The Lotus Esprit's spiritual successor will reportedly arrive in 2021.
Lotus is putting the finishing touches to its bespoke Evya hypercar before releasing the latest model built on the articulated riveted aluminum platform underpinning the current range, which could later be fitted with an electric powertrain. There are plans to move to a new platform in the future.
On Monday, Autocar reported that the new model will be a supercar similar to the Esprit, but possibly not sharing its iconic name.
A new hybrid powertrain using a V6 as the internal combustion engine will reportedly close the significant performance gap between the Evora and Evina.
The V-6 engine in question is likely to be Toyota's 3.5-liter engine used in the Exige and Evora sports cars. This engine makes 416 hp in the latest Evora GT and could approach 500 hp with electrification.
The new car was originally scheduled to launch in 2020, but Autocar reports that it will arrive in the first half of 2021.
Lotus was close to unveiling a modern Esprit early last decade, with a concept unveiled at the 2010 Paris International Motor Show and a bespoke V8 engine. The project was canceled in 2014 after Lotus undertook a major revamp to stave off financial ruin.
Thanks to the backing of Geely (Geely Automobile), Lotus has taken a very different path in recent years. The Chinese auto giant is looking to rebuild Lotus' image after decades of stagnation by revamping the model lineup and getting the brand involved in racing. Future Lotus cars are also expected to receive engines from Volvo, another Geely brand.
In addition to the Evya and a new supercar, Lotus plans to redesign the Elise, Exige and Evora on a new platform; an SUV is also planned, with a modern Elan in the future.