Lotus to unveil the Emeya electric sedan on September 7

author: FutureCar Staff    

Lotus is preparing to introduce its first sedan in decades, following the Carlton from the early 1990s. The British performance brand recently unveiled a teaser video showcasing a sleek four-door model called the Emeya. Referred to as the Type 133 and previously rumored to be called the Envya, the Emeya will debut on September 7th as an all-electric sedan. It will join Lotus' expanding lineup of mainstream electric vehicles, which already includes the Eletre mid-size SUV and a compact crossover known as the Type 134.

The teaser video suggests that the Emeya will have a similar shape to the Tesla Model S, with design elements borrowed from the Eletre. The front of the sedan features twin-element daytime running lights, while the rear showcases a light strip reminiscent of the Eletre. Spy shots of prototypes have also revealed that the Emeya will incorporate the Eletre's triangular active shutters and may come equipped with cameras instead of traditional side mirrors, although this feature might not be available in the U.S. market.

While Lotus has confirmed the availability of the Eletre in the U.S. in 2024, no information has been provided regarding the availability of the other EVs in the American market. If approved for a U.S. launch, the Emeya is expected to arrive in 2024 as well. The Emeya is likely to be built on the same Electric Premium Architecture platform as the Eletre, which supports dual-motor all-wheel drive, air suspension, and fast-charging capabilities.

Potential competitors for the Emeya include the Audi E-Tron GT, Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air, and high-end versions of the Tesla Model S. Lotus' sister brand, Polestar, is also developing a similar model called the Polestar 5, set to launch next year. Lotus Technology, the division responsible for non-sports car models at Lotus, is overseeing the development of the Emeya, Eletre, and upcoming compact crossover. Production of these vehicles will take place at a plant in Wuhan, China.

In addition to the Emeya, Lotus has plans to introduce the Type 134 compact crossover around 2025 and a new sports car, code-named the Type 135, by 2026. All future Lotus models will be electric, as the brand has confirmed that the current Emira sports car is the last to feature a gasoline engine.

FutureCar Staff