The British manufacturer Lotus, now in the hands of the Chinese group Geely, has confirmed the end of the Wuhan factory’s adaptation work, from where its first model of this new era will emerge. An SUV called Lambda, which will be a prestigious competition for the large premium SUVs of traditional brands.
This new model will have a multipurpose platform capable of housing gasoline, hybrid, and 100% electric versions. Something that will allow you to adapt to the needs of each market. The electric model will be the first product made at Geely’s new plant in Wuhan.
A facility that has received permits from the authorities to begin production will start in the second half of this year with an initial production of 20,000 units that will increase as demand increases.
The Lotus Lambda, in addition to a very musical name, will be similar in size to the BMW X5, with its 4.9 meters long and a generous 2,999 mm wheelbase that will allow it to offer a spacious interior to the occupants, and enough space in the bottom to house a battery pack of generous capacity.
A model that will compete with other large SUVs, such as the BMW X5 itself, the Mercedes-Benz GLE, the Porsche Cayenne, and the Tesla Model X.
One of the main advantages for Lotus is that for the development of this SUV it has been able to make use of Volvo’s SPA platform, which has allowed it to shorten development times and save on costs, in addition to being able to offer versions with different propulsion systems and interior configurations.
Lotus has not revealed many details of the mechanical part. Still, we know that the electric version will have a high-performance configuration with a two-motor system, with all-wheel drive and no less than 550 kW (750 hp) of maximum power and a devastating torque of 1,140 Nm.
Something that should translate into an acceleration to 62 mph in around 3 seconds, while the autonomy will be located according to the brand at 359 miles under the NEDC cycle.
A first step of which there are still many details to be known, starting with its appearance and price, and which will be followed by other Lotus electric proposals, such as the Sigma and the Alpha, which will be manufactured in China and probably hit the US around 2024.