Wednesday 30th August 2023

Incoming electric hyper-GT dubbed Lotus Emeya

Lotus confirms that all-new Porsche Taycan rival will be called 'Emeya' ahead of full reveal next week

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The very fast, very large electric saloon is big business right now, with brands like Jaguar and Polestar poised to launch their latest offerings over the coming years with the intention of rivalling the Porsche Taycan, Mercedes EQ E and BMW i7. But first to join the class is Lotus, with its next EV after the Eletre SUV. Its maker has confirmed that it will be shown in full next week - on Thursday 7th, in fact - and will be called the Lotus Emeya. 

For the moment, beyond that, there’s precious little official to go on for a car we've previously known as the Type 133. But we can see a snazzy, slender rear light bar - as is currently almost mandatory for the class - as well as an active rear spoiler. At the front, a light signature that echoes that of the Eletre can be seen illuminating the dark, and that’s kind of your lot for now (beyond the fact that the car plainly seats multiple occupants). Expect the finished model to closely resemble the prototype recently spied winter testing in terms of silhouette, long and low and with a tapered rear hatch like an Audi A7. As we’re used to Lotuses unlike any we’ve seen before now thanks to the Eletre, another groundbreaking new model ought to be just another day in the story of electric Lotus.

The original plan was for the Type 133 to launch in 2024, following the Type 131 (Emira) in 2021 and the Type 132 (Eletre) in 2022. So maybe the Emeya is a little ahead of schedule, but then that’s surely no bad thing in such a crowded marketplace - particularly with a Taycan update due shortly. We’d bank on lots of details mirroring the Eletre, as they share the Electric Premium Architecture: so expect a battery up to 120kWh (and 350kW charging), range up to 370 miles and, potentially, up to 905hp. Which certainly would be a way to announce the first Lotus saloon since the Carlton. We’ll know for certain next week.

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• First Lotus saloon since Carlton caught testing
• 2023 Lotus Emira i4 First Edition | PH Review

[don logan]

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

[Nile Rodgers]

I just think that Lotus has such a poor reputation for quality that these will be a hard sell. That said, MG are thriving, so apparently I know nothing.

[Howard1650]

...the MG doesn't cost £85,000

I wish Lotus the very best with this car, but I'm sure the UK is not the real market for this product. I can't see it selling in any real numbers in the UK.

Edited by Howard1650 on Tuesday 29th August 14:18

[Nomme de Plum]

don logan said:

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

Apart from the original L7 that featured in The Prisoner, There was the fire engine pump powered Elite, Ford Engined Elan, Eclat Espirit, Elise, Exige, Evora ......

I may have missed a couple out.

So yes.

[Nomme de Plum]

I do wonder how many typical Porsche buyers would consider a Lotus?

A relatively small percentage i suspect.

[kambites]

don logan said:

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

All the ones which have names yes. Some (generally racing cars) only have numbers.

[smilo996]

appears to be gearing up for the market in China, especially with the new Ewhatsthepoint SUV.
Still, better fr for their business and history than an SUV.

[Bryans69]

Nile Rodgers said:

I just think that Lotus has such a poor reputation for quality that these will be a hard sell. That said, MG are thriving, so apparently I know nothing.

Doesn't seem to stop people buying JLR products....

[RM]

Nomme de Plum said:

I do wonder how many typical Porsche buyers would consider a Lotus?

A relatively small percentage i suspect.

I wonder how many typical Porsche Taycan buyers would consider a new Taycan right now? The amazing tax advantages when new have been outweighed by depreciation, due to the same advantages not being offered to a second-hand purchaser. Combine that with months of no heater and they seem to be taking a hit in popularity.

This Lotus will be even worse, for the reason you state.

[don logan]

Nomme de Plum said:

don logan said:

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

Apart from the original L7 that featured in The Prisoner, There was the fire engine pump powered Elite, Ford Engined Elan, Eclat Espirit, Elise, Exige, Evora ......

I may have missed a couple out.

So yes.

Jeez, Europa, Emira, Eletre, Evija….

[Baldchap]

What happened to the Evija or whatever it was called?

[raspy]

Howard1650 said:

...the MG doesn't cost £85,000

I wish Lotus the very best with this car, but I'm sure the UK is not the real market for this product. I can't see it selling in any real numbers in the UK.

Edited by Howard1650 on Tuesday 29th August 14:18

The UK is not the primary market for many new cars, these days, is it?

[Darnoc95]

don logan said:

Nomme de Plum said:

don logan said:

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

Apart from the original L7 that featured in The Prisoner, There was the fire engine pump powered Elite, Ford Engined Elan, Eclat Espirit, Elise, Exige, Evora ......

I may have missed a couple out.

So yes.

Jeez, Europa, Emira, Eletre, Evija….

Excel

[Cold]

Baldchap said:

What happened to the Evija or whatever it was called?

It's underway. There was even an owner's party the other day at Quail where the first three production cars were on display alongside Jenson Button's liveried example.

[filski666]

I am just gonna sit here and wait for all the Chapman spinning in his grave type comments........

[Lotobear]

Nomme de Plum said:

don logan said:

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

Apart from the original L7 that featured in The Prisoner, There was the fire engine pump powered Elite, Ford Engined Elan, Eclat Espirit, Elise, Exige, Evora ......

I may have missed a couple out.

So yes.

The Elan engine (the 'Lotus Twincam') was not a Ford engine per se - it was developed and built by Lotus using a 1500 Ford sourced Cortina bottom end, overbored to 1558 cc, which was mated to a Lotus designed and manufactured alloy TC cylinder head with Lotus front timing cover and Weber or Dellorto twin carbs.

[Nomme de Plum]

don logan said:

Jeez, Europa, Emira, Eletre, Evija….

I'd forgotten the Europa. Superb little mid engined car especially the on with the Twin OHC engine. I had a Series 1 Elan and S1 Exige.

Both technically uncomplicated and very lightweight good handling cars.

[filski666]

Lotobear said:

Nomme de Plum said:

don logan said:

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

Apart from the original L7 that featured in The Prisoner, There was the fire engine pump powered Elite, Ford Engined Elan, Eclat Espirit, Elise, Exige, Evora ......

I may have missed a couple out.

So yes.

The Elan engine (the 'Lotus Twincam') was not a Ford engine per se - it was developed and built by Lotus using a 1500 Ford sourced Cortina bottom end, overbored to 1558 cc, which was mated to a Lotus designed and manufactured alloy TC cylinder head with Lotus front timing cover and Weber or Dellorto twin carbs.

is that a bit like the 907 engine - using the Vauxhall slant 4 block as a way to speed up development - and why the 907 heads will fit straight on the Chevette HS engine?

[Nomme de Plum]

Lotobear said:

The Elan engine (the 'Lotus Twincam') was not a Ford engine per se - it was developed and built by Lotus using a 1500 Ford sourced Cortina bottom end, overbored to 1558 cc, which was mated to a Lotus designed and manufactured alloy TC cylinder head with Lotus front timing cover and Weber or Dellorto twin carbs.

I had Webers on mine in 1974ish

[Lotobear]

filski666 said:

Lotobear said:

Nomme de Plum said:

don logan said:

Do all Lotus models have to start with an E?

Apart from the original L7 that featured in The Prisoner, There was the fire engine pump powered Elite, Ford Engined Elan, Eclat Espirit, Elise, Exige, Evora ......

I may have missed a couple out.

So yes.

The Elan engine (the 'Lotus Twincam') was not a Ford engine per se - it was developed and built by Lotus using a 1500 Ford sourced Cortina bottom end, overbored to 1558 cc, which was mated to a Lotus designed and manufactured alloy TC cylinder head with Lotus front timing cover and Weber or Dellorto twin carbs.

is that a bit like the 907 engine - using the Vauxhall slant 4 block as a way to speed up development - and why the 907 heads will fit straight on the Chevette HS engine?

Don't know a lot about the 907 but I think you've pretty much covered the development angle as I understand it though I think ultinately Lotus manufactured the entire engine once the lump had been productionised.

Ford continued to make the bottom end for the Lotus TC - initially Lotus used graded blocks from Ford (selected for wall thickness to take the overbore) and then Ford made the bottom ends as special production runs with the required wall thickness - these Blocks have a 'L' cast into the block to denote they were produced for the LTC.