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Following a recent announcement to introduce a new lineup of all-electric performance cars, Lotus has shared the chassis architecture the EVs will sit upon. The rear structure on this new architecture is 37% lighter than it is on the current Emira V6 and will support a new generation of Lotus performance cars with zero emissions.

Lotus Cars is an automotive manufacturer based in England with over 70 years of experience, specializing in sports cars and racing, especially Formula One.

Known for its lightweight performance vehicles, Lotus has delivered some of the fastest cars on the planet during its tenure, which has been majority-owned by Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. since 2017.

While Lotus’ entire history producing speedy autos has relied on combustion, the British automaker hinted at the possibility of developing EVs in 2019, with the debut of its $2.1 million Evija hypercar concept.

The EV has since scorched racetracks, stylishly showcasing that Lotus can deliver the lightweight speed and handling it has been celebrated for without the dependency on fossil fuels.

Rolling off the early momentum around its flagship Evija EV, Lotus recently announced its own strategized epoch toward electrification, including four electric vehicles, two of which being SUVs.

Following a world premiere today, the public now has a glimpse of the new chassis these upcoming EVs will be built around.

Lotus shares its new LEVA chassis to support upcoming EVs

In a press release from Lotus Cars, the automaker has delivered a world premiere of its modular EV chassis.

Known as Project LEVA (Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture), the chassis began development last October, with the goal of accelerating the development of Lotus’ battery electric vehicles.

This new chassis architecture has been designed by the Lotus team as an adaptable platform for a variety of future EVs with different seating, motor configurations, wheelbase lengths, and battery sizes.

Vehicle Layout Wheelbase Battery Size/
Configuration
Max Battery
Power
EDU Layout /
Max Power
Two seater Minimum 2,470mm 8-module / chest 66.4 kWh Single / 350 kW
Two seater Over 2,650mm 12-module / chest 99.6 kWh Twin / 650 kW
2+2 Over 2,650mm 8-module / slab 66.4 kWh Single / 350 kW or
Twin / 650 kW

Funding for the LEVA project partially came from the Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator (ARMD) program, awarded by the UK government. Lotus Cars’ Executive Director of Engineering, Richard Moore spoke about the capabilities of the new chassis:

Project LEVA and the electric sports car architecture are perfect illustrations of the innovation which continues to be at the heart of everything Lotus does. Today’s EVs are heavy in comparison to their ICE equivalents, so the ARMD funding has helped Lotus to innovate earlier in the product cycle and develop a new vehicle architecture that targets lightweight and performance density from conception. Rather than developing a single vehicle, it means Lotus now has the ‘blueprint’ for the next generation of electric sports cars, for future Lotus products and for the Lotus Engineering consultancy to commercialize.

According to Lotus, the rear structure on the new chassis architecture is 37% lighter than it is on the Emira V6 ICE vehicle. With a lighter chassis and instant torque from electric motors, Lotus is sure to deliver clean, nasty speed with its upcoming family of EVs.

The new lightweight chassis is ready to support prototypes, and Lotus will now focus on developing and manufacturing the four announced EVs with the help of Geely. Here’s the current timeline:

  • 2022, Lotus will debut an E-segment SUV codenamed Type 132
  • 2023, Lotus plan to launch an E-segment four-door coupe, Type 133
  • 2025, Lotus will follow with the Type 134, a new D-segment SUV
  • 2026, Lotus will launch an all-new electric sports car, Type 135

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Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin

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Tomorrowland: 'Devastating' blaze destroys main stage at major festival - two days before it was due to begin

A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.

Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.

Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.

fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
Image:
The fire gutted the main stage


 fire which destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
Image:
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control

The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.

It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.

Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.

A fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
Image:
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky


The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.

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The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.

Read more from Sky News:
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.

Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.

“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”

Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen who said fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’

Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.

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Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home

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Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home

An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home.

Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series.

The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home.

Both had died from gunshot wounds.

Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook
Image:
Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook

Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths.

It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July – killing the couple upon their return.

According to Los Angeles Police, there were “no signs of forced entry or trouble” at the property.

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Ms Kaye was an industry veteran – and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.

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Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles
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Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles

In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: “Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.

“Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”

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Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week’s shows in Manchester

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Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week's shows in Manchester

Huge steel fences have been erected to prevent ticketless fans from watching the Oasis reunion tour in Manchester.

Liam and Noel Gallagher will resume their sold-out run of shows – their first since 2009 – with a performance at Heaton Park tonight, and two more on Saturday and Sunday.

While tens of thousands bought tickets for Oasis’s first two shows last weekend, crowds gathered to glimpse the large screens above the stage in the distance – in an area dubbed “Gallagher Hill” by some on social media.

People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. File pic: Reuters
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People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. Reuters file pic

Manchester City Council has now said more steel fences have been erected around parts of the park to prevent ticketless fans from watching the gigs, and to protect nature in the park.

“After taking stock of how the first two nights went, additional measures have now been deemed necessary and will be in place for the next three concerts,” it said.

“The erection of the fencing has a dual purpose – both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there.

“The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”

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Friday: Excited fans at Oasis homecoming gig

The fences will cover a large area of the hill within the park’s cattle field, which is being developed as a new woodland area with around 300 young trees planted.

The council added that there would be no facilities for people without a ticket, and said the event area is “double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round”.

More than 2,000 event security staff and police officers will also be on duty around the site “to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticket-holders and that only those who have tickets access the concert”, it said.

Read more:
What was Oasis’s first show in 16 years like?
Fans queue all day for Manchester homecoming gig

John Hacking, the council’s executive member for employment, skills and leisure, also said in a statement that “unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place”.

He added: “Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead.

“The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time.

“We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”

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