From talking with the key movers and shakers on the inside of both sides of
the Alpine-Caterham partnership
the final product
would turn out to be a bit
like a Lotus
. But not actually a Lotus!
Still, if you're developing an Elise/Exige-like car and want to put spy snappers off the trail testing your powertrain in a Lotus-derived mule isn't a bad idea, shots earlier this week on Auto Evolution, Motor Authority and elsewhere making the claim that an early prototype of the car is testing at the 'ring dressed up in a suit of Hethel's finest GRP.
Like a Lotus but a bit more so, it'd seem
Is it though? Well, we'll cling to the possibility given the French plates (complete with a '91' Department code, equating to Renaultsport's design and engineering HQ south of Paris) and the obvious fact there's evidently more to this old Exige than meets the eye. Engorged track and a few other giveaways suggest there's something going on here but we're still in very early days.
We've already taken a punt on a mid-mounted transverse four-cylinder engine and dual-clutch gearbox, most likely the Clio 200's 1.6 with something north of 200hp. Easy enough to transplant into an Elise chassis for testing and not a million miles off the Alfa Romeo 4C in performance terms in other words. Though the Alpine-Caterham is unlikely to match the full carbon build or £60K pricetag. So expect a more cost-effective aluminium basis more like, well, an Elise. Given that the Lotus tub is to within a few kilos of the Alfa's carbon job that'd still give the car the necessary lightweight credentials, 200-and-something horsepower plenty in a sub-tonne for you-know-whats and giggles. And none of the parties involved have exactly offered strenuous denials or words to the contrary.
Chatting with project head Jean-Pascal Dauce at Goodwood he was very interested to find out more about cars like the 4C and Vuhl 05, adding further credence to the Elise comparisons. Though in an email exchange following he did apologise for not being able to chat for longer, adding "I don't have much to say now for three years!"
Looks like that mule is going to be earning its keep for some time yet.