The Lotus Type 133 is getting ready to take on the world of performance electric sedans with a sleek four-door coupe design and up to nearly 900 hp
3 hours ago
This article contains independent illustrations that are neither related to nor endorsed by Lotus.
Renowned British sports car manufacturer Lotus is gunning for Porsche’s Taycan with an all-new electric sedan that aims to push the boundaries of innovation. Known internally as the Type 133, previous conjecture had it wearing the Envya nomenclature. However, this seems not to be the case, with Colin Chapman’s legendary Cortina nameplate from the 1960s being the most likely contender.
More: What We Know About The Electrified 2025 BMW M5 Sedan And Touring
The sleek sedan has been spied testing in the wild, bearing nothing but minimal camouflage, so with the aid of digital magic, this writer has peeled back camo to show you our best preview to date. Curious to know more? Let’s delve into everything we know before its official reveal.
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Electrifying Design
The Type 133 sports a sleek, aerodynamic design that effortlessly merges sportiness with elegance. With its smooth contours and dynamic lines, it exudes a captivating presence dominated by a wide frontal opening (for aerodynamics and EV cooling), recessed Matrix headlamps and stacked DRLs.
Viewing it from the side reveals a low-slung profile, carefully sculpted bodywork, and muscular haunches enhancing its visual appeal. Frameless windows, flush door handles, digital side mirrors, and a sloping roofline help optimize its aerodynamic efficiency, thus improving range and performance. For those wondering what the oddly shaped roof area is about, it’s to incorporate the LiDAR sensor for a suite of advanced driver-assist systems.
Interior Smarts
A prototype of the Type 133 was spotted in China by a Weibo user giving us a first look inside
Interior-wise, you’ll be greeted by a luxurious, futuristic cabin that blends comfort with advanced technology. Its layout has more than a whiff of the Audi e-tron GT, with premium materials and sculptured detailing. A tall center tunnel partitions the four-seat cabin but provides ample legroom for front and rear passengers.
Key details of the driver-centric cockpit include a massive touchscreen display, offering seamless access to various vehicle functions and connectivity options. Other goodies likely offered are a high-end 2,160-watt 23-speaker KEF audio system and configurable ambient lighting.
Performance to Stun
The Type 133 will share the platform and components with the pictured Lotus Eletre SUV
Built on an all-new electric vehicle platform, Lotus aims to deliver exceptional performance and handling. Although, for a brand that has made its name in chassis expertise, one does wonder what a whopping great battery pack does for driver engagement and agility.
Much of all the go-fast stuff will be plucked from the Eletre SUV. In that vehicle, the base model features a 112 kWh lithium-ion battery promising a range of over 300 miles and a dual-motor AWD setup pumping out a stout 603 hp (612 PS / 450 kW) and 524 lb-ft (710 Nm) of torque.
For those that love a bit of instant organ rearrangement, a high-performance R variant could feature as much as 893 hp and 727 lb-ft (985 Nm) of torque. Fortunately, its 800-volt architecture can enable rapid charging up to 350 kW, and 10-80% top-ups can be dispatched in roughly 20 minutes (all going to plan).
Rivals and Reveal
The Lotus Type 133 will battle it with other cutting-edge sedans in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle landscape. Key rivals include the Tesla Model S, Lucid Air, Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT, Mercedes-Benz EQE, Polestar 5 and BMW’s all-new i5.
More: All-Electric 2024 Lotus Eletre Is A Cayenne-Sized SUV With 600+ HP
Expect the Type 133 to feature a range of trim levels that mirrors its SUV sibling, and an official reveal is likely to occur later in the coming months.
Is Lotus on the right track with offering an all-electric sedan? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.