With the performance scene moving towards ever-more advanced battery-powered mega-machines, some companies will inevitably get left behind in the electron dust. Luckily, it looks like Lotus won’t be among them, as it was just revealed that the Hethel-based brand might be working on a brand-new all-electric hypercar!
Electrify, Then Add Awesomeness
We love the simple, stripped-down, no-nonsense approach it takes when it comes to the business of going fast, and with Colin Chapman’s always-quotable philosophy of “simplify, then add lightness” acting as a guide, we’ve seen some truly epic machines over the years.
That said, the Lotus lineup has been looking a little long in the tooth as of late. Luckily, rumor has it that’ll change in a major way in the next few years, as Lotus might be working on a new all-electric hypercar.
This fresh batch of heavy artillery will take the name Omega, and if the rumors are true, it’ll be the most expensive, the fastest, and the most outrageous vehicle to ever carry a Lotus badge.
That’s the latest from our friends over at Autocar, who also report that Omega is already in development and that a concept is expected some time next year. Production is set for early into the next decade.
In response to the Autocar story, one Lotus representative had this to say:
“Lotus’s development team is exploring numerous engineering projects, across multiple vehicle sectors, using several propulsion systems. As part of the development process, these projects undergo continual and stringent valuation and only the best will reach production.”
Geely scooped up a majority stake in Lotus back in 2017, and since then, the British brand has gained a new lease on life.
Back to the Omega. Making the go will be an all-new all-electric powertrain, possibly with output that breaks the four-figure mark. AWD grip and 250 miles of range are also strong possibilities.
The Omega is also expected to be far more expensive than what we’ve seen from Lotus in the past, which usually caps its high-end models at about $130,000. This time around, we could be looking at a multi-million dollar price tag.
Break it down, and this will be Geely’s crazy new halo model, which will compete against the best of the best in the performance world, including the original hybrid hypercar holy trinity (Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren P1, LaFerrari), Koenigsegg’s latest and greatest, and whatever Bugatti is cooking up between now and then.
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Standouts include the likes of the Polestar 1 and Lynk & Co 03.
You also gotta consider that there are other changes afoot at Lotus, with rumors that the brand might take the plunge with a new SUV model as well.
The real question is this - will the Omega feel like a true Lotus, even with an overabundance of power, AWD, and a heavy battery pack onboard?
We won’t have the answer to that question for some time, but Lotus could very well address the latter-most issue with a new battery technology that improves upon the current average power density, thus reducing the number of cells required and cutting weight in the process.
Either way, it’s looking like Lotus will be Geely’s performance halo brand moving forward, and to us, that could make for one very bright future. That, or it’ll completely ruin the OG Lotus philosophy. We’ll see which is which eventually.
Further Reading
Read our full review on the 2020 Lotus SUV.
Read our full review on the 2018 Lotus Exige Sport 410.
Read our full review on the 2017 Lotus Exige Sport 380.