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01/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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It’s not scheduled to debut until tomorrow, but we’ve managed to snap a few pics of the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid concept car on display at the Geneva Auto Show. Based on the new Evora, it makes  roughly 400-hp thanks to a complex setup that includes the tiny Lotus range extender engine.

That 1.2-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine makes just 47-hp, but is mated to two electric motors and a lithium-polymer battery pack. It works like the Chevy Volt, with only the electric motors powering the wheels, while the gasoline engine kicks in afterwards to deliver extended range. Lotus claims 35 miles of emissions free driving, while the gasoline engine allows for a total of 300 miles.

Lotus has designed the car to put the power down independently through the rear wheels, as a result each rear wheel is capable of 204-hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque. That’s enough to propel the Evora 414E Hybrid to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds. Lotus has equipped this range-extender engine with a single gear transmission, but it has designed transmission software to create seven imaginary gears for ideal performance driving.

There’s no word from Lotus yet if the brand is seriously considering building a hybrid, but we should have more news on that for you tomorrow.

GALLERY: Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid

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25/02/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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Lotus has just teased us with a single image of a concept car that just has to be a concept, because it’s too good to be true. Based on the new Evora, it’s called the 414E Hybrid and makes 400-hp. But it’s better than that!

Lotus has designed the car to put the power down independently through the rear wheels, as a result each rear wheel is capable of 204-hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque. That’s enough to propel the Evora 414E Hybrid to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds. Lotus has equipped this range-extender engine with a single gear transmission, but it has designed transmission software to create seven imaginary gears for ideal performance driving.

Now all this power comes from the Lotus-designed 47-hp, 1.2-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine mated to two electric motors and a lithium-polymer battery pack. It works like the Chevy Volt, with only the electric motors powering the wheels, while the gasoline engine kicks in afterwards to deliver extended range. Lotus claims 35 miles of emissions free driving, while the gasoline engine allows for a total of 300 miles.

We’ll be sure to bring you more on the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid with live coverage of the Geneva Auto Show starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

Official release after the jump:

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