[13
JUN 00] COVENTRY UNIVERSITY NEWS
See The New Lotus Position At Design Show
A
full-scale model of a radical new design for a Lotus sports car of the
future will be one of the star attractions at this year's Coventry
University design show.
THE NEW CONCEPT
LOTUS
Designed
by Transport Design student Ted Mannerfelt, the sportster seats two
passengers in tandem, in a jet fighter-style sealed cockpit.
It
has a striking silver metallic paint job and darkened reflective
windows, which lends it a space shuttle like appearance.
In
production the new Lotus would also have rocket-like acceleration of
0-60 in just five seconds, tilting into corners like a motorcycle -
but amazingly would be capable of 100 mpg fuel consumption.
Ted,
who comes from Sweden, said:
"Using
a combination of electric and natural gas power plants it is quite
possible to get excellent performance with green credentials to
match.
"In
Scandinavian countries pollution control is at the top of the
political agenda, and this has informed my design of a car that
performs without polluting.”
Ted
undertook his student work placement with Lotus but then, with
encouragement from Russell Carr, the Head of Design for Group Lotus
Ltd and himself a Coventry University graduate, he began work on his
vision of a Lotus of the future.
He
added:
"I
have received a great deal of encouragement from Lotus, who have
provided me with workshop space at their Coventry operation, as well
as the materials, tools and computer aided design know-how to help
my idea become reality."
The
very latest computer design software package, known as ALIAS, was used
in the vehicle's design, and was provided at a discount by the
software company.
Ted
said:
"I
would like to thank everyone who has helped me to produce the
vehicle, which will be exhibited in a specially erected marquee
throughout the week-long show."
The
show, which is being opened later this week by Penny Mallory from the
Channel Four programme Driven, will be open to the public at Coventry
City's ground.
It
includes work from Automotive Engineering Design; Consumer Product
Design; Graphic Design; Industrial Product Design; and Communication
Authoring and Design students.
Viewing
will be from 17-21 June.
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