Lighter than its competition: that’s all a modern Lotus can be. Electric cars are heavy, SUVs are heavy and practical cars are heavy, so the idea that an electric Lotus SUV can be really true to Lotus’s super-lightweight roots simply can’t happen.
Instead, then, it will just have to be lighter and dynamically superior to the other SUVs you can buy. Many of which, let’s remind ourselves, wear the badges of other historically important sports car firms, such as BMW M, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
Read more: Lotus Electre review
Each of those brands and more have used their badges to expand their ranges and make more money. Lotus hasn’t done that yet. And here’s the thing: the others haven’t diluted enthusiasm for their actual sports cars while doing so. A modern BMW M car, Porsche or ‘real’ AMG is as capable and raw as ever.
Manufacturers can’t live on sports cars alone any more, after all. So while Lotus admits its new SUV won’t be light like the Lotus Evora, it won’t ultimately matter.
The best Lotus for you and me? Well, that might be a two-seater with an aluminium chassis, modest power, unassisted steering and more driving thrills than any other sports car can offer. But the best Lotus for Lotus? It’s a car that lots of people want to buy. It just has to ensure enough Lotus magic is infused into it.
READ MORE
Lotus SUV to be launched in 2022 as 750bhp, 360-mile EV
Join the debate
Add your comment
The same ethos that drove
The same ethos that drove this silly little car company into oblivion and into the hands of Geeley- Laughable jingoistic crap
SUV rescue
Agreed total nonsense all this car has to do is handle as well as the best of SUV fake sports cars and the profits allow them to do what they want with their real sports cars but try to get them to make money. Without one they will go out of business all other sports car makers and uber posh car brands have one to make money to stabilise the rest of the product range.
I like Prior a lot, but what
I like Prior a lot, but what exactly is he smoking here? There's no way a SUV can stay 'true to the Lotus ethos' unless it's constructed entirely of aluminium at the very least, or with substantial carbon fibre - in which case it will be priced way above the norm. A lightweight Lotus should be coming in with a wet weight of <= 1800kg. DREAM ON.
Stop wishful thinking or talking nonsense.