Find out what Lotus might have in store for the all-electric successor to the legendary Lotus Elise
by Khris Bharath on September 12, 2024, 15:30Remember that Top Gear test from 2008 where Jeremy Clarkson compared a Lotus Elise to the OG Tesla Roadster? Yes, the same one that led Elon Musk to sue Clarkson. Well, it appears to be coming full circle for the Elise, because we’ve got our first hint of the mysterious Lotus Theory 1, the rumored all-electric Elise, how ironic. This is a car that could shape up to be a formidable rival to the upcoming Porsche 718 EV. Lotus’ marketing chief, Qiao Xinyu, dropped a shadowy image of the Theory 1’s rear end. Sure, while the image doesn’t really reveal much, that prominent wing hovering over a sculpted rear-end, the sleek taillights flanking the classic Lotus badge, and the aggressive diffuser all but shout "sports car." But this electric silhouette throws a bit of a curveball. While the Eletre and Emeya have their sporty bits, that rear end wouldn’t be caught dead lumbering on an SUV or a four-door.
So, the question arises: is the Theory 1 a production model, ready to tear up the tarmac, or a design concept showcasing the future of Lotus? The name "Theory" leans heavily towards the latter. Traditionally, Lotus models sport names starting with the letter "E" – Exige, Elite, and more recently, the Evija hypercard, you get the picture. Breaking tradition with a "Theory" suggests a design study, a peek into the styling language of future Lotuses.
Could The Theory 1 Hint At The Highly Anticipated Type 135 ?
But here’s where things get interesting. Could the Theory 1 be a sneak peek at the highly anticipated Type 135, that we as part of a four-model EV showcase saw back in 2021? With both Type 132 - the Eletre - and the Type 133 - the Emeya on sale, and the Type-134 set to be a Macan-sized SUV, it leaves us with the Type-135. This all-electric sports car is in theory, the spiritual successor to the iconic Elise and is expected to hit showrooms by 2027 with a price tag of around $95,000.
Details remain scarce, but rumors suggest a battery-powered sports car to be built on the E-Sports platform. The Type 135 was initially a co-development project with French automaker Alpine, but the automakers have since parted ways. Underpinning the sports car will be Lotus’ new, highly configurable lightweight electric vehicle architecture, which will be used for multiple cars.
An important factor in a move that’ll have purists cheering is that the Type 135 will mount the battery pack directly behind the cabin, similar to where an engine would be in a traditional gas-powered car. Most EVs position their batteries on the floor, but this placement allows Lotus to optimize the driving position, letting drivers sit as low in the cockpit as possible. Porsche’s E-Core platform, set to feature on the 718 EV also takes a similar approach. As for the battery, Car Magazine claims entry-level models will have a 66 kWh pack, while other versions will sport a 99 kWh battery pack. Expect at least two power configurations as well, with the base model likely featuring a single motor and rear-wheel drive.
This electric Elise would be a direct challenger to rivals like the MG Cyberster, on sale in Europe and China, and the aforementioned upcoming Porsche 718 EV, which is rumored to have around 200 horsepower more than current gas models. However, as with any EV, weight will be one of the biggest challenges to tackle, and Lotus is a brand that has built its reputation for creating highly engaging sports cars and grand-prix cars over the decades. This is even more true for a performance sports car. Founder, Colin Chapman’s philosophy of "simplify, then add lightness" along with a heavy emphasis on aerodynamics, instead of adding more power, should still apply here.
For some context, the 500 horsepower MG Cyberster weighs, 4,374 pounds, and while we don’t have any figures for the Porsche yet, the current gas-powered 718 weighs between 3,100 to 3,200 pounds. The all-electric Taycan weighs between 4,700 and 5,500 pounds. So it’s not power, but hitting that sweet spot that balances overall weight and driving range, that will be vital for both Lotus and Porsche and I’m curious to see how it pans out. The wait for the Theory 1’s official unveiling on September 17th is already electrifying (pun intended). But the question remains, is this the electric Elise reborn, or a glimpse into a future design language? We’ll find out soon enough. Watch this space. In the meantime, enjoy this render by Avarvarii, of what the Lotus sportscar could look like.
Khris Bharath
Khris is a Mechanical Engineer and a classic car aficionado, who adores his Jags, Alfas, and old-school American muscle cars. He keeps tabs on everything from super exotics like an old EB 110 to the latest from Lucid and geeks out on three-row family haulers. Formula One remains very close to his heart, and he diligently makes time to tune in for the Grand Prix on Sundays. Khris also loves his road trips and he prefers a stick shift over an auto. Read full bio