Lotus is unveiling its first sedan in decades, the Emeya, an electric model joining the brand’s growing EV lineup.
Lotus introduces the Emeya, an electric sedan, in a teaser video.
The sedan shares design elements with the Eletre SUV and employs electric power.
Lotus Technology manages development and production, aligning with the brand’s EV-focused strategy.
British performance automaker Lotus is poised to reenter the sedan market with the introduction of the Emeya, a significant milestone since the Carlton of the early 1990s. The Lotus Emeya, also known as the Type 133 and previously rumored as Envya, is scheduled to debut on September 7 as a battery-powered sedan.
Lotus Emeya Teaser | Photo : Lotus
The teaser video offers a glimpse of the Emeya’s sleek four-door profile, echoing design cues from the Eletre and bearing resemblance to the Tesla Model S. Characterized by twin daytime running lights at the front and a rear light strip akin to the Eletre, the Emeya showcases an aesthetically harmonious design.
Spy shots of prototype vehicles have unveiled certain features, including the Eletre’s triangular active shutters located in the front fascia’s central intake. It’s worth noting that cameras instead of conventional side mirrors are visible, though their availability in the U.S. and Canadian market remains uncertain.
Lotus Eletre R | Photo: Lotus
Lotus’ North American plans include launching the Eletre in 2024, while the status of the Emeya’s availability in the American market is yet to be confirmed. The Emeya is expected to share its underpinnings with the Eletre, employing the Electric Premium Architecture dedicated EV platform. This platform supports robust attributes, such as up to 905 hp, 112 kWh of battery capacity, dual-motor all-wheel drive, air suspension, and rapid 350 kW charging.
Potential competitors for the Emeya encompass luxury electric sedans like the Audi E-Tron GT, Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air, and high-performance iterations of the Tesla Model S. Lotus’ fellow Zhejiang Geely brand, Polestar, is also developing a comparable model, the Polestar 5, set to debut next year.
Lotus Eletre S | Photo: Lotus
Lotus Technology, the division responsible for non-sports car models, oversees the development of the Emeya and its counterparts, along with production at a facility in Wuhan, China. The upcoming launch aligns with Lotus’ strategic shift towards electric vehicles, with the Type 134 compact crossover slated for around 2025 and a new sports car, codenamed Type 135, planned for approximately 2026. These future releases underline Lotus’ commitment to an EV-exclusive line-up, with the current Emira sports car marking the end of Lotus’ gas-powered era.
