‘Simplify, then add lightness.’
This was the famous saying of Lotus founder, Colin Chapman, the man who started the iconic British company back in 1948.
But fast forward 75 years – and with the sport car brand now majority owned by the Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group – it is taking a very different direction as it embarks on becoming an electric vehicle brand.
Today, it has revealed its third battery-powered model, the Emeya – a four-dour ‘hyper GT’ with almost 900bhp that is set to go head-to-head with Tesla’s Model S Plaid and the Porsche Taycan Turbo S from next year.
Lotus’s new family-friendly electric performance machine: This is the new Emeya – the four-door ‘hyper GT’ model just unveiled by the iconic sports-car brand. Here’s what we know about it so far ahead of it going into production next year
Following the tyre tracks of its Evija hypercar and Eletre SUV, Lotus bosses confirmed the Emeya will be the next model in its all-EV line-up during a glitzy unveiling in New York.
While few details about its performance has been confirmed, the company said it will follow closely the specification of its bigger SUV brother.
The sportier coupe-like four-door grand tourer will likely use the same 102kWh battery and its dual motors are claimed to produce up to 893bhp and 985Nm of torque.
Following the tyre tracks of its Evija hypercar and Eletre SUV, Lotus bosses confirmed the Emeya will be the next model in its all-EV line-up during a glitzy unveiling in New York. Production will commence in 2024
The sporty coupe-like four-door grand tourer will likely use the same 102kWh battery and dual motor setup as the bigger Eletre SUV. Lotus bosses say the drivetrain produces up to 893bhp and 985Nm of torque
While the motor on the rear axle will power the rear wheels, a second motor – including a single-speed gearbox – at the front means this is a four-wheel-drive EV.
This, along with the availability of F1-style launch control and intelligent torque control, means the Emeya can sprint from 0 to 62mph in a mere 2.78 seconds.
Top speed is said to be ‘more than’ 155mph, though is still likely to be restricted to prevent owners from draining the battery at an alarming rate when driving on unrestricted roads, like the German Autobahn.
Still, Lotus says it will be ‘one of the fastest electric GTs in the world’. But will it? The closest rivals from Tesla and Porsche might have something to say about it.
Elon Musk’s American car firm quotes a 0-to-62mph time for the Model S Plaid of just 2.1 seconds and a top speed of 200mph. Whereas performance figures from Porsche read 0-to-62mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 162mph for its range-topping four-door Taycan Turbo S.
With four-wheel drive, F1-style launch control and intelligent torque control, the Emeya is said to sprint from 0 to 62mph in a mere 2.78 seconds. The top speed is ‘more than’ 155mph
How does the Lotus compare to its two biggest electric GT rivals? The Tesla Model S Plaid (left) has a 0-to-62mph time of just 2.1 seconds and a top speed of 200mph. Porsche’s range-topping Taycan Turbo S (right) has a 0-to-62mph time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 162mph
Likely to tip the scale at in excess of two tonnes, the Emeya certainly won’t fit the ethos of ‘Simplify, then add lightness,’ famously penned by Lotus founder, Colin Chapman (pictured with a Lotus Elite)
While the Tesla and Porsche have quotes ranges of 373 and 305 miles respectively, Lotus hasn’t divulge the Emeya’s distance – and won’t until later in the year. However, we expect it to be around the same as the longest-distance Eletre – up to 373 miles.
The iconic sports car and racing marque says the battery will have a recharge capability of up to 350kW.
What does this mean? Lotus says it translates to adding 93 miles of range for every five minutes hooked up to a compatible EV charging device – while a charge from 10 to 80 per cent should take a mere 18 minutes.
In terms of styling, the Emeya is a continuation of the brand language we’ve seen from the next-generation Lotus EVs in recent years.
Even with its low-slung, slippery body, the manufacturer has fitted it with a raft of advanced active aero.
It features the company’s in-house designed active front grille, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. The latter is 100mm wider than the one used on the Eletre SUV and provides more than 215kg of cornering downforce.
Lotus’ new design uses ‘porosity’ – a term usually used to describe the gaps between rocks. In this case, it’s the use of air channels through its EVs. The Emeya has eight of them, which are specifically shaped to direct cool air flow into the GT’s bodyworks towards the brakes, electric motors and battery to ensure they remain at optimum performance temperatures
The Emeya also has plenty of clever active aero, including an active front grille, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. The spoiler – seen here – is 100mm wider than the one used on the Eletre SUV and provides more than 215kg of cornering downforce
This, combined with the low centre of gravity, is described as Lotus as the car’s ‘hyperstance’, which it says ‘sets a new standard in the GT segment for ride and handling excellence’.
Emeya will also boast an electronically controlled air suspension system made up of sensors that ‘feel’ the road 1,000 times a second, then automatically adjust the settings to ensure the vehicle delivers the smoothest ride.
Also helping the Emeya slice through the air and put less of a drain on the battery is the use of design featuring what Lotus calls ‘porosity’ – a term usually used to describe the gaps between rocks.
However, in this case it is Lotus’ use of air channels through its EVs.
The Emeya has eight of them, which are specifically shaped to direct cool air flow into the GT’s bodyworks towards the brakes, electric motors and battery to ensure they remain at optimum performance temperatures.
With so many features, this isn’t a vehicle that could ever be described as light. And the Emeya is very likely to be what we – or Colin Chapman – call light.
Given that the Eletre SUV tips the scales at 2.6 tonnes, this GT model won’t be too far away on the scales.
Emeya will also boast an electronically controlled air suspension system made up of sensors that ‘feel’ the road 1,000 times a second, then automatically adjust the settings to ensure the vehicle delivers the smoothest ride
Emeya delivers a ‘truly immersive audio system’, Lotus says. This is thanks to a new partnership with KEF – the high-end British producer of speakers, subwoofers and wireless headphones
The major eye-catching feature is this huge infotainment screen. However, its party piece is a 55-inch projected augmented reality head-up display that spans across most of the windscreen
The cabin materials have been chosen to fit the brand’s ‘consciously designed’ concept, including the use of advanced sustainable materials that are sustainably sourced to reduce the car’s carbon footprint
The four-door, four-seat GT looks to be more than spacious enough for families to use on a daily basis. There are just two chairs in the back
Step inside the four-door, four-seat GT, and it looks to be more than spacious enough for families to use on a daily basis.
The major eye-catching feature is the huge infotainment screen. Nevertheless, its party piece is actually a 55-inch projected augmented reality head-up display, which relays to the driver ‘crucial external environment details’, such as real-time navigation updates and alerts to obstacles in the road ahead.
The cabin materials have been chosen to fit the brand’s ‘consciously designed’ concept, including the use of advanced sustainable materials that are sustainably sourced to reduce the car’s carbon footprint.
‘This includes a new luxury thread made from repurposed fibres from the fashion industry – as well as PVD aluminium, Alcantara, Nappa leather, and Ultrafabrics PU,’ the company states.
Emeya will also deliver a ‘truly immersive audio system’ that has been co-developed for the car with KEF – the high-end British producer of speakers, subwoofers and wireless headphones.
The car will be fitted with the audio brand’s award-winning Uni-Q speaker design and Uni-Core space-saving subwoofer enclosure, as well as Dolby Atmos-enabled 3D surround sound – first seen in a Lotus on the Eletre Hyper-SUV.
‘This is a Lotus like you have never seen before,’ said Ben Payne, vice-president of design, Lotus Group.
‘We’ve built on everything Lotus has achieved so far to create a luxury performance car for the drivers, designed to inspire confidence, exhilarate with raw emotion and pure joy – connecting them to the road.’
Production of Lotus’s new Emeya will begin in 2024, though pricing is still to be revealed and due to be confirmed before the end of the year.
Given that the Eletre costs upwards of £90,000, expect it to cost in excess of £100,000.
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