The UK manufacturer of racing sports cars, Lotus, intends to begin sales in Europe next year of a new line of hybrid vehicles, reports Autocar.

The first of them will be the hybrid version of the large Lotus Eletre crossover, with 912 horsepower, pneumatic suspension, and an active anti-roll bar for maximum road control.

Sales will start in China in the first quarter of 2026, with a European launch expected in autumn.

Lotus has abandoned its previous plan to switch entirely to electric vehicles by 2028, and focused instead on hybrid technology, because demand for “heavy” electric vehicles in the premium segment has been lower than expected.

Besides the Eletre, Lotus plans to release in 2027 a compact SUV, currently known as Vision X, also with a hybrid version.

This move is intended to give the brand a more flexible powertrain lineup and increase its appeal in markets where electric vehicles are not yet being adopted so easily.