Lotus Engineering, the engineering consultancy division of Group Lotus, has developed a bio-ethanol E85 version of the Lotus Exige.

The research vehicle is a true Lotus (it weighs just 930kg unladen) and is called the Lotus Exige 265E. The figure 265 indicates the approximate horsepower and is consistent with the naming strategy of other one-off and limited-run Lotus variants such as the Lotus Sport Exige 240R; the letter E indicates the environmentally favourable bio-ethanol E85 fuel (85percent ethanol alcohol and 15percent petrol/gasoline) that powers this extremely high-performance sportscar.

Key to this performance is a slightly modified version of the 1.8-litre 2ZZ VVTL-i high-revving four-cylinder engine from the standard Lotus Exige S with a Roots-type supercharger and intercooler.

Key changes have been made to the fuel system and the engine calibration, and the four fuel injectors mounted on the inlet manifold have been enlarged. Two additional fuel injectors have been fitted at the supercharger inlet to increase the amount of fuel being injected in to the engine under higher engine loads and to further cool the charge air prior to combustion.

Bio-ethanol can be made from bio-mass plant crops such as cereals, sugar beet, sugar cane and wood. It can produce more power in the engine conventional petrol/gasoline fuel. 

For more information, visit www.grouplotus.com