New Lotus Envya spotted testing on the Nurburgring

Lotus surprised us all when it revealed the Eletre SUV last year and it’s about to take another step into the unknown with the Envya electric saloon. 

With the backing of new owners Geely behind it, the Norfolk firm is reinventing itself for the electric age. First it was the Evija supercar, the brand’s first EV, then the Eletre, its first SUV, and now next model is the Envya - Lotus’ first ground-up four-door saloon.

Of course, Lotus is no stranger to the super saloon - the Vauxhall-based Lotus Carlton was an instant icon when it arrived in the early 90s - but the Lotus Envya is a different proposition altogether. Initially codenamed Type 133, we now expect it to be called Envya - following a similar line to the other EVs and sticking with the traditional Lotus ‘E’ naming policy. 

Our latest batch of spy shots reveal it undertaking the traditional performance car test at the Nurburgring - a much more suitable environment for a Lotus than the frozen lake we caught another test car at previously. The new pictures also confirm a few more design details in the process.

The Envya menacing, aero-optimised front end has clear family resemblance with the SUV, and uses similar solutions to reduce drag. The Eletre’s active grille makes an appearance, consisting of motorised ‘petals’ which open up when extra cooling is required; under normal conditions, the petals remain closed to reduce aerodynamic disturbance. 

The headlights are split into two elements, with L-shaped upper lighting strips and larger units set into the front bumper. Interestingly, an extra pair of L-shaped panels are visible on the bonnet of this prototype - whether these are additional light units or active aero panels remains to be seen. 

At first glance, there's little evidence of Lotus's 'porous' design language, which uses air channels carved into the bodywork to reduce drag. Nevertheless, there are small triangular vents in the outer front bumper to direct air through the wheel arches, and the Eletre's driver assistance hardware - including a roof-mounted LiDAR unit and deployable sensor pods along the flanks - could enable Level 4 autonomous driving later down the line. 

The rear end will feature an active spoiler, too, and the rudimentary tail lights of this test mule are expected to be replaced by a full-width light strip when the Envya reaches showrooms. 

Inside, the new model will draw heavily from the Eletre’s cabin design and tech, with a hexagonal steering wheel and a suite of digital interfaces. The SUVs 15.1-inch OLED central touchscreen will probably feature, alongside thin display strips ahead of the driver and passenger set within a two-tiered dashboard.

The infotainment system will be driven by Lotus’s Hyper OS software, offering over-the-air updates, 5G connectivity and wireless smartphone connectivity. Like the Porsche Taycan, the Envya will be offered as a four-seater.

Battery and powertrain

Using the firm’s new Electric Premium Architecture, the saloon certainly has the potential to beat - or exceed - the Taycan’s performance, too. The Eletre’s 592bhp dual-motor setup could serve as the entry point in the range with similar power to the Taycan GTS, then a potential flagship could be built around the Eletre R’s 893bhp two-speed motor setup.

Thanks to its 112kWh battery pack, the Eletre can achieve up to 373 miles from a single charge, and the Envya’s slipperier aerodynamics could see it surpass 400 miles if it uses the same battery. Thanks to the platform’s 800V electronic architecture, peak charging speeds of 350kW are possible, replenishing the cells from 10 to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes at a suitable charger.

Traditionally, Lotus has traded on beautifully judged handling rather than outright performance, and the firm’s engineers will lean heavily on an advanced suite of chassis electronics to contain the EV’s mass and improve dynamics. These tools - such as active anti-roll bars, rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension - are already present in the Eletre.

Expect the new model to cost less than £100,000 when it goes on sale later in 2023.

Now read our review of the Lotus Emira...