Lotus today took the wraps off its new flagship car, the Emeya, at a glittering event in New York City.
Known as the Type 133 until now, this electric four-door sedan will provide a new challenge to the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan Turbo.
The car showcased cutting-edge technology and was the brand's first four-door sedan after the Opel Omega-based Carlton from the 1990s.
Active Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is at the forefront of this sedan. The car has an active grille at the front, first seen on the Eletre SUV, to reduce drag and increase efficiency when closed and cool the battery and brakes when open.
There is also an active front spoiler, an active motorsport-inspired diffuser, and an active rear spoiler to maximize downforce when traversing canyons and traversing the track.
The active rear spoiler is 11.0 inches (280 millimeters) wide, 3.9 inches wider than the one on the Eletre, resulting in a net downforce of 474 pounds (215 kilograms) at unspecified speeds.
Sustainable Materials
Sustainable materials take center stage in Emeya's interiors.
Lotus is the first car manufacturer in the world to use a new type of thread.
For the passenger compartment seats, this brand uses thread derived from cotton waste from the fashion and clothing industry. This is not only a sustainable form of luxury, but also saves weight compared to leather.
Lotus also uses processes such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) for a metal-coated finish on certain cabin surfaces. There's also Alcantara, ultra-fabric polyurethane, and Nappa leather in other areas.
Advanced Technology
The interior is more than just eco-friendly materials. The KEF 3D surround sound system integrates noise cancellation.
The brand has installed vibration sensors on the exterior to detect tire and suspension movement. The algorithm then generates an “anti-phase acoustic signal” through the speakers to reduce interference.
There's also a 55-inch augmented reality head-up display for quick access to important driving information. It also has a digital mirror and LiDar module like Eletre.
Performance and Range
Emeya uses the same platform as Eletre, namely Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) which comes from Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA).
The car is expected to have the same range as the Eletre, which can cover an optimistic 373 miles (600 km) on the WLTP cycle.
The car has a 102 kWh battery pack, slightly smaller than the Eletre's 112 kWh pack, which can charge at 350 kilowatts.
A range of 93 miles (149 km) can be added in five minutes - 10-80 percent takes 18 minutes with a 350 kW DC fast charger.
The performance numbers straddle hypercar territory. With 905 horsepower and 726 pound-feet of torque, this sedan can accelerate from 0-62 miles per hour (0-100 km/h) in just 2.8 seconds.
The top speed of all-wheel-drive EVs is limited to 159 mph (255 km/h). Power is sent to all four corners via a two-speed transmission, and Lotus claims the braking system is "racing grade."
In terms of chassis technology, the adjustable suspension can analyze the road ahead 1,000 times per second.
"This is a completely new Lotus, something that has never been seen before. Building on what Lotus has achieved to date, we have created a luxury car that delivers exceptional performance for driving enthusiasts, designed to inspire confidence and excitement," said Ben Payne, Lotus Group vice president of design.
Production and Availability
The company will reveal further details in the fourth quarter of 2023, and production is scheduled to begin in 2024 at Geely's factory in Wuhan, China, where the Eletre is already produced.
The Emeya will arrive in the US in Q4 2024, Lotus vice president and chief commercial officer Mike Johnstone told InsideEVs.
Once production of Emeya and Eletre is in full swing, perhaps by 2025, the brand expects 30 percent of its total sales to be in the U.S., Johnstone said.
Lotus still has to prove its mettle in the electric car era. After selling just 576 Emirates last year - its last gas-powered car - citing supply chain issues, the Geely-owned brand has taken more than 17,000 orders this year from the Eletre and Emira combined.
Production of the latter car is progressing smoothly, according to Johnstone.
Its current order book has broken all previous sales records, and new models like the Emeya could contribute to turning its fortunes around.
