Famed sports car maker Lotus has shown the first outline sketch of its next-generation electric sports car and has confirmed that it will collaborate with Britishvolt to make its batteries.
Coming in 2026
By 2026, and likely to get the Type 135 serial code, this new electric Lotus will be the firm's second battery-powered sports car, following on from the limited-run 2,000hp Evija which is currently in development.
The outline sketch shows a classically low-slung Lotus shape, with a pointed nose, and faint hints of the classic Series 1 Lotus Esprit (Bond's submarine one...) in the shape of the side windows. Does that give a hint that the Esprit name will be revived for this car? Maybe...
We know that the car will use a new electric platform called LEVA (Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture), developed by Lotus, which has a flexible battery layout. That means that the battery can be laid flat, under the floor, for taller vehicles such as the inevitable SUV, the Type 132, that Lotus is working on, or it can be stood up, behind the passenger compartment, mimicking a mid-engined layout, and allowing for a lower, sportier shape.
66kWh battery likely
In theory, that chassis can accommodate batteries of up to 99kWh capacity, but Lotus has previously said that it sees a normal capacity of 66kWh, giving a range of more than 400km.
To make those batteries, Lotus has signed a memorandum of understanding with Britishvolt, a UK-based battery maker which has plans for a massive 'gigafactory' in the northeast of England which will eventually have a production capacity of some 30gWh. While that's a long way from Lotus' HQ in Norfolk, the two companies actually have newly established research and development bases in the British midlands, which are close by one another.
Lotus and Britishvolt have said that their key priorities for their joint battery developments will be: "fast-charging, optimising energy density and weight reduction."
Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars, commented: "Lotus is delighted to be collaborating with Britishvolt to develop new battery cell technology to showcase the thrilling performance that a Lotus EV sports car can deliver. These are the first exciting steps on the journey towards an all-new electric sports car from Lotus, and yet another step towards the transformation towards sustainable, renewable electricity stored in batteries."
Three more EVs on the way
He added: "Last year we committed Lotus to a pure electric future, and in the first month of this year we announce another significant step on that journey. In the coming months we will be unveiling the Type 132 SUV, an all-new and all-electric Lotus SUV and we've confirmed three more EVs are on the way."
It's all part of a major investment in Lotus by its Chinese owners. Geely, which already owns the likes of Volvo, Polestar, and London black cab maker LEVC, also bought into Malaysian car maker Proton, which has owned Lotus since 1996.