Details regarding the upcoming Lotus crossover have begun to emerge, and the latest come from company CEO Jean-Marc Gales himself.
Speaking to Car Magazine, Gales noted that Lotus’s first crossover will take styling cues from the ultra-lightweight 3-Eleven recently unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The two will apparently share a family resemblance in the front, while “hints” of the 1974 Lotus Elite and other heritage models will round out the rest. Gales described the look as “stunning.”
Size-wise, the yet unnamed crossover will match the Porsche Macan, but will have a lower and wider stance. Capitalizing on Lotus’s trademark lightness, it is also expected to weigh an astounding 440 to 660 pounds less than the Macan.
Engine choices will include four-cylinder options in base trim, while performance versions will offer a V6. A hybrid version is reportedly probable as well.
Production will be taken care of by Chinese auto manufacturer Goldstar, who will assemble the Lotus SUV for its home market. It will be sold only in China initially, but Gales promised that “if the car is a runaway success, we will export it.”
Live Images by Ben Hsu.
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