Lotus has been rumored to be readying an SUV for years and, according to a new report, it might just be around the corner.
As Lotus is now owned by Geely, it is claimed that production of the SUV could start before the end of the year in Wuhan, China. It could also be dubbed the Lambda, which would make it the first Lotus model with a name that doesn’t start with an ‘E.’ However, as Hyundai builds an engine known as ‘Lambda,’ we’re not convinced Lotus will be allowed to use the same name – that is, provided that they wanted to in the first place.
Either way, AutoWeek claims that the Lotus SUV will be underpinned by the same SPA platform that’s used by various Volvo models like the XC90, S90, XC60, S60, and V60. Not only will using a Volvo platform help reduce development costs, but it will also allow Lotus to offer a number of different powertrains should they choose to.
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Specifics about the engines remain unclear, but it is reasonable to assume that most variants of Lotus’ first-ever SUV will feature turbocharged four-cylinder mills, while a plug-in hybrid is also said to be in the works.
It was almost exactly three years ago when patent drawings of the Lotus SUV were leaked online by Chinese media. While the British car manufacturer has never verified the authenticity of these drawings, they are believed to be the real deal and show what the production-ready model will look like.
In mid-2019, our own spy photographers snapped what they believed to be the first prototype of the Lotus SUV hidden under the skin of a Lynk & Co 01. That prototype is thought to have been a plug-in hybrid.
If the report that production of the new SUV will start before the end of the year is accurate, we can expect to see Lotus unveil the model sooner rather than later.
