The first Lotus SUV is expected next year and considering how every new Lotus pledges to be electric, you can bet this higher vehicle will be built on an EV base. Now, during the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show, new information about this Lotus has surfaced, including its name—or, more accurately, its codename, "Type 132"—and a short teaser video.
On top of the sporty Lotus pedigree, it's intended to live up to, the Type 132 appears to incorporate some interesting technology. Only a few individuals have seen the actual concept vehicle, since the brand held a VIP event right before the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 30, 2021, to show it off. Other private reveal events are planned around the world in the months leading up to the film's world premiere, which is intended for the spring of 2022.
The Type 132 would be one of the first cars to be produced at the company's new factory in Wuhan, China. The Type 132, which will serve as the backbone of Lotus' future pure electric product line, is currently under development and nearing production. They will continue to extend the line-up and develop more revolutionary items for global users in the future.
Sneak Peek
What has been revealed in this video is the 132's "advanced" infotainment screen, its aerodynamic design, and "pioneering intelligent driving technology." The lower grille displays a hexagonal pattern, made up of individual triangles, which open and close for an active shutter for cooling. According to Lotus, "It continues a long history of Lotus pioneering active and aero technologies, dating back to legendary triumphs in Formula 1 and stretching right up to the present day with the 'porous' and aerodynamic design of the Evija hypercar."
The infotainment screen is part of an "immersive start-up sequence of multiple screens, sounds and lights, demonstrating the car has woken and is ready for action." And it also shows its LIDAR system (Tesla's Elon Musk has often said he doesn't support the LIDAR technology) that pops up from the roof. Details are still vague until the SUV is unveiled to the public next year.
The Lotus Hypercar
The Lotus Evija hypercar is possible the most powerful and lightest production EV car yet weighing just over 3700 pounds. Only 130 of these cutting-edge hypercars will be produced, each costing more than $2 million.
The Lotus Evija is a hypercar that aspires to test the limits of modern technology. While several competitors offer hybrid powertrains, this model commits to being all-electric and comes with a supercharger. Its outward design is inspired by race cars that are designed to dominate the track. Butterfly doors and a wide rear wing are among the car's sheet metal features.
The Lotus Evija Hypercar
The Evija is all electric and all carbon-fiber, and it makes an astonishing 1,972 horsepower. That's almost double the horsepower provided by more expensive hypercars such as the Aston Martin and Valkyrie. Never mind 0 to 60 mph. The Evija accelerates from 0 to 186 mph in 8.6 seconds. Seems it would leave the Tesla Roadster in its dust.
Louis Kerr, the chief engineer of the project, described the design and production of the Lotus Evija as "once in a lifetime". The 2000-kW lithium-ion battery, created in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering, is mounted right behind the passenger cell and visible, much like an old-school internal-combustion engine in a Lamborghini or Ferrari. The Evija is equipped with four electric motors from Integral Powertrain Limited, each of which is individually operated, allowing for torque vectoring.
The Lotus Evija can accommodate two people. To maintain the car's clean, sculptural design, the doors don't have handles and are activated with the key fob. The Evija's electrically adjustable front seats are made of carbon fiber and have thick microfiber padding. The steering column's inclination and length can be adjusted manually, and there are two unique storage areas adjacent to the occupants' hip points. Climate control and three-point seatbelts are included as standard features, with four-point harnesses available as an option. The cabin of the Evija has an appearance that is both classic and modern. Certain design aspects, according to Lotus, were influenced by the company's racing vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s.
Even if you were able to afford one – available only in the US yet – they are not yet legal on the roads. So, for now would make an impressive addition for your garage.
