This year marks the 60th year of Group Lotus Plc’s being in the auto industry. And as part of their diamond anniversary, the company has decided to celebrate this event in style. A list of high profile happenings are already planned and all these events are focusing on the roots of the Lotus brand and just what the auto industry should look forward to. One of the most awaited events would be the Birthday Party for Lotus and the company is already expecting more than 15,000 guests to arrive and share the night with them.

Group Lotus Plc started back in 1948 when its founder, Colin Chapman, completed his very first racecar. From that first unit, Chapman continued designing stylish vehicles that are packed with power and maintain a good performance on the road. At present, Chapman is known as one of the best engineers in the auto industry with his “performance through lightweight” theory highly regarded as the foundation that today’s racing teams still apply when creating vehicles

Have you already roamed around and checked every stand in the 76th Geneva Motor Show and yet you feel there is still something (a production car or a concept vehicle maybe) that you haven’t seen? Well, your inkling is right, for you haven’t really seen it all and you’ll probably never see it all. During the two press days, just before the motor show was opened for public viewing, the Lotus APX concept was showcased in the Lotus Engineering stand. But today, and probably until the end of the show, that same spot is now being occupied by the new Lotus Europa S lightweight GT.

So what is the Lotus APX concept all about? The Lotus APX is a 4-wheel drive crossover concept—a surprise coming from an engineering consultancy company better known for their lightweight sportscars. A closer look at the vehicle, however, tells you that it is genuinely Lotus in every way, except maybe for the absence of the Lotus badge. The vehicle is lightweight, thanks to the extensive use of aluminum from the vehicle’s frame to the engine. More importantly, the concept vehicle showcases the versatility of Lotus’ VVA (Versatile Vehicle Architecture), an innovation that will soon be seen in a Lotus production vehicle by 2008.

APX stands for “Aluminum Performance Crossover”—a name that reflects well the structure of the concept vehicle and speaks well of the company’s stated core value, “Performance through Light Weight”. It is a crossover vehicle that can seat up to five adults plus two toddlers on occasional rear seats. With its smooth flowing lines and symmetrical curves, the vehicle looks swift even if standing still.

The true sportscar spirit of the concept vehicle, however, can better be seen on its powertrain and performance specs. Equipped with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine rated at 300 hp, and with a lightweight body that weighs a mere 3,454 pounds, the vehicle can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. The vehicle also registers a combined fuel consumption of 32 mpg which is definitely better than most production crossover units.

There is little hope, however, for us to see the Lotus APX one more time, whether on the Geneva Motor Show or as a production unit. Apparently, the Lotus Group has no plans of bringing the vehicle into the production line. Not even the 3.0-liter V6 powertrain is expected to be mass produced any time sooner. The Lotus APX concept and all its parts, however, are very feasible for production. And according to a Lotus spokesperson, “If another manufacturer wanted to sell the APX, it could be on the road as it’s seen here.”