Lotus prepping
a new mid-engine car for this year, powered by a V6 hybrid unit and styled
after the all-electric Evija hypercar. This entry-level model is aimed for
daily use and will be the British carmaker’s last combustion-engine car.
According to company CEO Phil Popham, it will be priced between £ 55,000
(US$ 68,000) and £ 100,000 (US$ 123,000).
Production will commence this year at
Lotus’ plant in Hethel, England, as soon as the UK lifts its coronavirus
lockdown, said Popham. As for the reveal date, it will happen either later this
year or in 2021, reports Autonews Europe.
This is a different ramp up strategy than
what Aston Martin and Lamborghini have employed by making SUVs. Lotus’
accessible sports car (albeit with enough interior space to make it a genuine
daily driver) will also serve as a departure from its track-focused siblings in
terms of design.
The carmaker plans on lifting volumes from
around 1,600 cars per year toward the 5,000 unit limit of its facilities, and
these plans will not be held back by any sales issues related to the current
lockdown, added the CEO.
By other segments, he means either an SUV
or a sports sedan, both of which would be fascinating propositions coming out
of Hethel.
