Type 135 will likely have a 2025 reveal and was originally targeted for 2026 launch. Recent interviews seem to indicate it'll slip into 2027 launch, which could even mean 2028 for the US.
Yep, and maybe it'll look even better than the Emira. Late 2021 when there was still hype around the Emira reveal, Matt Windle signed off on the design, and
in an interview he said it looked GOOD with strong emphasis.
Lotus has been targeting the same weight as the heaviest Emira for some time. Not sure if C&D approximated 3300lb or if they got it from insiders like some other info in the article. Here's what Windle had to say a couple years ago:
"I've actually seen some of the initial work they're doing on the next sports car [Type 135] and it's blown me away already. It will be everything we want it to be: beautiful, lightweight. It will be the Lotus you expect and it will have an amazing performance as well. We are driven by those [principles], lightweighting, dynamics, aerodynamics, they're our core that have been in our business from Chapman...
"The challenge that I've set them for Type 135 is that it needs to weigh the same as Emira as an electric-propulsion car. So they've had to think differently, and the weight saving is significant between what they've done on Project LEVA and where we currently are."
That's similar to what
Richard Rackham has said when the LEVA platform was first revealed. According to Rackham, the mass and packaging of the battery, cabling and motor(s) approximates the weight and physical dimensions of a comparably powerful internal combustion powertrain
As someone mentioned, there's the Porsche Cayman EV in 2024/2025. Also, there's the MG Cyberster in around the same time, but that's a good amount over 4000lb. Maserati has the Granturismo Folgore (EV), but that's more of a GT 2+2 coupe than a sports car. It's about the length of a midsize sedan (BMW 5 Series) and super heavy since it's an ICE platform.
Here were the high level targets for the vehicle when Lotus was still deciding what technologies to use for the platform. Even if the battery is smaller, with a modern chemistry, the weight targets, and the lower drag due to being a lower car without batteries underneath everything, it could get a decent range.
Here's a slide from the Lotus Technology investor presentation, showing the target MSRP and launch timing. It seems like it'll be a bit more expensive than the Emira, so maybe topping out at close to $120k with all options.
I have a compilation of all Type 135 news and Lotus white papers for the LEVA platform at
another Lotus forum. Hopefully mods are okay with me sharing that link, since I don't want to have to bring it all back over here lol. If not, I can take it down.