Despite its current financial difficulties and lack of announcements concerning the future of its sports car production, Lotus has launched a new motorcycle division and announced plans for a C-01 superbike. The C-01 will be Lotus’ first motorcycle though the company will have a considerable helping hand in developing it.
The new motorcycle division, Lotus Motorcycles, is a joint project with Lotus racing partner Kodewa of Germany as well as car designer Daniel Simon and the Holzer Group. Considering the list of partners, Lotus’ role is starting to sound more like a licensing deal than one of actual development and production.
Kodewa is the race car constructor behind Lotus’ Le Mans and World Endurance programs and has been involved with DTM and Formula One racing in the past.
Daniel Simon, meanwhile, is a former Volkswagen Group man and was one of the key designers behind the Bugatti Veyron’s shape. More recently he’s been designing for Hollywood, with the 'Lightcycle' from Tron: Legacy being one of his movie-related projects.
Simon, who is known for his clean and holistic concepts, said of the new Lotus C-01: "We have only one ambition--to create a unique state-of-the-art machine that carries its brutal forces with elegance and style, a high-tech monster in a tailored suit.”
Finally, the Holzer Group is responsible for production of advanced materials such as titanium, carbon fiber and aerospace steel. These will feature predominantly in the construction of the C-01 superbike.
There’s been no mention of what engine will power the bike, though a 200-horsepower output has been confirmed.
More details on the Lotus C-01, including the first images, will be released in the next few weeks.
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