On the heels of Aston Martin’s grand reveal, Lotus has stepped into the limelight with its Type 136 e-bike, a two-wheeled marvel hybridized by an ingenious electric motor once purposed for the Mars Lander. With a striking price tag of $25,000, the First Edition of this e-bike encapsulates Lotus’s iconic Formula 1 black-and-gold livery in just 36 exclusive units.
Pedaling into the Future with Style
This isn’t a mere pivot away from automobiles towards zero-emissions for the British luxury car makers; it’s a nod to the evolving passions of their clientele, a refinement of lifestyle choices converging towards cycling. As at Rouleur, the celebrated cycling show in London, the unveiling of these bikes is synchronous with a strategic vision honed over years, testament to the brand’s commitment to innovation in both four wheels and two.
The Lotus Cycle Legacy Ascends Again
Lotus’s storied cycle history reclaims the spotlight, counting back to models as legendary as the Type 108—Chris Boardman’s Olympic steed—whose ground-breaking design has inspired the Type 136. While the Olympic winning design met with regulations that saw it retired, the new e-bike stands unchallenged, gloriously priced at $18,500 post the limited run.
A Spectacle of Speed and Stealth
The Type 136 rides the edge of aerodynamic innovation, a brainchild of Richard Hill—just as it was with the Olympic legend—and boasts a seamless electric-assistance system, cunningly hidden within its sinews. Gary Anderson, heralded for his F1 and aerospace engineering prowess, delivers a motor that asks the rider to engage with it, to command its energy for the ardor of mountain passes or the joy of keeping pace with more vigorous company.
A Water Bottle or a Power Boost? You Decide
A battery, cleverly disguised as a water bottle, offers three hours of empowering ride time, providing a flexibly engaged companion to the rider’s own drive and determination.
Endorsements of Legend
Sir Chris Hoy, an icon in the cycling firmament and ardent admirer of Lotus’ creations, spoke with the weight of personal experience of the 136’s exquisite fusion of performance and assistance, declaring the new Lotus to deliver an unforgettable elevation in the cycling journey.
