Images of the 2015 car were released on January 26, 2015. The E23 Hybrid was first fired up at the Lotus F1 Team base in Enstone on January 31, 2015, before being packed for pre-season testing at Jerez. It debuted on track on February 2, 2015. Following the Lotus E22, the E23 Hybrid removed some unconventional design elements, such as the twin tusk nose and rear asymmetry, opting for a more conservative design with a clean and narrow nose cone. The team's main task was integrating the new Mercedes power unit, which involved adapting the location of engine ancillaries and a different cooling layout. The water-to-air intercooler, which caused issues in 2014, was replaced with a more conventional air-to-air system. The team also worked to improve its Brake-by-Wire (BBW) system, which was not supplied by Mercedes.
At the final winter test, Lotus added a new front suspension to the E23, which, combined with a redesigned rear suspension, aimed to improve grip in slower corners and work better with the then-banned front-to-rear hydraulic link. The E23 Hybrid was the Enstone team's first car to use a Mercedes engine after a 20-year period with Renault-based powerplants. It was also the first full British team to utilize Petronas fuel and lubricants, as Mercedes mandated their use. The Lotus-Mercedes partnership was intended to last for six years but was terminated after a single season as the team returned to Renault power units.
The Lotus E23 Hybrid was driven by Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Jolyon Palmer served as the third and reserve driver. The car achieved one podium finish with Grosjean at the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix, which was the last podium for the Lotus name. The team finished sixth in the Constructors' Championship with 78 points. The 2015 season marked a small improvement in form compared to the Lotus E22, which suffered from reliability issues and struggled for competitiveness due to its underpowered and unreliable Renault power unit and chassis flaws. However, driver errors and unreliability limited the E23 Hybrid's potential for consistent points scoring. Maldonado retired in five of the first six races due to collisions or car problems. Grosjean and Maldonado collided with each other in Spain and Britain.
The livery of the E23 Hybrid featured a new gold graphics design, with most red accents removed. It retained the triple stars behind the cockpit, signifying Team Enstone's three Constructors' Championships. The team lost Rexona sponsorship as Unilever switched to Williams. 2015 was the final year for sponsors Yotaphone, Saxo Bank, PDVSA, and Proton.
The team promoted the movie Mad Max: Fury Road at the Spanish Grand Prix and sponsored Pharrell Williams' recording label I Am Other in Monaco. In Hungary, the team paid tribute to Jules Bianchi with "#JB17" on the engine cover. At Singapore, Lotus celebrated the launch of Forza Motorsport 6, with drivers wearing green Xbox overalls.
The E23 Hybrid featured a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis with upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs, and dampers actuated by push-rods for the front suspension, and pull-rods for the rear. It used Penske dampers and AP 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers with carbon discs and pads. The transmission was a Lotus eight-speed seamless sequential semi-automatic shift with reverse gear, electro-hydraulically actuated, and a titanium casing. The clutch used carbon fibre plates. The electronics included an FIA standard ECU and FIA homologated electronic and electrical system. Cooling was managed by aluminum oil, water, and gearbox radiators. The car ran on Pirelli tyres and OZ Racing forged magnesium alloy wheels. The fuel system was an ATL Kevlar-reinforced rubber bladder.
The E23 Hybrid had a height of 950 mm (minus T camera), a front track width of 1,450 mm, and a rear track width of 1,400 mm. Its FIA maximum width was 1,800 mm, and it weighed 702 kg (FIA minimum, including driver and lubricants, tank empty). The Mercedes-Benz PU106B Hybrid engine was a turbocharged, 90° 1.6l V6, assisted with kinetic and heat ERS. It had 24 valves (4 per cylinder), high-pressure direct injection (max 500 bar, one injector/cylinder), and a single-stage compressor and exhaust turbine on a common shaft. The bore was 80mm, stroke 53mm, and crank height 90mm. The energy recovery system was an integrated hybrid system via electrical Motor Generator Units, with an Energy Store of a Lithium-Ion battery solution weighing between 20 and 25 kg. It used PETRONAS Primax fuel, PETRONAS Syntium lubricants, and PETRONAS Tutela gearbox and hydraulic oil.
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