Lotus Plans SUV, Two New Sports Cars

British carmaker Group Lotus plc tells Automotive News Europe it intends to introduce two new sports cars in 2020 and an SUV/crossover in 2022.

The new models constitute the company’s first product announcement since China’s Zhejiang Geely Holdings Group acquired 51% of the company in September.

The crossover appears likely to ride on the compact modular architecture platform developed by Geely’s Volvo Cars unit. The chassis currently carries the Volvo XC40 and Lynk & Co 01 crossover vehicles.

Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales tells ANE one of the new sports cars will replace a current model in the company’s lineup. Lotus currently markets three lightweight sports cars for the retail market—the Elise, Exige and Evora—and a track-only 3-11 race car.

Gales says one of cars will be use a bonded aluminum structure. The more expensive model—a street version of the 3-11—will feature a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic architecture. He says the two sports cars will be assembled in England, but the SUV is likely to be built in China and a second, undisclosed location.​​​​ ​​​​​​​