Lotus previews new Theory 1 concept
Sneak peek ahead of full reveal next week - is this the electric Elise?
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Those of you with good memories might remember that Lotus announced a grand plan just about three years ago. On August 31st, 2021, it said four new EVs would be coming before the end of 2026; perhaps understandably, there was some scepticism around the plan. But look where we are a couple of years from the deadline, with both Type 132 - the Eletre - and the Emeya (once known as the Type 133) on sale. And having garnered some good reviews, too. Now it’s time for the fun stuff.
Type 134 is still to follow, which will be the Macan-sized SUV. Type 135, however, is the electric sports car, once to be co-developed with Alpine and then with that agreement being torn up and Lotus going it alone. Today it has previewed something that’s coming next week (September 17th) called the Theory 1; it’ll likely be more styling preview than a vehicle displaying production intent, but it’s surely got to be pointing towards that EV sports car. Even newly reinvented Lotus can’t debut an SUV, then saloon, then another SUV.
Naturally, the preview doesn’t show much, with a rear view hinting at a super slim light bar and an interior with a wheel straight from a Vision Gran Turismo sports car. But even without giving much away, what can be seen is much more overtly sporting than cars like the Emeya and Eletre. Plus there’s the bumf around it, Lotus suggesting that ‘it’s all led to this’, supported by arty footage of old F1 cars. That wouldn’t be for a D-segment SUV. #TheLotusTheory is the hashtag - expect to hear a lot more of it in the coming weeks.
Details are extremely thin on the ground, of course. If the Theory 1 does preview an electric sports car, that won’t be seen for a couple of years yet, as the Emira enjoys its time in the limelight. We’re looking at 2027 for the actual thing, by which time Alpine’s take on the battery powered A110 and the electric Porsche 718s will also be on sale. Which would certainly be an interesting twist on the familiar triple test.
At least Lotus still exists.
At least Lotus have the Emira.
However, the car itself is superb and memories of the long wait fade quickly enough.
As far as producing yawn inducing lardy SUVs alongside the sports cars, which car company doesn’t do that these days?
I can only think of McLaren (or do they have one too?)
At least Lotus still exists.
Just not convinced electric sports cars will be remotely viable as actual sports cars for many years yet until energy density inefficiencies are significantly improved. But they'll work perfectly for all the users who just like the shape but don't actually use the 'sporting' ability.
Lotus will be receiving vast levels of the usual grave spinning horror from the people of Britishlandshire but those people weren't even the most important client base a decade ago and today they're not even on the radar as potential clients and arguably having them enraged about the new products is possibly better for business than having them in approval.
Just not convinced electric sports cars will be remotely viable as actual sports cars for many years yet until energy density inefficiencies are significantly improved. But they'll work perfectly for all the users who just like the shape but don't actually use the 'sporting' ability.
Lotus will be receiving vast levels of the usual grave spinning horror from the people of Britishlandshire but those people weren't even the most important client base a decade ago and today they're not even on the radar as potential clients and arguably having them enraged about the new products is possibly better for business than having them in approval.
The solace comes from Lotus finally ending their twenty year long hardcore business plan of not selling any cars and promoting product values that were of zero relevance to the market.
They should have built a lightweight 2wd crossover decades ago when that was possible and would have been ground breaking but their decision to start selling cars came too late and now they can only really go the EV route heading forward
I think many here would prefer it died so you could swoon about Elises and Elans and Esprits and just live in the fecking past.
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