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Posted by Pinky Bean
on July 25, 2008 2:33 AM
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Filed Under: Transportation |
Lotus has introduced the new eco-friendly version of their popular Elise car. The Eco Elise officially debuted at the British International Auto Show which started on Wednesday and runs through August 3.
The Eco Elise has some fairly distinctive features such as hemp bodywork, woven seats made from biodegradable woolen fabric and solar panels. It also weighs significantly less than the standard Elise model (over 70 pounds less) and has a "red light" system so drivers get the maximum efficiency with each gear change. Solar panels embedded in the hemp hard top use energy from the sun to power the car's electrical system. Even the speakers are lighter!
"This Eco Elise is a great example of the advanced and affordable green technologies Lotus is developing," said Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus.
The car is just a prototype for now, but the response to the sleek appearance and innovative eco-friendly features has been largely positive. For some reason, 2010 seems to be the auto industry's magic year - will you be seeing the Eco Elise on the road around that time? Stay tuned...
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