Lotus to begin manufacturing SUVs
Posted by Zaran Tarapore on Aug 8, 2016
Lotus, a British manufacturer of sports cars, who is well-known for its Elise, Espirit, and Evora sports cars, is considering an expansion of its line-up with an SUV. Following in the footsteps of Lamborghini with its Urus, Maserati with its Levante, and Porsche with its Cayenne, the British manufacturer simply cannot ignore the sales potential of SUVs.
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Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales, was recently quoted as saying, "The SUV is an interesting market. We're working on a concept but haven't made a decision yet." With several other manufacturers giving in to the SUV resistance, Lotus’s new direction is no surprise.
Should the Lotus SUV make it to the production line, it is likely to follow founder Colin Chapman’s mantra of simplicity and lightness. The upcoming Lotus Elise, is expected to be a tad wider than the outgoing model, as it will accommodate side airbags, but will flaunt similar dimensions and a power-to-weight ratio.
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For the true enthusiasts, there’s still light at the end of the tunnel, as Gales assured all that the next generation Elise will feature a hydraulic steering system. "Lotus will not fit electrical steering. They take away the steering feel."
Additionally, Lotus is steering away from hybrid systems at this point in time, especially as they add weight, complexity and take up space, all of which go against the British marque’s core values. Until there’s any update on the brand’s SUV, that’s all we have to report for now. Stay tuned for more!
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