Lotus Confirms First SUV - May Share Volvo Components

We’ve been hearing rumors for a while about the possibility of British sports car brand Lotus hopping on the premium SUV bandwagon, and whether we like it or not, it’s happening. In a recent interview with Automotive News Europe, Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales leaked a little info and dropped a few hints about what we can expect from the upcoming Lotus SUV.

For starters, Gales confirmed that work has begun on an SUV. He says it will arrive “in about four years” and stressed the importance of getting it right on the first try, expressing that design is the most important part. 

“We can't use the same design language as a sports car, but you should also be able to recognize that it is a Lotus,” Gales told AN Europe.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 3/21/2018 3:24:50 PM

+2 Boost

IF they were smart about this, they would take the swoopy midsize Volvo XC60 and slap a new front and rear on it, tweak the interior and the suspension, add some power and put it on sale. That is basically what VW does. If they wait 4-5 years it will likely need to be a BEV. Make an ICE engined first effort and do the BEV or hybrid second.

TomM - 3/21/2018 5:29:24 PM

+6 Boost

Who want's a Lotus SUV? Especially at high prices.
At best -= it will simply be a repeat of Volve which likely would cost less.

I am missing the point here. Lotus does not even make sedans either.

MDarringer - 3/22/2018 8:32:47 AM

0 Boost

Lotus isn't even viable as a sports car maker.

PUGPROUD - 3/21/2018 7:01:59 PM

0 Boost

For those of us long in tooth we remember Lotus tuned Fords that were great handlers and still held in high regard by collectors. If its strategy as stated to build the best handling SUV made the order book will be oversubscibed and the price premium justified.

t_bone - 3/21/2018 9:37:55 PM

+2 Boost

"Simplify, then add lightness" - Colin Chapman

(d.1982)

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 3/22/2018 8:16:21 AM

+2 Boost

It might look cool. Here is a useful link.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/lotus-suv-use-volvo-underpinnings-and-have-class-leading-handling

focal - 3/22/2018 11:33:00 AM

+2 Boost

A Lotus tuned "Volvo" isn't a bad thing especially if they use their own Camry powertrains and not the Volvo hybrids.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 3/22/2018 9:08:36 PM

+2 Boost

I am not sure how things will play out re Toyota engines. They are part of Geely now. It would make sense to use a Volvo engine as a basis for the next range of models. Time will tell.