After a largely unsuccessful EV foray into the European market, Lotus decided to prioritize China for all things battery-powered and supply Europe with expensive and exclusive hybrids instead. The first entry of this new lineup is provisionally known as the Type 135 – here it is.
Although the teaser image is rather dark, you can still discern things like smooth body curves, flared fenders, slim LED taillights and low suspension. A closer look also reveals a carbon-fiber diffuser, if little else.
The hypercar seems to be partly inspired by the Theory 1 Concept from two years ago, but trades that coupe’s all-electric powertrain for a V8 and multiple e-motors, Lotus claims. You can clearly see the tailpipes in the image and the short video above.
The British automaker admits that the development of the model proceeds in cooperation with Geely. The engineering department is targeting more than 1,014 PS (1,000 hp / 747 kW) in hybrid mode, but how much power exactly the car will have remains unknown.
Lotus says more will be revealed before the end of the year. As for the production, it won’t begin until 2028. On the upside, the company promises to localize all assembly in Europe.