Lotus stunned attendees of this month’s 2023 Monterey Automotive Week in California with the reveal of the Kind 66, a limited-edition monitor automobile primarily based on a race automobile that Lotus designed within the late Sixties however by no means bought round to constructing.

The unique plan for the Kind 66 was to enter it within the 1970 Can-Am Sequence. Lotus founder Colin Chapman wished to see how his firm’s light-weight ethos would fare in Can-Am however a deal with Method 1 meant Chapman by no means bought his want, regardless of Lotus’ lead draughtsman on the time, Geoff Ferris, having accomplished a lot of the design of the Kind 66.

To assist rejoice Lotus’ seventy fifth anniversary this 12 months, the corporate has now introduced plans to place the Kind 66 into manufacturing. Simply 10 examples shall be constructed, as a nod to the variety of races the automobile would have competed in in the course of the 1970 Can-Am season, and every shall be priced from greater than 1 million British kilos (roughly $1.27 million).

To develop the automobile, Lotus depends on unique drawings, a few of which had been within the possession of Clive Chapman, Colin Chapman’s son and the present director of Lotus’ basic automobile division. Utilizing these drawings, Lotus was in a position to create computer-generated 3D photographs to assist finalize the design.

Lotus Kind 66

Some modifications have been made, principally to fulfill trendy security requirements. For instance, Lotus has added an inboard gasoline cell, sequential transmission with anti-stall, a carbon-fiber physique, and a bolstered driver compartment.

Efficiency elements had been enhanced too, significantly in terms of aerodynamics of the underbody. Utilizing trendy computational fluid dynamics, Lotus has managed to create a design that generates greater than 1,763 kilos of downforce at 150 mph.

“Whereas the visible expression is strikingly much like what may have been—together with the period-correct white, crimson and gold graphics—the know-how and mechanical underpinnings of the Lotus Kind 66 signify the perfect in immediately’s superior racing efficiency,” Simon Lane, who heads the mission, stated in a press release.

In keeping with Lotus, simulator testing has proven the Kind 66 will seemingly match the efficiency of a contemporary GT3 race automobile.

Lotus Kind 66

The chassis consists of extruded aluminum, bonded joints, and aluminum honeycomb panels, which was much like what Lotus was utilizing on the time. A hard and fast roll cage has additionally been added for security.

One of many actual highlights of the design is a pushrod V-8 engine that Lotus has developed purely the mission. The mid-mounted engine, full with solid aluminum internals and trumpet-style air intakes, is claimed to ship 830 hp at 8,800 rpm. The intakes, which had been a typical website in the course of the Can-Am days, create laminar stream whereas additionally rising volumetric effectivity, serving to to enhance combustion and in flip increase energy.

Lotus hasn’t stated when deliveries will begin.