New electric Lotus sports car set for 2026 launch

Lotus has teased a new all-electric powered sporting activities car or truck successor to its iconic Elise. The Lotus EV is thanks in 2026 on a new platform becoming created by the British brand name for use in long run electric powered athletics autos – and the following-technology Alpine A110. 

Now owned by Chinese guardian Geely, Lotus has confirmed that the new Emira sporting activities motor vehicle will be its previous combustion-engined product, with each and every new Lotus that follows it due to be fully electrical and dependent on a variety of recently made platforms. 

The upcoming new Lotus will be a large SUV, codenamed ‘Type 132’, which will be designed in China along with a future four-door GT known as ‘Type 133’ and a mid-dimension SUV, codenamed Variety 134. 

But, in this deluge of what the brand name conditions ‘lifestyle’ products to be dependent on a system known as High quality Architecture, Lotus has also verified strategies for a entirely electric athletics motor vehicle, which will be built at its Hethel HQ using a new system termed E-Athletics. This motor vehicle will arrive in 2026, and will be an all-electrical Elise successor built to sit alongside the combustion-powered Emira. 

The teaser graphic previews an just about Esprit-like silhouette, with a roofline and windowline that surface very similar in shape to that of the brand’s iconic mid-engined supercar, alongside with a equally pointy nose. The potent, pronounced haunches around the front and rear axles of the car or truck are much more in retaining with the brand’s latest general performance auto style language, drawing inspiration from the Evija electric hypercar and the Emira. 

Along with the teaser, the manufacturer has verified that it is operating with battery professional Britishvolt to produce the new battery technological know-how that will be key to the automobile. 

The partnership will see the two firms get the job done alongside one another to establish a future-era battery cell package deal that will be made use of on long run all-electric Lotus sporting activities vehicles. The Britishvolt-formulated battery tech will be allied to Lotus propulsion and motor programs, and will very likely be mounted in Lotus cars primarily based on the E-Sporting activities system utilizing an electrified rear-subframe referred to as LEVA. 

This subframe usually means that the battery can possibly be positioned under the car’s ground, or can be stacked vertically powering the passenger cell, to supply a similar weight distribution and centre of gravity to a regular mid-engined petrol sports activities auto. 

Lotus Running director Matt Wendle explained: “Lotus is delighted to be collaborating with Britishvolt to establish new battery cell engineering to showcase the thrilling performance that a Lotus EV athletics motor vehicle can supply. These are the initially remarkable measures on the journey toward an all-new electric powered sports activities motor vehicle from Lotus.”

What do you imagine of the electrification strategies for Lotus? Permit us know in the responses…