Electric Lotus Land

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A few months ago I may have seemed to have been drooling like a teen over the Tesla Roadster.  Yes, it's impressive, and no doubt it has inspired many.  For that matter, I'd still like to have one -- but I'd rather have an Aptera, if I had to choose...

The Tesla Roadster is about as close to an electric Lotus as you can get, considering the level of involvement Lotus had in its development -- and that Lotus indeed builds most of each Roadster in England, then ships the 'gliders' to California for final assembly.  It was also, more or less, the newest Lotus and the first entirely new Lotus (with the exception of a few specialty models) since the Elise was introduced in 1996...

...but this year Lotus has unveiled the Evora.  Much as I may have wanted an Elise, the Evora is much more 'civilized' and quite lovely (except for its taillights, which could and would be modified, just as those on the TR would be, if I owned one -- don't ask me why Lotus can't seem to design nice taillights these days)...  I'll take one in Isotope Green, please, with a Paprika interior...

HOWEVER.

I can't see myself spending that much on a new car.  The old saying, "They don't build 'em like they used to," still rings true.  As far as I'm concerned there have been very few decent automotive designs put into production since, let's say, the mid-Seventies.  This is from a purely aesthetic standpoint, of course, and being surrounded by late-model vehicles every day tends to soften that opinion, but I stand by it.

Blame the government.  Beginning in 1974, all new passenger cars sold in the United States of America were required to have bumpers that could withstand a 5mph impact with 'no' damage.  Near as I can tell, this (and horsepower-sapping smog regulations) made all the talented American designers give up.  I figure some of them found other creative outlets, while others found drugs and alcohol.  They certainly don't seem to be around to teach the latest generation.

Vehicles simply shouldn't be designed to crash.  You should look at your car and be able to appreciate the art of it.  When considerably more time has been spent making sure it meets safety regulations than goes into making it beautiful, something is wrong.  Of course things have changed, and we can have beauty and safety wrapped up in the same package -- theoretically.

In practice, it hardly ever works out.  Many a gorgeous concept has been transformed into a mediocre production vehicle.  The classics are classics not just because they're of a certain vintage;  They are of superior design, aesthetically.

SO.

So if I had the money to throw at a new car, I'd rather buy an old one and convert it to electric.  Even better, I'd like to build one of my own design (and yes, that's what this blog is supposed to be about).

Okay, but if I'm gonna do that, let's take a few well-thought-out steps toward that goal.  First, yes, convert an existing car to electric.  I already have a candidate languishing out on the street...  Rather than jumping from that straight into an original build, though, let's take an intermediate step and assemble a component car.

The Westfield XI is a reproduction of the Lotus Eleven, a Frank Costin design and one of the most beautiful things, in my humble opinion, to ever hit road or track.

You will no doubt have your own opinion.  There are a number of other kits I could go with -- and maybe I would, after this one.

Anyway, in a nutshell, an electric Westfield XI is my idea of an electric Lotus.  One could be built at a fraction of the price of a Tesla Roadster...

Phil Smith

November 24, 2008

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