Lotus to launch a plug-in hybrid at Geneva

Lotus is aiming to bring some glamour to the plug-in hybrid sector by revealing a concept version of the Evora at next week's Geneva motor show.

While most plug-in hybrids are based on five-door hatchbacks, such as the Vauxhall Ampera, Lotus has kept the Evora chassis unchanged from the normal sports car that is currently in production.

It uses two electric motors that individually power the rear wheels and each produce 204bhp, giving a total power output of 408bhp. It also contains a 47bhp range-extender petrol engine that serves as a generator to replenish the two batteries and acts as a starter motor for the two electric motors.