Lotus Type 135 EV sportscar

[Concept24]

Car & Driver magazine, May 2023

 

[GetawayDriving]

This is the first article I've seen mention 3,300 lbs. Would be great if true. 66 kwh not a ton, but may not have to be if they hit that weight.

 

[Pegasi]

Roadster!

 

[Concept24]

I can see the downsides as:
1. No manual transmission
2. No supercharger whine
Perhaps Lotus will make up for the lack of engine sound with the sound of a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet
Now that'd be fun!

 

[dgrace]

Hoping it looks more “baby Evija” than that illustration. But yeah weight will be key. And no way it makes 2025 launch!

 

[virtualmacho]

No worries, by that time car enthusiasts will be sweating over how the motors and gears sound, how the hum of the power source resonates within the cabin, how to tune road noise and wind noise, etc. Lots of things to talk about while we wait through multiple delays...

 

[VL3X]

Hoping it looks more “baby Evija” than that illustration. But yeah weight will be key. And no way it makes 2025 launch!

Do we know who's team is designing it? I already think the Emira is "baby Evija" and excited to see the Type 135.. Especially a roadster!

And yes, there's absolutely zero chance of a 2025 launch. Hell, I'd be surprised if the US sees their i4 First Editions by 2025!

 

[eriegz]

I really hope that Lotus absolutely nail the Type 135! The only other electric sports car (not supercar, or sporty sedan) that I can name off the top of my head is the first generation Tesla Roadster, and that one was even based on the Lotus Elise. And so if Lotus play their cards right, they could have a HUGE head start over other electric sports car manufacturers!

 

[dgrace]

At least one thing is certain: Lotus won’t be able to screw up the EPA certification for emissions! Presumably they’ll come up with other reasons for it being late.

 

[hml_xy]

Roadster!

In 2017 I was still hoping to order a Evora roadster, which was rumoured at some point. We all know how that went.

 

[GetawayDriving]

I really hope that Lotus absolutely nail the Type 135! The only other electric sports car (not supercar, or sporty sedan) that I can name off the top of my head is the first generation Tesla Roadster, and that one was even based on the Lotus Elise. And so if Lotus play their cards right, they could have a HUGE head start over other electric sports car manufacturers!

The EV Boxster and Cayman will beat this to market. They’re already out there testing in camouflage.

 

[simonb]

I think the real question will be Wuhan or Hethel for production

 

[TomE]

Do we know who's team is designing it? I already think the Emira is "baby Evija" and excited to see the Type 135.. Especially a roadster!

Russell Carr’s team, who did the Evija and Emira, so I’m hopeful it will continue the design language. Design work is well underway.

 

[TomE]

I think the real question will be Wuhan or Hethel for production

Confirmed as Hethel for Type 135. Wuhan is for the “Lifestyle” vehicles. Hethel is also likely to build the Alpine version too - the Type 135 platform is a joint venture.

 

[Hethel Merman]

The EV Boxster and Cayman will beat this to market. They’re already out there testing in camouflage.

Maybe the type 135 is too, just in better camouflage.

 

[nelly111s]

Can we open a thread on suspension mods and lowering this? Don’t think we’ll need a “new exhaust” thread.

 

[d15b7]

I like the look of it in that pic. 3300 lbs at that power level in EV should deliver mid low 3.X 0-60 mph times and fantastic on the road performance and handling with the ultra low center of gravity. I’d guess at 250ish range when not flogging it. I agree downsides will be no manual trans and no vrooooooom sounds. But I bet this car will be fun fun fun to toss around and kill some corners. Please please please keep it under $100k USD!!

PS I have some real insight into driving/racing mid engine EV sports cars. I’m the lead driver for team EVSR.net here in the USA. we’ve built 5 cars (two generations of modifications and improvements) and have done hundreds of sprint races with the SCCA and NASA, plus hill climbs and time attacks and twice competed in (and finished strongly) in the NASA 25 hrs of Thunderhill endurance race (that car has our quick change battery packs in it ~ 1:15s or a little less to change batteries and driver during pitstops). We do use LFP battery chemistry which is very stable and not prone to fire or explosion or runaway (but is not as energy dense as Li-ion). The center of gravity of this mid motored 180 hp 1850 lb (no driver) car is crazy low (below the axle height) and in high speed corners it is crazy how much speed you can carry (even on the 205 width moderately hard compound Toyo RA-1 tires that we usually run). It took me quite a few sessions in the beginning to trust the car and just keep adding speed in the corner and not fall off the track! Here’s a couple pic if you are curious

 

[benjh1028]

I like the look of it in that pic. 3300 lbs at that power level in EV should deliver mid low 3.X 0-60 mph times and fantastic on the road performance and handling with the ultra low center of gravity. I’d guess at 250ish range when not flogging it. I agree downsides will be no manual trans and no vrooooooom sounds. But I bet this car will be fun fun fun to toss around and kill some corners. Please please please keep it under $100k USD!!

PS I have some real insight into driving/racing mid engine EV sports cars. I’m the lead driver for team EVSR.net here in the USA. we’ve built 5 cars (two generations of modifications and improvements) and have done hundreds of sprint races with the SCCA and NASA, plus hill climbs and time attacks and twice competed in (and finished strongly) in the NASA 25 hrs of Thunderhill endurance race (that car has our quick change battery packs in it ~ 1:15s or a little less to change batteries and driver during pitstops). We do use LFP battery chemistry which is very stable and not prone to fire or explosion or runaway (but is not as energy dense as Li-ion). The center of gravity of this mid motored 180 hp 1850 lb (no driver) car is crazy low (below the axle height) and in high speed corners it is crazy how much speed you can carry (even on the 205 width moderately hard compound Toyo RA-1 tires that we usually run). It took me quite a few sessions in the beginning to trust the car and just keep adding speed in the corner and not fall off the track! Here’s a couple pic if you are curious

That's amazing! Didn't know there was e-racing out there. So these are in-house designed and hand built? Crazy the talent that's on this forum.

 

[d15b7]

Thanks! At least here in the United States we are the only team that is racing door-to-door in electrified vehicles. Yes, these are custom designed from the ground up by a small shop called Entropy Racing. The cars really are amazing to drive and really fun and exciting. And believe me, Im a tough critic because one of my primary personal race cars is a lotus super seven series III that I vintage race! Not exactly anything like any kind of an EV race car ha ha! When we race these cars, we race them against all gas powered cars since there are no other EVs to race against. And we do more than hold our own most times!

On a down note right now, the sanctioning bodies starting this year are trying to apply an all EV ban on the race tracks in United States. The thinking is that the EV cars that are being produced today by manufacturers and that would try to go on a race track even in a drivers education situation almost all have the unsafe battery chemistry that can cause big fires that are hard to put out. So they are putting out a blanket ruling that basically just says no EVs no matter what. We have tried to appeal explaining that we run the LFP battery chemistry that is very safe, but they do not wish to change the blanket ruling for fear that there will be issues with people trying to sneak in with the unsafe battery chemistry. At this point , I think Entropy Racing is ready to throw in the towel which is very unfortunate. We have been racing here for nearly 10 years developing the cars and never had any issues.

 

[TomE]

I like the look of it in that pic. 3300 lbs at that power level in EV should deliver mid low 3.X 0-60 mph times and fantastic on the road performance and handling with the ultra low center of gravity. I’d guess at 250ish range when not flogging it. I agree downsides will be no manual trans and no vrooooooom sounds. But I bet this car will be fun fun fun to toss around and kill some corners. Please please please keep it under $100k USD!!

The unofficial target specs for the Type 135 are exciting. They include staying close to the weight, range and price of the Emira. That gives some serious challenges on battery tech and lightweight engineering. But will mean a very quick and well-handling car.