What is it?
The City Car Concept is a re-skinned Proton Emas, which debuted at
this year's Geneva show. Unsurprisingly, it's an electric car, and could go into production in 2014. Its powertrain is of the range-extending type.
Why's it here?
Of all the six new car unveils on the Lotus Paris show stand, this city car is the one that could be the most important; Lotus may need to sell a load of these, cheap, to underpin its supercar range and stay afloat. We're speculating, but Proton has to recoup its reported £700m-plus investment from somewhere.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Among five brand new coupés and supercars, nobody's looking at the city car, are they? Nonetheless, it's a nice little design that could prove important to Lotus. Hey, at least it's not a re-grilled Toyota iQ, eh?
Full Paris Motor Show report
Mark Nichol - 12 Oct 2010