Lotus is continuing its electric vehicle (EV) onslaught with its latest creation - it's the Emeya, the company calls it a four-door 'hyper-GT', and it was revealed to the world in New York.
Target locked: Porsche Taycan Turbo S
Clearly targeting the likes of the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, Audi e-tron GT, Tesla Model S and Lucid Air, the Emeya joins the Evija electric hypercar and Eletre SUV in Lotus' zero-emission portfolio. Plenty of key numbers and exact technical specifications have yet to be released by Lotus, ahead of the Emeya going into production early next year, but some details have been sprinkled into the mix to tantalise us - such as a top speed north of 250km/h, a 0-100km/h time of 'less than' 2.8 seconds, and the capability to add 150km of range to the Emeya's battery pack in just five minutes at 350kW DC.
Extrapolating from this, it's clear to see that - like the Evija and Eletre - the Emeya will have 800-volt onboard charging. Those performance stats aren't a million miles off those of the higher-power Eletre R (there are Eletre and Eletre S models with 603hp), so we're guessing in the region of 900hp and 985Nm for the Emeya, while the battery pack is almost certainly going to be the same 112kWh unit as seen in all models of Eletre; the 70kWh pack of the Evija wouldn't be big enough for a long-legged GT. Indeed, as the Eletre is said to be capable of up to 600km on a charge, it would be fair to assume the lower, more aerodynamic (and presumably lighter) Emeya might get close to that figure itself.
Aims to ride and handle like a classic Lotus
The ride and handling balance on the Emeya is provided by a raft of advanced active aero touches - including the front grille, rear diffuser and rear spoiler - as well as electronically controlled air suspension and a low centre-of-gravity which Lotus dubs 'hyperstance'. Flicking back to the charging for a second, the English car maker claims an 80 per cent charge of the battery from low levels will take just 18 minutes at the Emeya's maximum 350kW DC rate.
Inside the four-door body - Lotus' first GT of this type - is an interior with some sustainably sourced materials, such as a fabric rustled up from repurposed fibres taken from the fashion industry, as well as a high-power and high-tech KEF sound system with Dolby Atmos-enhanced 3D surround sound, similar to the set-up employed in the Eletre.
'A Lotus like you have never seen before'
Ben Payne, the vice-president of design for Lotus Group, said of the hyper-GT: "This is a Lotus like you have never seen before. We've built on everything Lotus has achieved so far to create a luxury performance car for the drivers, designed to inspire confidence, exhilarate with raw emotion and pure joy - connecting them to the road."
And Feng Qingfeng, the CEO of Lotus Group, was keen to add to the idea that the Emeya will drive and handle like a true Lotus should: "Bringing together our rich heritage with intelligent performance and the latest cutting-edge technologies, we're pushing the boundaries for how a luxury electric vehicle should look and handle - making it truly for the drivers."
Prices, specifications and market availability for the Lotus Emeya will be released later this year, ahead of the car going into production in 2024. We'll bring you more details as and when we get them.