Electric Lotus Elise to get double the power
Lotus’ EV roadster powers up and will be as good to drive as the current model – for a hefty priceThe all-new battery-powered replacement for the Lotus Elise will have twice the power of the current model when it arrives in 2026.
According to Autocar, the next Elise developed internally under the Type 135 codename will muster at least 346kW – almost twice as much power as the 176kW Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition that's powered by a 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine.
Based on the car-maker's all-new E-Sport architecture, the next Lotus Elise will get a single- or twin-motor arrangement, with the dual-motor set-up based on the rear axle offering up to 650kW.
Lotus has already released pics and details of its ultra-light LEVA rear subframe to be used by the Elise replacement, which unusually packages the 66.4kWh batteries stacked high in a 'chest' formation to mimic a mid-engine combustion car's weight distribution.
The set-up also allows the driver to sit as low as possible and provides for a range of up to 483km. Most importantly, it will also ensure dynamically the all-new Elise will retain the current car's excellent handling.
Speaking to Autocar, Lotus boss Matt Windle said engineers have been tasked to “replicate the typical dynamic traits of previous Lotus models” with the new battery-powered Elise.
“It’s our DNA: dynamics, aerodynamics, lightweight. That’s what we do on all our products,” he said.
"We still want these to be Lotus products. They are going to have a different propulsion system but that system comes with benefits as well – instant torque, easier cooling and better packaging – so the first sports car will have a lot of storage and packaging benefits as well.”
On the flipside, the significantly quicker Elise, which in basic guise should be capable of a sub-3.0sec 0-100km/h time, will cost significantly more than the current model.
Even with cost-cutting measures introduced by sourcing parts via its parent Geely (which owns Volvo, Polestar and Lynk & Co), it's rumoured the next Elise will be priced from £80,000-£100,000 ($A150,000-$A185,000).
So the entry-level Lotus could cost around $50,000 more than the outgoing model.
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