2022 Lotus Lambda Will Be A 750-HP All-Electric Tesla Killer

Forget about half what you previously knew about theupcoming Lotus Lambda SUV, due to hit the roadbefore 2022. The project dates back to 2016 before Lotus was acquired by Chinese automaker Geely, who also owns Volvo and Polestar. But since Geely's acquisition of the Hethel, UK-based sports car company, there's been significant investment to turn the once struggling Lotus around. And the fastest way to do so is an SUV. But here's the thing: that SUV was initially supposed to offer both hybrid and all-electric propulsion. Not anymore.

Autocar claims that Lotus will drop the hybrid (specifically a plug-in hybrid setup) completely in favor of a pure battery-electric SUV.

The reason is the current momentum of fully electrified SUVs coming to market, a trend that will continue to grow in the coming years. Why bother investing significant funds into a hybrid powertrain that's expected to see a demand decrease? The EV market, especially in China where the Lambda is expected to be built, continues to grow. Around 1.2 million EVs were sold there last year alone.

The Lambda will be Lotus's volume model from the get-go while sports cars, including a new Lotus Exige and a reborn Esprit with a V6 hybrid setup, will continue to sell in significantly lower numbers. But don't think for a moment the all-electric Lambda will be a downgrade from the now-deceased hybrid option. Quite the opposite, in fact. The new report suggests that the base model will feature a dual-electric-motor setup good for nearly 600 horsepower.