Lotus has confirmed its plans of developing an SUV with a possible launch date sometime during the year 2019. The car manufacturer said that it will initially launch the SUV only in China, but if all goes well and is well received in China, it may launch the car in Europe and possibly in UK.
Lotus chief executive Jean-Marc Gales confirmed the company’s plans and said that while SUVs are traditionally heavy cars, they are intending to build something “much lighter and faster than any other SUV currently on offer.”
Gales confirmed the news earlier this week, but at the GoodWood Festival of Speed, the Lotus CEO provided a lot more details. He said that the company is looking to build something the size of the [Porsche] Macan, but want to keep their SUV true to Lotus’ heritage and so will keep it 200-220kg lighter. The CEO further added that the company is looking to sell about 10,000 SUV during the first year and intends to nearly double the sales in the second year.
Gales added that the SUV will be the “lightest SUV on sale, the best to drive and the fastest through the corners.”
The Lotus chief added that the car will look like the 3-Eleven, which was launched at the FoS, from the front while from the sides it will be a bit like the Elite from 1974.
Lotus and SUV’s. Colin Chapman must be turning in his grave