Lotus Type 133, the upcoming electric sedan from Lotus, has been recently spotted cruising the streets of China. The vehicle, heavily camouflaged to maintain its mystery, is in its final stages of testing and is set to make its grand debut soon. The unveiling of the Lotus Envya, as it will be called, is scheduled for the latter half of this year, with sales commencing in early 2024.
Sharing the modified SEA platform with its SUV counterpart, the Lotus Envya will utilize the Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) known for its excellent performance. This means that it will benefit from the same battery and powertrain as the Eletre SUV, offering impressive power figures of up to 905 hp (675 kW) for the R version and 603 hp (450 kW) for the base model. Similar to the Eletre, the Envya will feature an AWD system with two electric motors.
Furthermore, the Envya and Eletre will also share the battery, which boasts a 100 kW capacity (usable). This shared resource is expected to provide an enhanced range for the Envya, potentially surpassing 500 km. In its top R trim, the electric sedan is anticipated to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 3 seconds, making it a formidable competitor in the luxury electric vehicle segment, challenging the likes of the Porsche Taycan.
While the heavily camouflaged vehicle in the photographs keeps most details hidden, the observant eye can spot the pop-up LiDAR sensors situated in the front fenders. This clever feature, also present in the Eletre, ensures that the sensors remain inconspicuous when not in use. Additionally, the test vehicle is equipped with an external LiDAR on its roof, primarily for calibration purposes and to maintain the secrecy of the production design.
The Lotus Envya is not expected to be a compact car. If it shares its wheelbase with the Eletre, passengers can enjoy a generous 3,019 mm of space between the axles, resulting in an impressive length of around 5,103 mm. Such dimensions provide ample legroom for all occupants. The Envya will likely be available in both 4 and 5-seat configurations, accompanied by a range of state-of-the-art features and in-cabin technology.
As the Envya concludes its final testing phase, having already completed winter testing, more information is anticipated to emerge regarding Lotus’ next electric offering, the Type 134. This smaller SUV is slated for a 2025 release, followed by the Type 135 in 2026, an all-electric supercar that will join the illustrious Lotus vehicle portfolio alongside the 2,011 hp Evija hypercar. The future of Lotus is undoubtedly electrifying.
