Lotus Hits Back with Possible New Crossover and Sedan

Lotus Eterne Concept (Credit: © Lotus)

Some have counted British automaker Lotus out, considering it has been in an uncertain state for a few years now. There are rumblings that times are changing and that a new onslaught of models from the company are coming.

Reports state that Lotus boss Jean-Marc Gales has pitched the idea of making a new crossover and a sedan as a way to help the brand become more viable. The news isn’t exactly pleasing to Lotus loyalists who are used to the brand making lightweight sports cars. The Evora with its rear seats and heavy curb weight was pretty much blasphemy, while and outright sedan and gluttonous crossover sounds even worse.

Lotus might be looking at Porsche for inspiration. The German brand struggled financially in the past, but since it started producing models like the Cayenne and Panamera, it is flush with cash. As a result, Porsche has been able to build a growing number of sports cars.

This isn’t the first time that talk of Lotus crossing into new market segment has been brought up. Back in 2006, the brand showed up at the Geneva Motor Show with the APX concept crossover and the Eterne sedan. Of course, that was part of the six-model expansion former CEO Dany Bahar was planning, a move that apparently help him get canned. Now it appears that the brand might be taking two of the planned models and using them as a jumping-off point to strike ahead in a bold new direction.

For now, nothing has been officially confirmed. Just don’t be surprised if Lotus shows up at a car show in the new future with a sedan, a crossover, or maybe both.