When all the automobile giants are in race to reveal nonpareil automobiles at the Geneva Auto Show, Lotus has plans of its own.
In a bid to combine performance with economy and reduced emissions, Lotus Engineering is all set to roll out the Lotus Exige 270 E Trifuel. As the name suggest, this Trifuel machine runs over three fuels, gasoline, bioethanol and methanol.

The Exige 270 E Trifuel is to be launched within a week and it would be powered by a 1.8 litre 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine with a Roots type supercharger and intercooler capable of accelerating the light weight car from 0-60mph within 3.9 seconds. The engine produces maximum power of 270 bhp at 8000 rpm, with 260 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm, when run on standard gasoline. However, its performance is said to increase, when run on alcohol fuels like methanol and bioethanol. Between ethanol and methanol too, the performance differs. The Trifuel Exige provides better performance, when methanol is used as fuel rather than ethanol. The reason being that at high heat methanol vaporizes faster than ethanol, which eventually results in better performance.

The 2ZZ VVTL-i engine, has a twin cam profiles, a high-speed cam and a low speed cam with the switch point between these two cams being completely variable. It is totally dependent upon driving conditions and engine load. This enables the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel deliver seamless performance even at maximum revs of 8500rpm.

What is exciting is that the Lotus can also be run on any combination these three fuels. Being ‘Green’ gets a whole new meaning with this Lotus.