Lotus has been making some changes to the plans for its lineup, as many brands have, as a response to changes in the market — or rather, changes to where automakers thought the market was going. Specifically, EV sales aren’t experiencing the rapid growth that was predicted.
Some automakers, Lotus included, are looking to extend their internal combustion and hybrid strategy further into the future. For Lotus, that means waiting longer to go all-electric, and to add turbocharged range extenders to its EVs to allay range fears. It also means that the Type 134, a small, electric SUV that would rival the likes of the Porsche Macan Electric, is being delayed.
What Is The Lotus Type 134?
The electric crossover, referred to internally by Lotus as the Type 134, is a small, lightweight electric crossover originally intended to launch in 2025 or 2026. It was meant to be a step down from the Eletre, both in size and price. With the Eletre originally intended to cost just a touch over $100,000 — and that whole pricing plan getting tariffed into the stratosphere — it was likely going to start in the five-figure range. It was part of Lotus’ plan to go mainstream and become a more global brand.
As Automotive News reports, though, Lotus’ Europe chief Dan Balmer told the outlet that the Type 134 is being delayed until the automaker can get a better idea of what the market is actually going to look like in the coming years.
Other Changes To Plan
In addition to the 134 being shelved for now, Lotus has also delayed the Type 135, which is meant to replace the internal-combustion Emira sports car. Balmer previously told Autocar that Lotus would “Never say never” to a hybrid version of the Emira in order to extend the model’s lifespan and provide the car with more performance and efficiency, depending on marketplace desires. Lotus is also exploring “Super Hybrid” or “Hyper Hybrid” tech to extend the range of its EVs and give them faster recharging.
In addition to reacting to more conservative EV demand, Lotus is going to have a new economic environment to deal with, especially with new tariffs on Chinese goods, especially EVs in the U.S. and Europe. Changed Lotus’ plans for Eletre in the U.S., and there’s no saying what products it could affect next. Lotus is probably wise to wait and see for now, and keep its options open going into 2025. We just hope we don’t miss out on any more potentially great new models to drive.
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