The sports-car brand’s first SUV has broken cover ahead of its full reveal later this month.
- Patent images of the Lotus Type 132, the company’s first SUV and second EV, were submitted to IP Australia, revealing the car’s design, as first reported by Motor1.
- The Type 132 will feature active aerodynamics and prominent lidar sensors affixed to the front and rear of the roof.
- The Lotus Type 132 will be revealed in full on March 29.
While Lotus is best known for lithe, lightweight sports cars, the British automaker is approaching a major inflection point. The Emira is the final gas-powered Lotus and a lineup of electric vehicles is now on the way. New patent images submitted by Lotus to IP Australia have given us our first glimpse of Lotus’ electric future, showing the Type 132 SUV that’s due to be revealed on March 29.
The Type 132 will be Lotus’ first SUV and it appears to be fairly compact. It will likely sit somewhere between the Porsche Macan and Cayenne in size. It takes advantage of its electric architecture with a short, sloping hood and stretched cabin and appears to have a surprisingly long rear overhang for an EV. The crossover appears to have eschewed traditional sideview mirrors for cameras—although this setup still isn’t legal in the United States—and a lidar sensor is prominently mounted above the windshield.
We can also pick out details that Lotus has teased over the last couple of months. The Type 132 will feature advanced aerodynamics—the snazzy triangular pattern in the lower front bumper is actually a bank of active grille shutters which work in conjunction with air ducts in the hood. Lotus is following current design trends with flush, pop-out door handles and a full-width taillight bar. More unconventionally, the rear wing is split in two, with another lidar sensor emerging from the roof in between.
The Type 132 will ride on a platform that can house batteries ranging from 92.0 to 120.0 kWh and promises rapid charging thanks to an 800-volt electrical system. We also expect the new SUV to become the heaviest Lotus ever, superseding Lotus’ first electric vehicle, the 3,700-pound, 1972-hp Evija supercar. More details will come when the Lotus Type 132 is revealed later this month.
Keyword: Lotus Type 132 Electric SUV Previewed in Patent Images