Lotus is preparing the Type 134 SUV: it will compete with the Porsche Macan

The entry-level crossover, currently in development, will borrow some technology from the Lotus Eletre and Type 133.

Today, the British company Lotus Cars belongs to the Chinese holding company Geely. The brand plans to actively develop in the European market with its strict eco-standards, so Lotus is now continuing the process of «greening». Emira's Type 131 sports car is the brand's latest model with an internal combustion engine, debuting in the summer of 2021. Now the manufacturer is developing only electric vehicles.

On the photo: Lotus Eletre

The “green” family already has its firstborn: at the end of March last year, the “battery” novelty Lotus debuted, its role was played by the Eletre crossover (its intrafactory index is Type 132). The lineup will also include an all-electric sedan, likely to be called the Envya. So far, the future novelty is known under the designation Type 133. The manufacturer does not intend to stop there: a “socket” SUV will appear in the lineup. .png» />

The index of this novelty in the SUV segment is Type 134. It is assumed that this compact crossover will debut in 2024 (after the “four-door” with an index of 133). In an interview with British Autocar, Lotus commercial director Mike Johnston spoke about plans for the Type 134 to account for roughly 50% of the brand's annual sales by 2028. According to the company's calculations, the model will be produced with an annual circulation of about 75,000 copies.There is practically no official information about the future SUV yet. Mike Johnston has hinted that the electric vehicle will be based on one of the upgraded versions of the EPA (Electric Premium Architecture) modular platform. The Lotus Type 134 will be less than five meters long. It is expected that he will borrow technology from the Eletre crossover and the upcoming Type 133 sedan. It is possible that the SUV will receive smaller batteries and capacity. Recall that the Lotus Eletre has a 100 kWh battery, the power reserve on one charge is 600 km (according to the WLTP cycle).

It is assumed that the developers of new items will pay a lot of attention to aerodynamics. It is expected that the SUV with the Type 134 index will have a coupe-like body. According to Mike Johnston, the new electric SUV will live up to the company's core philosophy of combining performance and driving dynamics. Lotus Eletre

Competitors of the Lotus Type 134 are predicting the upcoming Porsche Macan EV electric SUV. According to the plans of the German manufacturer, the “green” Macan will debut in 2024. According to preliminary data, the Porsche electrocross will receive a power plant, the total power of which will be 612 hp, and its maximum torque will be 1000 Nm.

As Kolesa.ru reported earlier, the “big brother”, the Lotus Eletre crossover, has a twin-engine unit (one electric motor on each axle), which produces a total of more than 600 hp. This model takes less than 3 seconds to accelerate from standstill to “hundreds”, and its maximum speed is limited at around 260 km/h.