Lotus Emotion

The Lotus Emotion as static version was exhibited by Bertone at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit: a beautiful display of classic elegance blended with undeniable modernity, without exaggerating on the current trends. The Lotus Emotion was a really exciting project: its discreet elegance really stood out at the Detroit show, which was focussing on concepts derived from the field of biodesign. The design of the proportions and surfaces, with total attention to the elimination of stylistic excesses, creates a body with clean, elegant and masterfully compact lines. The beltline is tight, smooth and almost horizontal. An air inlet, placed under a panel fold, is the only detail to feature on the minimal, essential wings. The chassis is the same length as the Lotus Esprit (245 cm), but with the total length at just over 4 metres (406 cm) this really is a very compact car. It is comparable to the Lancia Stratos or Lamborghini Bravo, two memorable Bertone creations that featured the same structure, based on a centrally-mounted engine. And in the style of the Turin designer, there is a highly original use of glazed surfaces, with the side windows closing in towards the rear to create a pointed rear windscreen. This singular design feature dictates the triangular shape of the roof. With the Emotion, Bertone and his team establish their distinctive design identity in the context of pure style.