A lightweight Lotus motorcycle is getting closer to reality.
The iconic British sportscar company announced earlier this year it would move into the motorcycle manufacturing business with a limited edition C-01 cafe racer powered by a V2 with maximum power up to 200hp (150kW).
Company spokesman Colin Kolles says test bikes have been made and tested.
“We are just finishing the testing phase which was very successful and are confident that the Lotus motorcycle will have a big impact,” he says. “We are planning to release another teaser soon before we will release the complete design.”
The company also just received a £10 ($17.8) million government grant to be used for research and development of products, which should give their bike project a helpful and timely boost.
As expected of the former Formula 1 winners, the C-01 cafe racer will include racing technology and will be made of lightweight materials such as carbon, titanium and aerospace steel.
The C-01 is a joint project of the Kodewa racing team, performance company the Holzer Group and Bugatti designer Daniel Simon.
The German has also designed the Lightcycle in the 2010 Disney motion picture ‘Tron: Legacy’, the Bubbleship used by Tom Cruise in the recent Universal Sci-Fi hit ‘Oblivion’ and the famous black and gold livery of the Lotus LMP2 sports cars.
He refers to the C-01 as “a high-tech monster in a tailored suit”.
“The shapes of the marvellous Lotus 49 were a main inspiration, and all color schemes pay homage to iconic Lotus racing liveries, such as the dashing black and gold,” he says.
In Australia, Lotus cars are imported by Ateco in Sydney.