When Lotus launched the Elise mid-engined sports activities automotive in 1996, the mannequin embodied the corporate’s ethos of “including lightness” like nearly no different Lotus earlier than it and weighed underneath 1,600 kilos. The mannequin developed over time and was saved in manufacturing till 2021 when Lotus mentioned it will get an EV substitute in 2026.
Work on the long run electrical sports activities automotive codenamed Sort 135 was already underway when the Elise was phased out. Lotus then introduced it was pushing again the launch of the mannequin to 2027.
Now even that appears unsure as per Lotus Group design boss Ben Payne, who not too long ago talked to Autocar concerning the upcoming electrical sports activities automotive.
Lotus Sort 135 has been within the works for a couple of years
Lotus introduced that it was engaged on a bespoke electrical sports activities automotive to function the non secular successor to the Elise and it had plans to launch it in 2027. Nonetheless, we may even see it later if EV batteries do not turn into lighter within the subsequent couple of years.
Payne mentioned present EV batteries make automobiles too heavy, which is one thing that simply wouldn’t be appropriate for a Lotus sports activities automotive, even an electrical one. He mentioned “the expertise proper now does probably not assist you to recreate that product in a convincing means,” noting that it’s a lot simpler to make a bigger, taller car electrical. In distinction, an electrical sports activities automotive is far tougher to create given the scale and weight constraints that it imposes.
He went on to elucidate that “the archetype of the second is the bigger, larger product, as a result of you may very simplistically package deal the required technical components into that dimension of car extra simply.” When requested whether or not this implies Lotus would miss the 2027 launch deadline for the electrical sports activities automotive, which might not solely function a substitute for the Elise but additionally the present Emira, he declined to provide a definitive reply, saying that it was nonetheless “100% attainable” to have the car prepared by then. Nonetheless, “it’s a tough job.”
Lotus could need to hold its future electrical sports activities automotive mild, however it has no drawback promoting heavy EVs made in China underneath its model. The Lotus Eletre electrical SUV weighs about 5,800 kilos, whereas the Emeya electrical sedan weighs slightly below 5,500 kilos—making it round 500 kilos heavier than its rival, the Porsche Taycan Turbo.
The electrical sports activities automotive scene must be populated by many attractive fashions in 2027, with the launch of the electrical Porsche 718, the Polestar 6, the manufacturing model of the Toyota FT:Se and the Caterham Undertaking V. The latter could have components from different producers however remains to be anticipated to weigh simply over 2,600 lbs. A method Caterham saved the Undertaking V so mild was by giving it a comparatively small 55-kilowatt-hour battery pack, which is anticipated to offer 249 miles of WLTP vary (nearer to 200 miles on the EPA take a look at cycle).
Lotus might additionally hold the kilos off by giving the electrical sports activities automotive a small battery. The automotive received’t be as small because the Elise we all know, although, so it received’t should go down the identical route as Nyobolt with its electrical reinterpretation of the traditional Elise, which can have a small 35 kWh battery good for a claimed 155 miles on one cost.
The Lotus Sort 135 shall be constructed within the UK on a brand new devoted electrical sports activities automotive platform that’s 37% lighter than what the producer makes use of in the Emira. It may possibly take battery packs ranging in capability from 66.4 kWh to 99.6 kWh each within the flooring and behind the seats and it permits for two- or four-seater configurations.
