Her programming Lotus wanted in 2027 to launch a new sporty all-electric model, the car codenamed Type 135 based on on the E-Sport platform which will be 37% lighter than Emira’s platform.
The Type 135 will replace the Emira and Elise but Lotus’ plans seem to be hampered by existing battery technology. As Lotus designer Ben Payne said in a recent interview, the increased weight of the batteries may delay the launch of the model, and the company expects lighter batteries to come on the market so that the new car maintains the philosophy of the Elise, ie sports car with light weight.
As Payne added, solid-state batteries could help Lotus meet its weight target for the Type 135.
Until today we knew that the successor of the Elise will be offered in versions with one or two electric motors, producing 470 and 872 hp respectively. It will have a battery capacity of either 66.4 kWh or 99.6 kWh, with a range of 480 or 725 kilometers per charge. The battery will not be mounted on the floor, but behind the driver, so that the driver sits as low as possible.
It will be produced at the Lotus plant in Norfolk, England, with the model positioned against the electric Porsche Boxster and Caymen, and will be sold alongside the Emira, which will be phased out in 2028. The company estimates it could sell up to 10,000. 15,000 such cars worldwide every year.