Lotus finally confirms the arrival of new models. The British brand reports that it has a series of sports models in the development rooms, which serve as successors to the now very elderly Elise, Exige and Evora.
Lotus reports that it will start building the first prototypes of what it calls the Type 131, a new model for the Lotus family that will eventually be renamed this year. Most likely it is a type that will stand a step below the extreme Evija. It does not stop with one new model.
Lotus reports that the now elderly Elise, Exige and Evora have entered their final production year from 2021. The three are succeeded one by one by completely new models. In an image the three can already be seen next to a canary yellow Evija, although the successors of the Elise, Exige and Evora are still covered by a cloth.
For the major turnaround, Lotus is pumping over £ 100 million into its facilities in Hethel, England. Lotus owes this investment to Geely and Etika, who became owners of the English brand in September 2017. Lotus is also working with Alpine on an electric model that the French brand will add to its delivery range. In addition, there have been persistent rumors for some time about the arrival of an electric SUV from Lotus.
earlier
Lotus is by no means the most reliable manufacturer in terms of announcements about future plans. Financial shortages and changes in ownership repeatedly threw a spanner in the works. For example, at the Paris Motor Show in 2010, the brand opened up a can of newcomers that included not only a fresh Lotus Elise, but also the Elite, the almost Panamera-like Eterne and even a reborn Esprit and a reincarnated Elan. Lotus even managed to flirt with the concept of a city car in Paris. With major player Geely behind the Lotus buttons, there now finally seems a more concrete view of a future with new models.