Lotus is struggling with Porsche: what model is preparing for launch

It’s a big part of the brand’s growth plan.

Lotus took a huge step towards the mainstream when it launched Eletre, an electric crossover developed in terms of volume.

It will continue to move in this direction with the launch of its first sedan, and a recent report suggests that the model is intended to be a rival to the Porsche Taycan.

Known internally as the Type 133 and dubbed the four-door coupe, the sedan will join the company’s portfolio of so-called “lifestyle” electric vehicles. It will borrow a few hints of style from Eletre, but it won’t just be a small-scale crossover.

“There has to be a certain continuity and family identity,” said Peter Horbury, Lotus’ senior vice president of design. “Families are not made up entirely of triplets or quadruplets. Each member of a family can have his own character “, he added.

Taycan’s rival

While the Type 133 – a name that will not make the leap into production, Eletre has been named Type 132 – will not be as simple as, say, an Elise, it will be positioned as a driver’s car.

Gavan Kershaw, Lotus’s director of attributes and integrity, said the team of engineers evaluated Porsche Taycan during Eletre’s development process, and the lessons learned will be applied to Type 133.

Like its older sibling, the sedan should have a long list of technological features, including an air suspension system and rear wheel steering.

The specifications of the powertrain have not yet been published, but the fact that Eletre and Type 133 will be closely linked under the board gives us an idea of ​​what to expect.

The power for the first Lotus crossover comes from a pair of electric motors that crush the four wheels with about 600 horsepower.

The battery capacity is over 100 kilowatt-hours, and the 800-volt electrical architecture allows for fast charging technology.

Lotus sets Eletre’s maximum running range at 600 kilometers on the test cycle used in Europe. It is reasonable to assume that the sedan, which should be lighter and more aerodynamic, should be able to go on with a load.

Lotus is expected to unveil Type 133 in 2023. The model will be built with Eletre in Wuhan, China.