It’s been a long time coming, but there is finally an all-new Lotus production car on its way. The news comes from the British manufacturer themselves, who say this will be the first all-new product since 2008. But wait, there’s more. Lotus also goes on to say that this will be the first all-electric hypercar from a British manufacturer. Along with the news of the car a name was given, the Lotus Type 130. The name continues a long tradition of “Type” models from Lotus. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most notable Lotus “Types,” courtesy of the British automaker themselves.
Type 14 – World’s first composite monocoque production road car (Elite, 1957)
Type 25 – World’s first fully-stressed monocoque F1 car, first Lotus to win F1 world championship (1963)
Type 72 – Most successful F1 car of all time and the blueprint for F1 car design for many years (Championship winner in 1970, ‘72 and’ 73)
Type 78 – World’s first ‘ground effects’ F1 car (1977)
Type 88 – World’s first carbon fibre F1 car (1981)
Type 92 – World’s first active suspension F1 car (1983)
Type 111 – World’s first aluminium and bonded extrusion construction production car (Elise, 1995)
Type 130 – World’s first full electric British hypercar (2019)
For Type 130, Lotus will be continuing a longtime tradition of breaking boundaries with their “Type” models. “Type 130 will be the most dynamically accomplished Lotus in our history,” says Lotus CEO Phil Popham. “It marks a turning point for our brand and is a showcase of what we are capable of and what is to come from Lotus.”
Expect the new Lotus Type 130 to be released in Long later this year.