Lotus electric SUV to be revealed on March 29
Lotus has revealed its first production electric vehicle, a large SUV codenamed Type 132, will be unveiled on March 29th this year.
Lotus Cars has released two new teaser videos overnight on YouTube, as well as the date we welcome Type 132 and all the “Heart. Power. Energy. Soul.” it brings.
Set to rival the Tesla Model X, BMW iX and Audi e-tron, it’s a new dawn for the storied British brand (now Chinese-owned, of course), as the new vehicle is both Lotus’ first SUV and the opening salvo for its electric future.
Style details on show
The new videos and detail images show the large SUV to have in-vogue rear strip lighting across its wide, low and sculpted rear end; intricate headlights; a long digital dashboard behind a slightly angled alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and carbon fibre trim on the wheels with massive Lotus-branded brakes hidden behind.
While it’s pleasing to finally have a confirmed reveal date of just a few weeks away, Lotus’ long tease showing very little of the SUV is bringing a combination of frustration and anticipation amongst enthusiasts.
Keyboard warriors are keen on some solid details and pictures, while Lotus purists are, quite naturally, decrying the double ‘sin’ of the sports car brand succumbing to both an SUV and electric future.
Still from teaser video of the Lotus Type 132 electric SUV Teaser picture of the Lotus Type 132 electric SUV Teaser picture of the Lotus Type 132 electric SUV Teaser picture of the Lotus Type 132 electric SUV Still from teaser video of the Lotus Type 132 electric SUV Still from teaser video of the Lotus Type 132 electric SUV
Fast charging, fast accelerating
From what we already know of the Type 132 – or whatever it’ll ultimately be called – it’s the first of four BEV models Lotus plans to launch in the next five years, all to be built at an assembly plant in Wuhan (yep, that Wuhan), China.
All the lifestyle (non-sports car) BEVs will be based on the new Lotus Premium EV architecture. It allows wheelbases between 2889mm-3100mm, batteries sized between 92-120kWh and 800-volt high-speed charging. The highest performing vehicles based on Premium will be capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in under three seconds.
The Lotus UK website allows interested parties to place a £2,000 ($3,700) reservation fee to be one of the first owners of the Type 132, but no such opportunity is available on Lotus’ Australian website. You can register your interest, suggesting we’ll see the Lotus electric SUV on our shores in future.
The much-hyped Lotus Evija hypercar is also due in 2022, but it’s this new SUV that’ll be key to increasing Lotus sales volume. The brand has lofty ambitions of the Wuhan plant ultimately building 150,000 vehicles per year.
