Take a minute to get your noggin around this one. Lotus Engineering has been contracted to turn a Civic Hybrid into a down n’ dirty racer by Oaktech, a British firm. Oaktech plans to campaign the car in the Dunlop Max Sport Cup (rally). The 1.3-liter engine and CVT transmission that come in the car from the factory are to remain, but factory suspension hardware went straight out Lotus’s window. Like Isuzu’s from the 80s, this Honda sports suspension “Tuned by Lotus.” To glean a little more speed from the hybrid, the British company has reworked the car’s regenerative braking system and battery packs for more gusto, too. While you’d think we’d be psyched at the combination of two of our favorite things (Lotus and Honda) it’ll be interesting to see how the car does lugging those hefty hybrid bits around the various stages. [JPCN]