Lotus will unveil an electric sports car next year and production is expected to begin in 2027, according to a recent report from Top Gear.
Dubbed the Type 135, the sports car will target a starting value of around £75,000 (around $95,000 in current wallets). That’s a bit more expensive than the entry-level versions of the current gasoline-powered Lotus Emira, but the automaker forecasts a steady increase. with production volumes of 10,000 to 15,000 cars consistent with the year for global sales, versus Emira’s target of 5,000 to 6,000 units.
Lotus Eletre
“The task is working full speed ahead at the moment,” Ben Payne, Lotus’ vice president of design, said in an interview with Top Gear. But the design may not be completely closed, as Payne also said his team is “looking at the ultimate answer to what it’s going to be. “
The sports car, which likely won’t use the legacy Lotus name, according to the report, will stick to the Evija hypercar and the Elitre SUV. While the Etre will impress, with up to 905 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 2. 9 seconds, the sports car will most likely be closer to Lotus’ roots than this heavy-duty SUV.
Lotus Emeya
An electric SUV smaller than the Eletre will also be unveiled later this year, with deliveries set to begin in 2026, according to Top Gear. Called the Type 134, its base value would be around $70,000 and would target production volumes of 80,000 to 90,000 vehicles per year. These are huge numbers for Lotus which, as Top Gear noted, delivered 567 cars in 2022.
The Emeya electric super sedan is also scheduled start production this year. The Emeya has the same 905 hp as the sportiest Eletre, but it’s packaged in a sleeker, coupe-like shape.