Lotus is retiring the Elise, Exige and Evora series. A new sports car, which Lotus has so far referred to simply as the Type 131, is to be launched soon. Further new Lotus model series are in the pipeline for 2022/2023.
Production of the Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora series will cease this year after a total of around 55,000 units have been built. The successful lightweight sports cars are to make way for new Lotus models expected from 2022 and 2023.
Two more sports cars after Lotus Evija and Lotus Type 131
To this end, Lotus is completely repositioning itself in 2021. As part of its “Vision 80 strategy,” the company has already invested more than £100 million in its plant in Hethel to modernize production.
The new Evija hypercar is then due to be launched later this year. Also in 2021, the prototype of a new Lotus sports car is to be built, which should then go into series production in 2022. Further new models are then to be launched on the market in the following years. A teaser image that Lotus has now published suggests that it will be two more sports cars after Lotus Evija and Lotus Type 131.
Mid-engine sports car with V6 engine to be combined with an in-house developed hybrid system
So far, not much is known about the Lotus Type 131. However, it is said to be positioned above the outgoing Lotus Evora and is also designed as a mid-engine sports car. A V6 engine is to be combined with an in-house developed hybrid system.
According to Lotus, it is still important that all model series follow the principle of “For The Drivers”: They remain genuine “driver’s cars”.
Lotus already made headlines the week before last when Renault announced that the French sports car brand Alpine and the English are working together to develop the all-electric successor to the Alpine A110.
Images: Lotus