When Lotus—who makes one of the most focused driver’s cars—says that they will be moving on from internal combustion engine, it’s clear where the automotive industry is headed.

In an interview with Automotive News Europe, CEO Phil Popham said that the new model is destined to be the company’s last combustion engine model. He adds that it will be priced between £55,000 (≈RM 296k) and £100,000 (≈RM 539k) in the UK.

It is also said that the new model will have enough interior space to be compatible with everyday use. Which is a similar proposition to the Lotus Evora and could potentially replace it when the new model arrives.

The new model will be built in the extension of the factory in Hethel that is set to be unveiled late this year or early 2021. The Hethel plant will restart production as soon as the lockdown in UK has been lifted.

Popham said future options could include an SUV or sedan. The SUV model will likely use Volvo’s SPA platform since Lotus and Volvo are owned by Geely. And since the new model will be Lotus' last combustion engine car, the SUV should be a fully electric vehicle. While this may displease purists, it’s a logical move for the company’s sustainability.

He added, "Our focus now is on sports cars, but we do think the brand has the potential to move into other segments. And Geely has expertise in areas such as electrification and autonomous driving."