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Lotus said to be planning new sedan, crossover [w/poll]

Lotus has been in limbo in recent years. After former CEO Dany Bahar revealed his plans to build six new models, its parent company was sold, Bahar was sacked, his plans were canceled and a new CEO was hired in the form of former Peugeot chief Jean-Marc Gales. The industry has been waiting ever since to find out what Gales would do with the storied marque, and now we seem to have some indication.
Reports coming in from Malaysia indicate that Jean-Marc presented to the board of parent company Proton a plan for Lotus to build a new sedan and crossover. Though details are scarce, and may seem downright blasphemous for an automaker that built is reputation on lightweight sports cars, it would not be the first time that the House that Colin Built has toyed with either idea.
The company presented the APX crossover concept at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, and the Eterne sedan concept as part of Bahar's far-reaching plans at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The new plans may use these concepts as starting points or could go another direction entirely.

Volvo-based, Chinese-built Lotus SUV allegedly due out in 2020

Lotus will set foot in the lucrative SUV segment before the end of 2020, according to a recent report. It's preparing to unveil a high-riding model named Lambda that will be made in China with Swedish parts. Five-plus years in the making, the first Lotus-badged SUV will share its SPA platform with several members of the Volvo range, including the XC90, and with the plug-in hybrid Polestar 1. Citing unverified reports from China, Holland-based AutoWeek reported the Lambda will land in the same segment as the Porsche Cayenne Coupe and upmarket variants of the BMW X6. Patent images (pictured) suggest it will wear a fastback-like roof line. Using the flexible SPA platform will allow Lotus to offer a variety of powertrains, including gasoline-burning four-cylinder engines with forced induction and at least one plug-in hybrid option. SPA wasn't designed to accommodate six- or eight-cylinders, so leveraging electrification will likely be the easiest way for engineers to unlock more performance. An electric variant will reportedly join the range a little bit later in the 2020s. Production will begin in Wuhan, China, in late 2020, according to the same source. Whether the model will be sold in the United States is up in the air. It would make a significant amount of sense: Americans have an insatiable appetite for SUVs, and the company has often stressed it wants to increase its sales in our market. Lotus hasn't commented on the report, and it has remained quiet about its long-rumored SUV. We heard a lot about the model from Jean-Marc Gales, its former CEO; he notably said it will be to the Cayenne what the Evora is to the 911, and he pledged it would become the fastest and most agile model in its segment. He's gone, replaced by Phil Popham in 2018, so that strategy might have changed. If the rumor is accurate, we won't have to wait long to see how Lotus can apply its design language and its unique engineering philosophy to an SUV. Related Video:

New 2024 Lotus Emira priced at just under six figures

Unveiled in 2021, and delayed earlier in 2023 allegedly due to certification-related issues, the 2024 Lotus Emira is finally ready to turn its wheels on American pavement. The coupe appears on the firm's online configurator, but it costs significantly more than initially announced. Buyers will have two Emira flavors to choose from. The entry-level car uses a Mercedes-AMG-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that's turbocharged to develop 360 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It spins the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Next up is a supercharged, 3.5-liter V6 provided by Toyota and rated at 400 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The six-cylinder spins the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, though a six-speed automatic that bumps the torque figure to 317 is a $2,150 option. Pricing for the base Emira starts at $99,900 excluding destination fee, which hasn't been published yet, while the V6-powered car carries a base price of $105,400. Note that these figures only apply to the First Edition model; Lotus hasn't detailed or priced the other available trim levels. For context, the Geely-owned British brand initially announced prices of $85,900 and $93,300 for the four-cylinder- and V6-powered models, respectively. An earlier report blames the increases on the supply chain-related constraints that have plagued most carmakers since 2020. Enthusiasts configuring an Emira have a long list of options to choose from. Lotus offers Touring and Sport chassis configurations (the latter brings a firmer suspension system), 13 paint colors, a Black Pack that bundles black exterior trim pieces, and three wheel designs. Inside, you've got several leather and Alcantara upholsteries to choose from plus a vehicle tracker, a HomeLink transceiver, and tinted windows. Lotus dealers across the nation will begin receiving the V6-powered Emira First Edition in the third quarter of 2023, while buyers waiting in line for a four-cylinder-powered model won't get their car until the first quarter of 2024. Additional trim levels should join the range later on. Related video: