Lotus Engineering and Lotus' parent group Proton are working on an inexpensive hybrid system for car-makers which do not have the time or resources to develop their own.

It will be showcasing a Proton Gen.2 with the kit, consisting of a compact 30kW electric motor sandwiched between the car's conventional engine and new continuously variable transmission.

There is also a program that shuts the engine off at the lights and turns it back on when the accelerator is depressed. A nickel metal-hydride battery pack occupies the boot floor, displacing 47 litres of space. Simulated tests show that the hybrid's fuel economy improves by 28 per cent and its tailpipe emissions decrease by 22 per cent.