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This spring, Lotus will make history by launching its first SUV, currently known by the code name “Type 132”. This will be followed by a four-door coupe (Type 133) and a smaller crossover (Type 134) in the years to come, with the sports car (Type 135) arriving in 2026. All of them will be electric vehicles since their recent launch. The Emira was the company’s last combustion engine car.
While the first three EVs to come will be built in Wuhan (yes, that Wuhan) in China, the performance engine will be assembled in-house at Hethel. Even though it’s four years away, Lotus is eager to give it an early taste of the Type 135. Set to spawn a version of the Alpine equivalent, the sports car from Norfolk will be co-developed with battery cell experts Britishvolt.
The adjacent vignette sends off Esprit vibes with a pointed nose while derrière makes us think of Europa. It appears to be two-seater judging by the highly sloping roofline and should be roomy and practical (by sports car standards) thanks to the bespoke EV platform. The unnamed car will serve as the spiritual successor to the Elise, which stepped down last month after 25 years of production.
Set to ride on the newly developed E-Sports architecture, the new model positioned under the Evija hypercar is expected to come in single and dual motor variants. Depending on configuration, the platform is being engineered for outputs varying from 469 to 872 horsepower as well as rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. The structure will be 37 percent lighter than the Emira while the battery can sit behind the seat similar to a mid-engined car.
We already know that platforms are being developed to accommodate 66.4 kWh and 99.6 kWh battery packs, with an estimated range of 300 to 450 miles (483 to 724 kilometers) on a single charge. By the way, support for 800V will translate into fast charging capability.
Additional and more precise details will be revealed in the years to come, ahead of a confirmed 2026 release.
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