Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora to end production

Three new Type 131 models are the cars you see here, tantalisingly still under coversheets in the single picture Lotus has so far put out to confirm the news. They will provide the big-volume, series-production meat in a new Lotus sandwich topped off by the Evija limited-edition hypercar, the yellow car in the foreground.

Type 131 is the first new series-production model at Hethel for a dozen years and with the £2m 2,000PS Evija – Type 130 – makes up the first fruit of major investment in the Norfolk firm by new owners Geely, which also owns Volvo.

What will the new Type 131 share with its hypercar big brother? It is impossible to glean styling details from the photograph other than some signature Lotus headlight shapes, but it is possible cues like the Evija’s deeply sculpted surfaces will become a common trait. A strong family link with the pioneering and ever-brilliant Elise – the daddy of the range without which it’s doubtful the company would even exist today – is certain.

But will it be electric like the Evija? There’s no confirmation at all from Lotus on this front but all speculation centres on a V6 hybrid, which would align Lotus with upcoming new mid-engined sports cars from McLaren, Ferrari and Aston Martin.

What we know for sure is that Type 131 is more than a single new model and will spawn what Lotus calls a new generation of cars, so over time we can expect different looking and differently packaged models powered by a range of drivetrains and all at different price points.

If the new family were to mirror the current cars that would provide an entry-level sportscar (new Elise), a track car (Exige), and a super-sportscar in the form of a new Evora that could take Lotus nearer the Ferrari and Porsche territory it has long eyed up.

Together it amounts to a new-model revolution that should result in the biggest-selling cars in Hethel’s history, taking production past the 55,000 cars that the Elise, Evora and Exige have together garnered since the Elise first arrived in 1995.

Majority shareholder Geely is pumping £100m into Hethel for all-new manufacturing facilities, a new Advanced Technology Centre in Warwick later and the recruitment

 of 250 new employees, in addition to the 670 to have joined Lotus since September 2017 when the Chinese automotive giant took control.

“This year will be hugely significant for Lotus with new facilities coming on stream, a new sports car entering production and new levels of efficiency and quality that only a new car design and factory can deliver,” said Lotus chief Phil Popham, CEO, “Despite the continuing global challenges, Lotus has emerged from 2020 strong and on track in the delivery of our Vision80 business plan.”

Lotus has confirmed prototype production of the Type 131 is set to begin this year, though it is not confirmed you will be able to buy one of the new cars in 2021.

Better bag one of the final new Elise, Exige or Evora models while you still can then…