The Lotus Theory unfolds

Lotus is heading to Milan Design Week this April with something a little different. Instead of just showing off cars, they’re setting up an exhibition called The Lotus Theory — a peek into how the brand thinks about design, from their earliest icons to their most futuristic concepts.

At the heart of the exhibit is the all-electric Lotus Emeya, their sleek new hyper-GT, which will be surrounded by a mix of heritage and forward-thinking design pieces. One of the highlights is the 50th anniversary tribute to the iconic Lotus Esprit S1 — the one that famously turned into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me. Nostalgia, meet innovation.

Ben Payne, Lotus Group’s VP of Design, said Milan Design Week felt like the perfect place to unpack all this. “Design is everything to us,” he explained. “This is our chance to show people how we think, how we create, and how we shape our cars for the future.”

From 9 to 13 April, a special section called The Drivers will be open to the public. Think open exhibits, creative workshops, and talks with designers and collaborators like Pirelli, Motorskins, and Olivetti.

Speaking of Pirelli — they’ll be showing off the P Zero E, a tire that’s making waves in the industry for using over 55 percent bio-based and recycled materials while still meeting the top European efficiency and safety ratings. This tire isn’t just eco-friendly — it’s also custom-fitted for the Emeya and the electric Lotus Eletre.