Lotus Type 131 teaser hints at three new sports cars under Vision80

It was already clear that Lotus, alongside the electric hypercar Evija, was working on a new sports car called the Type 131. It is intended to sit above the Evora and could prove historically important - several rumours even suggest it may be the last Lotus to use an internal combustion engine.

The first Lotus Type 131 teaser points to three cars

Lotus has now released the first teaser image of the upcoming model and, unexpectedly, it appears to preview not one car but three. Their overall proportions look closely matched, yet each is set apart by a different lighting signature.

What Lotus has (and hasn’t) confirmed

In the brand’s official statement, the Type 131 is described as a “new series of sports cars” - notably, in the plural. That raises an obvious question: are these three cars intended to replace the three Lotus models currently on sale, or are they three entirely new, separate models? For now, the answer will have to wait a few more months.

At the same time as announcing the Type 131, Lotus confirmed it will end production this year of every model it currently sells: Elise, Exige and Evora. Few things signal the close of an era more clearly than discontinuing an entire range in one go.

Beyond the teaser image, Lotus has shared little to nothing further about the Type 131. The final name is expected to begin with an “E”, following the marque’s tradition. Everything else comes from speculation and from what has been gleaned by watching test prototypes already running on public roads, heavily camouflaged.

Platform and engine rumours for the Type 131

Whether there is one model or several, the new sports car(s) are expected to retain the familiar Lotus layout: the engine will remain in a centre-rear position. However, they will debut a new platform, still an aluminium space frame design - a technology Lotus first introduced with the original Elise back in 1995.

As for what will power them, nothing has been confirmed and the discussion remains speculative. Early rumours pointed to a hybrid model positioned above the Evora, pairing a V6 (possibly still sourced from Toyota) with an electric motor. But with the teaser now apparently indicating three distinct cars, and if they do end up directly replacing Elise, Exige and Evora, it would imply different market positions - and therefore different powertrains.

Vision80

Developing and launching the Type 131 - whether singular or plural - is only one element of the Vision80 plan. That strategy was set out in 2018, following Geely’s 2017 acquisition of Lotus Cars and Lotus Engineering. (Geely also owns Volvo, Polestar and Lynk & Co, and is set to develop and produce the next generation of Smart.)

In addition to the Type 131 and the already revealed Evija, Vision80 also includes an investment of more than €112 million in Lotus’s facilities at Hethel. The new sports cars will be built there, and the upgrades are intended to allow the British brand to handle higher production volumes. Lotus will recruit an additional 250 employees, adding to the 670 already hired since September 2017.

Farewell to Elise, Exige and Evora

Finally, the plan also confirms the end of production for the Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora. As strong as they remain at delivering a uniquely involving driving experience - and despite being considered benchmarks in several respects - they are no longer up to date with the challenges facing the car industry during this period of transformation.

By the time production ends, Lotus expects these three models to have reached a combined lifetime total of 55 thousand units (from launch). Over the course of this year, the brand will run various activities to celebrate the trio, starting - as Lotus puts it - with “the oldest, the iconic Lotus Elise”.