© Provided by Roadshow So far so good. Lotus
Lotus has a busy decade on deck and here’s our first taste of a new sports car to come. Not just any sports car, but the firm’s first electric sports car. The company on Friday issued a single image of the new car as it announced a memorandum of understanding with Britishvolt to develop next-generation EV technology.
We’ll get to the company’s new buddy in a moment, but first, let’s talk about the sports car. If you’re getting massive Esprit vibes, you’re not alone. The teaser portrays a surprising wedge shape not unlike the Giugiaro-designed Esprit of the 1970s and 1980s. Hopefully, we’re in for a modern take on this classic shape. If Lamborghini can do it with a new Countach, Lotus certainly can.
The new car is part of Lotus’ pivot to become something of a British Porsche challenger while embracing battery-electric cars in the process. While the firm launches its final sports car with an internal-combustion engine, Emira, everything going forward will boast batteries and electric motors. Things kick into high gear this year with an electric SUV codenamed the Type 132, which marks an extreme departure from the cars Lotus is best known for building. Following the SUV will come an electric four-door coupe model in 2023 codenamed Type 133 before another electric SUV, the Type 134, arrives before 2025, the brand said in a business update last year.
Unless this sports car is something different entirely, this should be what Lotus codenamed the Type 135. It’s slated for a 2026 introduction to give Lotus a swath of new cars before the company’s 80th birthday in 2028. We can’t forget the upcoming Evija supercar, either.
As for Lotus’ new development friend, Britishvolt will work with the company to specifically create battery cells and other technologies for the sports car. Along the way, Lotus and Britishvolt also hope to advance fast charging technologies and work on making batteries lighter for sports car applications.
2022 Lotus Emira is Hethel’s last combustion blast
1/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The First Edition V6 Emira will be initially available in six colors.
2/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow These include classics like Hethel yellow and a green called dark verdant.
3/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow But also a gorgeous shade of magma red, and the launch shade of Seneca blue.
4/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The First Edition will be available only as a V6 at first, but with either manual or automatic transmission.
5/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The I4 version will only be available with a dual-clutch transmission and will arrive fall 2022.
6/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Emira is Lotus’ first new sports car in over a decade.
7/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow It rides on a new platform and replaces the Elise, Exige and Evora.
8/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Emira will be Lotus’ last car with an internal combustion engine, and it’ll be offered with a supercharged Toyota V6 or a turbocharged four-cylinder from AMG.
9/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The V6 will be available with a manual transmission.
10/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Emira’s styling takes heavy influence from the Evija electric hypercar.
11/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Emira’s interior is easily the nicest cabin we’ve seen from Lotus.
12/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow It’s got high-end materials, a pair of screens and a minimalist design.
13/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Emira will be available with safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning.
14/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow When it goes on sale next spring the Emira should start at around $80,000.
15/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Keep scrolling or swiping to see more of the 2022 Lotus Emira.
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23/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow When it goes on sale next spring the Emira should start at around $80,000.
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27/30 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Emira’s interior is easily the nicest cabin we’ve seen from Lotus.
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This was originally published on Roadshow.
Keyword: Lotus teases a new electric sports car with major Esprit vibes
