2024 Lotus Type 133 sedan rendered and spied in China

UPDATE: Lotus Type 133 sedan spied in China

Following the Eletre SUV’s reveal in March, Lotus has been out testing its next addition, the Type 133 sedan, in China.

Expected to wear Envya badges, the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT rival has been snapped by spy photographers, and it looks like the renders we commissioned from Theottle are pretty close to reality.

The Envya is a departure from the dainty Elise that relaunched lotus in the late '90s, and even the Emira sports car. But that’s because, under Geely’s ownership, Lotus is looking to become more mainstream than ever before.

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As for the spied car, it appears that the rendering is very close indeed to the mule’s front end. Its broad intakes and grille nod to the Emira but, understandably, on a larger body.

Around the rear, though, the Envya mule appears to depart from the render and Eletre's thin LED tail-light with distinctly different lozenge-like outer brake lights. This detail could be a red herring, of course, to fit in with the camouflage and keep brake lights visible.

Glimpsing through the open window, a polygonal steering wheel can be spotted, similar in shape to Emira’s but definitely larger in diameter. Like the Eletre, the Envya’s cabin looks minimal with no traditional gauge cluster evident ahead of the steering wheel.

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There are generously-sized brakes hiding behind rather unimaginative five-spoke alloy wheels. It’s expected the Envya will ride on Lotus’s Electric Premium Architecture (EPA).

Expect outputs to be similar to Eletre’s, meaning as much as 675kW of power and 985Nm of torque, with battery sizes up to 112kWh and circa-500 kilometres of driving range in the WLTP combined cycle.

Lotus is expected to unveil the Envya in full next year, with further details to be confirmed closer to its reveal.

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September 26: Lotus Type 133 sedan imagined

Earlier this year, Lotus confirmed it would charge headfirst into the EV era, kicking off its all-electric program from 2023.

Our first look at that project was the 'Type 132' Lotus Eletre SUV revealed in March, but we've yet to see any sign of the models that will follow – including the Type 133 sedan, the larger Type 134 SUV, and the Type 135 sports car.

With the Type 133 due to debut next year, our friend and Photoshop wizard Theo Throttle has turned out a speculative look at how the new electric sedan might be styled.

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Speculative rendering supplied by Theo Throttle

In its production form, the Type 133 is likely to debut as a rival to the Porsche Taycan, focusing on its legacy of performance – and now luxury, as shown by the Eletre – in the way most legacy brands have prioritised since pivoting to EVs.

No surprise, Theo's renders point to a sedan with styling inspired by the Eletre, and until we see design patent images or a first set of teasers, his guess is as good as any.

What do you think of this Type 133 sedan, and what do you think it should be called? Maybe we'll see the Carlton name revived in some 'clever' e-badged way...

Tell us in the comments below!

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June 2022: Lotus to go all-electric from 2023

British manufacturer Lotus has committed to electric vehicle production as a part of its 'Driving Change' campaign.

At the launch of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Charter, the Hethel-based manufacturer announced its entire mainstream model range will be fully electric from 2023, starting with the Eletre revealed earlier this year.

Codenamed Type 132 when it was under development, the Eletre SUV is the first mass-market EV from Lotus in addition to the Evija electric hypercar, the latter of which won't be a common sight at your local supermarket carpark with a price tag of over $3 million when it launches later this year.

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Lotus Cars Managing Director Matt Windle

In addition to the aforementioned EVs, Lotus plans to introduce three more electric models over the next five years – the Type 133 four-door sports sedan in 2023, the Type 134 SUV in 2025 and finally the Type 135, a lightweight next-generation sports car in 2026.

Lotus believes this product mix will allow it to enact its Vision80 strategy, transforming the former low-volume sports car manufacturer into a "truly global performance car business and brand ahead of its 80th anniversary in 2028".

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Aiming to go net-zero through committing to become a SBTi (Science-Based Target initiative) organisation, Lotus Cars’ Managing Director, Matt Windle, says it's the responsibility of the manufacturer to be at the forefront of environmental change.

"Our new ESG Charter formalises many activities that we have been carrying out for a number of years," said Windle. "Lotus as a business has always been agile, efficient and impactful within the automotive industry.

"Now, more than ever, as we transform rapidly to become a global pioneer of electric performance vehicles, we recognise our responsibility to do so in ways that lead our industry in minimising its impact on the environment, benefitting society and the planet as a whole.”

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The Lotus model range of combustion engine-powered cars has recently been reduced to just the Emira, with the mid-engined sports car set to be its final non-electric mainstream model before it's replaced by the Type 135 from 2026.

While the Emira's lifespan is set to be short, Lotus began production of the sports car at its new Chapman Production Centre last month, a facility which will eventually be home to its local EV production alongside the Wuhan plant of its Chinese owners Geely.