Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
Image: Lotus
New ModelsBy: Alex Shahini
Unveiled a day before World EV Day, Lotus has presented the motoring community with yet another ludicrously quick electric model. This time it is called the Emeya and it is the majority Chinese-owned firm’s first hyper-GT based off of the Eletre!
Image: Lotus
Lotus, in a dazzling event held in New York City, unveiled its latest flagship vehicle, the Emeya. Previously codenamed the Type 133, this electric four-door sedan is poised to challenge industry stalwarts like the Tesla Model S and the Porsche Taycan Turbo. Belive it or not, the Emeya isn’t Lotus’s first foray with four-door performance sedans after achieving infamous success with the Opel Omega-based Carlton of the 1990s. Fun fact, despite having ludicrous amounts of power, the Emeya isn’t as fast as the box-shaped ICE-powered model from yesteryear.
Speaking of which, performance figures for the Emeya ascend into hypercar territory, boasting an astounding 675 kW and 985 N.m, enabling a blistering 0-100 km/h acceleration in only 2,8 seconds. The all-wheel-drive electric vehicle reaches a top speed of 250 km/h, while power is efficiently distributed to all four corners via a two-speed transmission. Lotus further touts a “race-grade” braking system, with an adjustable suspension that dynamically analyzes the road ahead an astonishing 1 000 times per second.
Image: Lotus
Underpinning the Emeya’s performance is the same platform as the Eletre, utilizing the bespoke Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) derived from Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). Expected to achieve a range similar to the Eletre’s impressive 600 km on the optimistic WLTP cycle, the Emeya houses a slightly smaller 102 kWh battery pack (compared to the Eletre’s 112 kWh) capable of rapid 350 kW charging.
Moving to a superficial point of view, the Emeya’s design philosophy pursues a relentless focus on aerodynamics. Borrowing a page from the Eletre SUV’s playbook, the new Lotus features an active front grille that optimizes aerodynamics by closing to reduce drag and enhance efficiency while opening to cool the battery and brakes. The sedan also boasts an active front spoiler, inspired by motorsport technology, along with an active diffuser and a substantial active rear spoiler. The same technology is present with an active rear diffuser which helps produce substantial downforce at speed.
“This is a completely new Lotus, something never seen before. Building on what Lotus has accomplished to this day, we have created a luxury car that delivers outstanding performance for the driving enthusiast, designed to inspire confidence and excitement.” Ben Payne, Lotus Group’s vice president of design.
When not carving corners and chasing 0-100 km/h times, the interior combines the worlds of luxury and performance. Sustainability takes centre stage with Lotus becoming the first automaker to employ a novel yarn derived from cotton waste within the fashion and clothing industries for passenger compartment upholstery. This choice represents both sustainable luxury and a reduction in weight compared to traditional leather materials.
Image: Lotus
Tech-wise, the Emeya houses a state-of-the-art KEF 3D surround sound system with integrated noise cancellation. Vibration sensors on the exterior detect tire and suspension movement, enabling algorithms to produce “anti-phasing acoustic signals” through the speakers to mitigate interference. The driver benefits from a sizable 55,0-inch augmented reality head-up display, alongside digital mirrors and LiDAR modules reminiscent of the Eletre’s technology suite.
Related: Electric SUVs the Way to Go for Lotus with 17 000 Eletre Pre-Orders
Additional details about the Emeya will be disclosed in the fourth quarter of 2023, with production scheduled to commence in 2024 at Lotus’s Geely-owned facility in Wuhan, China, where the Eletre is already being manufactured.
Keyword: Emeya is First Hyper-GT From Lotus Set to Rival Taycan