Upcoming Lotus Type 132 SUV leaks through patent database

The Lotus brand is going all-electric, and its first EV will be an SUV that's ready to be unveiled on March 29. We still don't know what it will be called, but for now it's referred to as Type 132 in the IP Australia database, where InsideEVs has spotted it looking pretty in these low-res, grey-and-white images.

We'll take these over nothing, though, especially as this is our first more complete look at the upcoming Lotus SUV. It will be joined in the Lotus portfolio by three more EVs until 2026, by the way.

The Type 132 is a midsize SUV that's expected to go on sale before the end of the year. It will be built by Lotus Technology in a new plant in Wuhan, China, and it marks two "firsts": it's the first Lotus SUV and the first to be made in China.

From what we can tell glancing at these patent images, the car definitely has a sporty look, although it may not be immediately recognizable as a Lotus to pretty much anyone. The shape is decently aerodynamic, which is of course important for an EV, to increase range.

There are cameras instead of normal rear-view mirrors (and this feature may not be available in all markets and/or for all trim levels), and pop-out door handles, which are all the rage these days. Above the windshield there's what seems to be a roof-mounted LiDAR system, and perhaps a secondary radar at the back, flanked by a two-piece roof spoiler. It's unclear if these will make it to production vehicles or not, and if so, then in what countries they'll be offered.

The Lotus Type 132 SUV is built on a bespoke EV platform designed to fit batteries as large as 120 kWh, and a dual-motor powertrain with 600-700 hp. The car is expected to go zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in around 3 seconds, and the platform's 800V architecture (similar to that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Genesis GV60, and Porsche Taycan family) should ensure very fast DC charging.

Via