on Toyota engines for products like the Elise and Exige, but Toyota has pulled the plug on the torque little 2ZZ-GE engine used in those two-seaters.
Precisely what Toyota has in store for Lotus neither maker is saying – other than to hint there’ll be some surprises at the Lotus stand during the press days at the Paris Motor Show, on September 30th.
Industry sources, however, suggest that the goal of the two partners is to come up with a vehicle that lives up to founder Colin Chapman’s mandate of “building lightness” into all Lotus products.
But muscle is also going to matter. The 2ZZ engine, originally developed with Yamaha, which used its motorcycle racing expertise in the design, was able to put out as much as 100 horsepower per liter in naturally-aspirated configuration, and 125 hp with a supercharger.
The last 2ZZ engine, meanwhile, was returned to Japan – inside a Lotus Elise R that British CEO Danny Bahar presented to his Japanese counterpart, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.
“A Toyota engine in a Lotus car creates a completely unique drive feeling–a special blend featuring the best of Lotus and Toyota that we hope many car lovers continue to experience and enjoy,” Toyoda said.
The relationship could extend to both track and street. Grand Prix sources have been speculating that while Lotus will be making use of Renault engines the British maker also will turn to Toyota for some of the expertise that went into the Japanese maker’s TF110 racer. Had Toyota not pulled out of Formula One, the TF110 was considered a serious contender in the grueling series.