The automaker’s first SUV is revealed in renderings ahead of its late March debut, and there are a few surprises.
- 2023 Lotus electric SUV codenamed Type 132 has been spotted in patent filing in Australia.
- The Type 132 is scheduled to be revealed later this month, on March 29, ahead of the start of sales later this year.
- The SUV will feature some autonomous driving capability, as hinted by the presence of Lidar sensor pods.
We’re still coming to terms with the fact in the future, almost everything will be some kind of crossover or SUV, including a number of Lotus models. And in reality we’re just weeks away from the reveal of just such a thing, with Lotus scheduled to unwrap its Type 132 SUV at the end of the month. And not just another Porsche Macan competitor, but an electric one.
The Type 132, as it’s known for now, has been spotted in patent filings in Australia by Motor 1 ahead of its reveal on March 28, showing a rakish yet roomy model that will feature relatively modest dimensions along with generous overhangs relative to its wheelbase.
Patent images of the Type 132 also show an elaborate front fascia with multiple layers and intricate aerodynamics sitting in front of a relatively short hood, with a top layer of boomerang-shaped headlights positioned almost flat on the hood surface. Functional items include extensive air inlets to serve the battery’s cooling needs.
The SUV is expected to adopt a wagon-style shape, with a generous rear overhang and a short hood.
IP Australia
Other futuristic touches: camera winglets in place of mirrors and what appears to be a solid-state Lidar sensor pod on the leading edge of the roof, with another one out back flanked by two-piece rear wing tips.
Just what level of automation is contemplated by the prominent sensor pods will likely be revealed later this month, but it’s worth noting that like Volvo and Polestar, Lotus is under the Geely corporate umbrella, which is in the process of introducing Level 3 capabilities in some of its brands’ models.
When it comes to performance, the Type 132 (which will receive a formal name in due time) is expected to offer a choice of two batteries, both of them quite large: 92 kWh and 120 kWh, along with a dual-motor setup good for at least 600 hp. For reference, the top battery option will be close in size to what Lucid is putting into its 520-mile Air sedan, so Lotus will certainly be aiming for long range between recharges, and not just tire-toasting launches.
The Type 132 will feature two separate rear winglets.
IP Australia
Among other things, this means Lotus’ motto of “simplify, then add lightness” could well receive a revision once the curb weight of the Type 132 is made fully known—the battery options expected in this SUV will certainly be on the generous side.
The Type 132 won’t be the sole Lotus EV we’ll see in the near future, as the automaker will also deliver the Evija electric supercar and all 1972 of its horses this very year, for those with a spare two million dollars and change.
The Type 132 certainly won’t aim for such price tags, and neither will other Lotus EVs on the way in the coming years, with the automaker planning what could be an Esprit successor in 2026. The Type 132 SUV, on the other hand, will go on sale later this year.
Keyword: Lotus Type 132 EV SUV Spotted in Patent Filings