The company will also build a development facility in Indianapolis, thus allowing for faster product delivery and being much close to its IndyCar customers.
When building the new engine, engineers will have to follow the new regulations, stating that engines have to be 2.4-liter six-cylinder types, turbocharged to produce between 550 hp and 700 hp. All engines will run on E85 fuel, with additional details on the fuel platform to be announced at a later date.
"We will be using the knowledge gained from our extensive research into E85 bio fuel and turbo charged engines to ensure we extract the maximum performance. As you would expect from the company that pioneered aerodynamics in sports car and F1 racing over the years, our aero body kit will also be a world class solution. So all in all, will the 2012 Lotus IndyCar will be as innovative and revolutionary as the Lotus Type 38 that won in 1965 and changed Indy forever? Maybe – we'll have to wait and see!" said Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Motorsport.
Lotus has a long history with Indy open-wheel racing, dating back to the early 1960s. Its most notable accomplishments include a victory by Jim Clark in 1965 and the all-wheel-drive, turbocharged monsters that followed a few years later. For their latest endeavor the company has partnered up with engine builder Cosworth and KV Racing.
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