Skip advert
Advertisement

Lotus confirms four new electric cars including two SUVs by 2026

The new ‘lifestyle’ Lotus models will be built in China, but the UK will remain the home of the brand’s sports cars

Lotus has plotted out its electric future by confirming it will launch four new electric cars by 2026. 

A teaser image previews the future Lotus EV line-up, which will be made up of five models with the inclusion of the already revealed Evjia hypercar. Joining it from 2022 will be a large SUV codenamed Type 132, while 2023 will see the arrival of a similarly sized four-door coupe referred to as Type 133 and probably shaping up as a direct competitor for the Tesla Model S

A mid-size, ‘D-segment’ SUV known as Type 134 is slated for arrival in 2024, the size of the car suggesting it will be a rival for the BMW iX3. But, alongside the two SUVs and the four-door coupe, the brand will stick to its roots with a new sports car, launching in 2026 and also fully-electric. It won’t be a replacement for the recently revealed, petrol powered Lotus Emira but will be sold alongside it. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Three of these vehicles will use Lotus’ recently announced Premium Architecture - a fully electric car platform. It’s been developed by Geely owned Lotus for a global rollout of ‘lifestyle’ orientated cars, in this case, the two SUVs and the four-door coupe.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

New Lotus platform: technical details

Technical detail has emerged, confirming that cars using the Premium Architecture will have wheelbases ranging from 2,998mm to 3,100mm, and that batteries 90kWh to 120kWh in capacity are being designed for use within the platform. 

Lotus has also confirmed that the Premium Architecture is electrified at 800v, like the Porsche/Audi J1 platform underneath the Taycan and e-tron GT. This should mean ultrafast 350kW charging capability, while in terms of performance specifications, Lotus says Premium Architecture cars will have motor systems capable of propelling the cars from 0-62mph in less than three seconds. 

No further detail on the 2026 electric sports car has emerged, but Lotus had previously confirmed the development of a new Electric Sport Car Architecture (ESCA) platform known internally as E-Sports. This platform will also be used under the next-generation Alpine A110

The Lotus ‘lifestyle’ models will be built in China, at a new factory in Wuhan due to open later this year. Built at a cost of around £900m, the brand says the Wuhan factory will have the capacity to build 150,000 cars a year at peak production. Lotus has also revealed a new technology subsidiary in the city, revealing images of the new Lotus Technology campus that will open in Wuhan in 2024. 

This new technology division has received investment from NIO, and Lotus has admitted that both companies may explore the potential to cooperate over the development of future EV tech. 

Despite this, the UK will remain the home of Lotus sports cars. The brand’s existing facilities at Hethel and in Norwich and the UK-based Lotus team will take the lead on developing new performance and sports car models beyond the Evija.

What will these electric Lotus SUVs have to compete with? Here are the best electric SUVs on sale...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Lotus Hethel factory future: no plans to close UK car building base, says brand
Lotus Hethel factory

Lotus Hethel factory future: no plans to close UK car building base, says brand

The British sports car maker has quashed the rumours it’s planning to end car production at its historic base in Hethel, Norfolk
News
28 Jun 2025
Big plans for the Lotus Emira with hybrid tech on the cards
Lotus Emira Turbo SE Racing Line in Cosmos black - front static

Big plans for the Lotus Emira with hybrid tech on the cards

Lotus is plotting a raft of developments for its mid-engined Emira sports car – with combined petrol/electric power a future option
News
27 Jun 2025
The Lotus electric car rebirth is struggling, but will new hyper-hybrids save the day?
Auto Express editor-at-large Phil McNamara standing next to a Lotus Emeyal

The Lotus electric car rebirth is struggling, but will new hyper-hybrids save the day?

Despite huge Chinese investment to electrify Lotus, sports car sales still prop up the loss-making business. Can Lotus achieve take-off?
Features
27 Jun 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
New cars coming soon header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
23 Jun 2025

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal
BMW M5 Touring - front action

Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal

The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It’s our Deal of the Day for 29 June
News
29 Jun 2025
Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019
Opinion - Kia EV9 GT

Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019

From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world
Opinion
29 Jun 2025
New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand’s hot-SUV onslaught
Skoda Epiq vRS exclusive image

New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand’s hot-SUV onslaught

Every future Skoda will get the go-faster treatment, with the brand also working on making cars sharper and more engaging
News
27 Jun 2025