Lotus is certainly going through quite a change at the moment. The company is producing its last ever internal combustion engine-powered car in the form of the Emira and is fully committed to an electric-only future. We have seen a glimpse of that with the truly remarkable Evija, a car that’s been undergoing a lot of testing as of late. However, the company is now working on another all-new sports car and is set to bring us a successor to the popular and outgoing Elise by 2026, in the form of the new electric Type 135, as reported by British publication Autocar.
Replacing The Outgoing Elise
Lotus announced early in 2020 that the Elise, Exige, and the Evora would all be phased out of production in 2021 with some special edition models. The Emira was confirmed as the last internal combustion-powered Lotus ahead of its all-electric future. The company recently revealed its plans for its new E-Sports architecture, as it looks to electrify all of its future sports cars. Reportedly, it is 37% lighter than the structure of the Emira, to help compensate for the added weight of all the electrical components that are needed.
The Type 135 looks like it will be the first of those new electric sports cars. Lotus is hoping to make this a true Lotus, with the trademark handling and agility that the company has become so famous for. The only difference over the Elise will be that new, all-electric powertrain. It will be as lightweight as possible, and hopefully not only give a great driving experience on the track but also one on tight and twisty roads, roads in which Lotus cars are designed for. The transition to electric power might be difficult for some people to take, but it is, inevitably, the future.
No Technical Details As Yet
Whilst we have some idea of what this new Lotus is going to be like, we have nothing concrete from the brand. The car is still some four years away at least and its main focus right now is getting the Emira into its dealers. There should be, however, at least 470 hp on offer with the new electric architecture, meaning it will be near twice as powerful as the Elise Sport 240 Final Edition that boasted some 240 hp. Plus, the fact the brand is going all-electric with this sports car means the Type 135 will be able to take advantage of all-wheel drive.
A Glimpse To The Lotus Future
All being well, the new Type 135 will be as aerodynamically efficient as possible, and the aim of the company’s, and will hopefully be made relatively affordable as well. Affordability is of course something that is a bit of an issue with electric cars, be they sports cars, sedans, or SUVs. Whatever this car ends up looking like, it's exciting to hear about the plans for the Type 135, and we will wait with bated breath for any more details that come out regarding this new Lotus sports car.
Sources: Lotus, Top Gear, Car Scoops, Electrive