What We Know So Far
Overview
Lotus’s upcoming electric sports car—internally dubbed the Type 135—is said to retain the company’s two classic qualities: lightness and simplicity. Along with staying true to those roots, the two-seat EV will usher in a new era for Lotus, as it will be the first vehicle to utilize the new Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture (LEVA) platform. The electric coupe will be followed up by a roadster version, and they’ll offer a 66.4-kWh battery pack with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive layout. We expect total output as high as 470 horsepower. The 2025 Lotus Type 135 aims to preserve the ethos of engaging driver’s cars like the Elise and Evora GT that Lotus is known for. Simply put, it’s destined to be an electric version of the Lotus Emira, which it will eventually come to replace.
What’s New for 2025?
Sources suggest the Type 135 will launch as a coupe in 2025 and later be joined by a roadster. Unlike the Eletre SUV and the upcoming EV sedan, which will both be engineered in Germany and produced in China, the Type 135 is being developed in the United Kingdom and will be built at the company’s factory in Hethel alongside the Emira. The 135 could even potentially dawn the Eleva moniker—which means “to raise” in certain languages—but the automaker has yet to confirm an official name.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The Type 135’s anticipated starting price is $80,000, which aligns with what we expect the upcoming Porsche 718 EV to cost. We’re not sure what trim levels will be offered, but there’s a chance they could mimic the same three-tier structure as Lotus’s other upcoming EV models. We’ll recommend our preferred model once we have more details.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The Type 135 will utilize Lotus’s new Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture platform, which is made up of bonded-aluminum and uses a cast-aluminum rear subframe. Unlike most EVs, the British sports car is expected to have its battery mounted behind the passenger compartment rather than under the floor. The 66.4-kWh pack will power the single axial-flux electric motor mounted on the rear axle. We expect a total output of 470 horsepower. Although that’s not a revolutionary amount of power, it should be more than enough oomph for the anticipated 3300-pound curb weight.
As more information becomes available, we’ll update this story with more details about:
- Range, Charging, and Battery Life
- Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
- Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
- Infotainment and Connectivity
- Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
- Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
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