The production prototype of the Lotus Elite hybrid we told you about a week ago, that will debut at the Paris Auto Show in coming days, may contain a Toyota-made hybrid powertrain.
Lotus will offer the Toyota-supplied gasoline-electric drivetrain as an option on the $179,000 5.0-liter, V-8 Lotus Elite slated to go on sale in 2014, according to a source at Lotus.
According to the source, Lotus is hoping Toyota will supply the British automaker with hybrid components for future models. Toyota did not immediately confirm any of this, but it's made no secret of the fact that it wants to sell hybrid components to other automakers to defray costs.
Indeed, Japanese automakers Subaru and Mazda have agreed to buy Toyota hybrid components for future models and Mercedes-Benz is said to be in talks with Toyota to do the same.
This news makes it sound unlikely the series hybrid system featured in the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid concept car will ever see the light of day in a production Lotus.
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