Lotus has unveiled the 2024 Emeya electric hypercar, a four-door sedan with nearly 1,000 horsepower and a burning desire to hit 60 mph in under three seconds.
Lotus claims the Grand Tourer “is one of the fastest GTs in the world” – but we’ll have to do some unbiased testing first before we accept that hyperbole. Still, the Emeya feels fast, with a top speed of 250 km/h and a 0-60 km/h time of 2.8 seconds. When it goes into production in early 2024, the Emeya is expected to rival other luxury sports cars, like the Audi E-tron GT and Porsche Taycan.
Lotus didn’t reveal many of the more relevant specs, like battery capacity or range. The company said the Emeya should be “broadly similar” to Lotus’ first electric vehicle, the Eletre SUV, which had an EPA-estimated range of around 310 miles. Further information is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of this year.
It likely has a battery that exceeds 100kWh of usable power, given its dual-motor setup. And Lotus claims it can accept up to 350kW of DC fast charging, which should add around 93 miles of range with around five minutes of charging.
The powertrain is expected to produce up to 905 horsepower with 985 Nm of torque. And the aerodynamic design aims to increase range and improve efficiency and handling. An active rear diffuser draws inspiration from the company’s long motorsport history and will help smooth airflow under the car.
Speaking of airflow, a true 296mm wide spoiler – more than 100mm wider than on the Eletre – provides a net downforce of over 215kg, according to Lotus. This, combined with the active rear diffuser, creates very stable handling at higher speeds, which Lotus clearly encourages its customers to participate in.
Lotus, owned by China’s Geely, is reinventing itself for the electric age. The Emeya will be the second of three new electric vehicles that Lotus plans to roll out over the next four years, including a sports car (natch), a coupe-sedan and another SUV. The Eletre crossover SUV was officially unveiled last year, boasting a battery capacity of over 100 kWh and 600 horsepower.
The switch to electric is aimed at improving Lotus’ declining sales figures. The automaker sold just 576 cars in 2022, down 62% from the previous year, according to Engine1. The company also posted a loss of £145.1 million ($180.9 million) for the year and may be considering cutting more than 200 jobs.
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