Lotus has become the latest brand to backtrack on its intention to go electric-only, as it’s now announced plans to introduce a new plug-in “Hyper Hybrid” powertrain in response to changing market demands.
According to Lotus: “The Hyper Hybrid technology enables high performance, high efficiency and a flexible longer driving distance of over 1,100 kilometres [more than 683 miles].” The company added that the powertrain will deliver ultra-fast plug-in and on-the-move charging, both at “industry leading” speeds, thanks to a 900V electrical architecture.
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Unfortunately, Lotus has not yet revealed any specific technical details, including what type of engine the hybrid system will use, or the size of the battery. It’s also unclear when the company will start offering the new powertrain, or on which models in its current line-up it will be made available.
However, we expect the hybrid set-up could potentially be shoehorned into the pure-electric Eletre SUV and Emeya four-door GT to broaden their appeal among luxury car buyers.
In addition, next year Lotus is set to unveil a mid-size SUV to target the Porsche Macan, which is seen as crucial to the growth of the brand. It was set to be pure-electric as well, but with demand for EVs slowing, it’s more than likely this model will be offered with the new hybrid tech too.