Lotus’ first all-new product in more than a decade will be electric, the Norfolk, UK-based car maker announced and previewed at Auto Shanghai 2019. The ‘Type 130′ follows in the footsteps of innovative vehicles including the Elise – that was first introduced in 2008 – and numerous highly successful Formula 1 racing cars. Details are nil at present, though Lotus has referred to the car as being the, “world’s first full.
British car maker Lotus has revealed the first glimpse of its first new vehicle in over a decade – an all-electric sports car, called the Type 130.
Revealed at Auto Shanghai 2019, the car will be the first all-electric supercar created by a British manufacturer.
Few details have been released about the supercar, which will be on sale in 2020, aside from a sketch hinting at the vehicle’s form. The full design will be revealed later this year.
“Type 130 will be the most dynamically accomplished Lotus in our history, said Lotus CEO Phil Popham.
First car since Geely buyout
It will be the first new car created by the 71-year old manufacturer in over 10 years, and comes two years after it was taken over by Chinese car manufacturer Geely.
Geely, which also owns Volvo and Lynk & Co, acquired Lotus and Malaysian brand Proton in 2017. The Type 120 will mark the brand’s relaunch under its new owners.
Evora GT4
Lotus also revealed a concept race car, the Evora GT4, at Auto Shanghai 2019
Lotus has a large fan base in the UK, having won Formula One championships throughout the 1960s and 1970s. However the company has struggled under several different owners, including General Motors and Proton, since the death of its founder Colin Chapman in 1982.
“It marks a turning point for our brand, and is a showcase of what we are capable of and what is to come from Lotus,” said Popham about the Type 130.
“This car is a rebirth of our brand. With the very significant backing of our shareholders and global infrastructure of Geely Auto to support us, a hugely exciting future lies ahead.”
Brand plans to reestablish itself
Lotus hope that the electric sports car will establish Lotus as a progressive company, while also reflecting on its long history.
“Our first job is to reestablish the business as a current progressive British sports car maker, that is a contender and consideration for the majority of buyers in the sports car sector,” he continued.
With its name, the Type 130, Lotus is making a clear connection with its history – all of its past models have been assigned a type number.
The company’s “legendary bloodline” includes the Type 25, which won the Formula One World Championship in 1963 and the Type 72, which Lotus describes as the most successful Formula One car of all time, winning the competition in 1970, 1972 and 1973.
At Auto Shanghai 2019, Lotus also revealed a concept race car named the Evora GT4, which the company hopes will be entered into races in 2020.
Numerous companies are designing electric super cars, including Infinity, which created a concept car based on the classic speedster, and Audi, which designed a race car based on a car in the computer game Gran Turismo.
