Bonus: Autocar Meets... Lotus design director Russell Carr
About this episode
Russell Carr, the design director at Lotus, shares insights on the brand's design philosophy and future direction during a lively conversation at a London event. He discusses the importance of lightweight design, aerodynamics, and how Lotus is adapting to electric vehicle technology while maintaining its core values. Carr also highlights the collaborative efforts between design and engineering teams and the commitment to producing unique, high-performance vehicles. The episode offers a glimpse into Lotus's future projects and the significance of design in attracting customers.
In this week's bonus episode of the Autocar podcast, Autocar Meets Russell Carr, design director at Lotus.
Talking at an event in London to Autocar's editor-at-large Matt Prior, the pair discuss lightweight design in an electric age, what's going on at Hethel, and how Lotus fits into a multinational company like Geely.
The regular My Week In Cars podcast will also be with you throughout Christmas. If you subscribe to the feed you'll never miss one. And if you could review and share we'd appreciate it more than you know.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
EVO
"[171.1s] El EVO tiene una muy especial car, por supuesto."
"EVO" is a nickname for the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, a sporty car that many people like because it’s fast and can handle well on different roads. It has a turbo engine that gives it extra power.
The "EVO" refers to the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, a high‑performance rally‑derived sports sedan known for its turbocharged flat‑four engine and all‑wheel drive. It has been a popular choice among enthusiasts for its balance of power, handling, and everyday usability.
Lotus
"[492.4s] ...hand in glove with a [496.7s] Lotus..."
Lotus makes sports cars that are very light and fast. They work closely with designers and engineers to make sure the cars handle well and are easy to drive.
Lotus is a British automotive manufacturer known for producing lightweight, high-performance sports cars and racing vehicles. The company emphasizes engineering simplicity and agility, often collaborating closely with designers and engineers to create cars that excel in handling and speed.
aerodynamics
"battery electric car design the aerodynamics is much more important"
Aerodynamics is about how air moves around a car. Good design makes the car cut through air more easily, which helps it go faster and use less energy.
Aerodynamics is the study of how air flows around a vehicle, affecting its speed, efficiency, and stability.
battery electric car
"battery electric car design the aerodynamics is much more important"
A battery electric car runs on electricity from batteries instead of gasoline. It has no engine that burns fuel, so it’s quieter and cleaner.
A battery electric car (BEV) is a vehicle powered solely by electricity stored in batteries, with no internal combustion engine.
electric sports car
"small startup company in California who did an electric sports car with us many years ago"
An electric sports car is a fast, fun car that runs on batteries instead of gas. It’s built for quick acceleration and sharp turns.
An electric sports car is a high-performance vehicle powered by electricity, designed for speed and handling.
drag
"reducing drag allows you to go fast from further basically in simple terms"
Drag is the pushback from air when a car moves. Less drag means the car can go faster and use less power.
Drag is the resistance a vehicle experiences as it moves through air; lower drag improves speed and range.
downforce
"and obviously downforce then allows you to go quick around the corners"
Downforce is like a gentle push from the car’s shape that keeps it glued to the road when turning, so it can go faster around corners.
Downforce is the aerodynamic force that pushes a car down onto the road, increasing tire grip during cornering.
light weight design
"[572.8s] Tell us about Lotus's commitment to light weight design and how that weighs in with battery electric vehicles"
Making a car lighter means it can go faster and use less energy. Engineers cut out unnecessary weight while keeping the car strong.
Lightweight design refers to engineering vehicles with minimal mass, improving performance, efficiency, and handling by reducing the amount of material used.
efficiency
"[593.8s] phrasing it's all about efficiency really so we just try and make the most efficient master vehicle we possibly can"
Efficiency is about using less fuel or power to do the same job. A more efficient car gets you farther on a single charge or tank.
Efficiency in automotive terms means achieving the desired performance or output while minimizing energy consumption and waste.
high performance hybrid
"when we see you know high performance hybrid performance cars and where we are"
It’s a car that uses both gasoline and electric power to go fast but also save gas. The electric part helps it accelerate quickly, and the gasoline engine keeps it running long distances.
A high performance hybrid is a vehicle that combines an internal combustion engine with electric motors to deliver strong acceleration and power while improving fuel efficiency.
carbon fiber panels
"the right materials building a car like we have with the via with a carbon fiber panels helps keep the mass down"
These are panels made from a special material that’s very light and strong. Using them in a car helps it weigh less, which makes it faster and more efficient.
Carbon fiber panels are lightweight, high-strength components made from carbon fibers embedded in a resin matrix. They reduce vehicle weight while maintaining structural rigidity.
Audi A4
"[832.6s] an Audi A4 event launched some time ago they said 60% of the customers put designers the first reason they were buying that car and it strikes it you"
The Audi A4 is a popular car that sits between a small sedan and a larger luxury model, offering good performance and a comfortable ride.
The Audi A4 is a compact executive car produced by the German automaker Audi, known for its balanced handling and upscale interior.
Theory One
"[1202.7s] just tell me what it is so theory one is is this concept car it's really a statement of intent"
Theory One is a prototype car made to show what the company thinks future sports cars will look like. It helps designers and engineers test new ideas before they go into production.
Theory One is a concept car project that serves as a design and engineering showcase, illustrating the future direction of a manufacturer's sports cars. It demonstrates new styling cues, technology integration, and performance goals that may influence production models.
F1 team
"Steve also chats to Pat Simmons executive engineering consultant at the new Cadillac F1 team that's on Wednesday the 24th of December"
An F1 team builds and races cars in the fastest car racing series in the world, called Formula One.
An F1 team is a racing organization that competes in Formula One, the highest class of single-seat auto racing sanctioned by the FIA.
Cadillac
"Steve also chats to Pat Simmons executive engineering consultant at the new Cadillac F1 team that's on Wednesday the 24th of December"
Cadillac makes fancy cars that are usually more expensive and have a lot of technology. They’re part of the big American car company General Motors.
Cadillac is an American luxury automobile brand owned by General Motors, known for its high-end vehicles and recent ventures into electric and autonomous technology.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.