Lotus Type 136, an incredible ebike of 9.8kg and 25,000€

Lotus presents the exclusive Type 136. This electric road bike takes up the spirit of its predecessors and comes with a motor weighing just 300 grams, a 193 Wh battery and top-level components. The brand is now launching 136 models at a price of 25,000 euros, although the standard version will be released next spring.

Lotus Type 136: exclusivity and design meet in a spectacular electric bike

Some car brands have made recent forays into cycling. Others, however, have been in the business for years. The Lotus cycling tradition has left for posterity such emblematic bikes as the Type 108 or the model that won gold on the track at the last Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Now, Type 136 draws on the knowledge the brand has acquired over three decades of pedalling and shakes up the market with a 9.8kg ebike. The machine's radical weight makes it the world's lightest electric road bike.

The carbon frame is handmade in Italy and the bottom bracket shell houses an industry milestone: the HPS motor system weighs just 1.2 kilograms - although the motor itself weighs 300 grams - making it the lightest in its class on the market, according to the brand. The system was designed in collaboration between Formula 1 engineers and professional racing cyclist Phil Deignan.

Lotus explains that the electric assist is able to give a 35% advantage when the tarmac slopes upwards. Unlike other ebikes, the reduced weight of the drive unit allows the ride to be more balanced and similar to a non-electric model.

On the other hand, the battery has 193 Wh and can power the motor for three hours. The designers have opted for a shape reminiscent of a water bottle, as it is housed in the bottle cage of the seat tube. The Type 136 has V-shaped handlebars, wing-shaped fork and domed chainstays which, according to the manufacturer, help to make it fast and efficient.

Lotus has - as you might expect - fitted its creation with top-notch components, including the Campagnolo Super Record Wireless groupset, Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 60 wheels and Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tyres.

The version arriving in spring will be equipped with SRAM Red eTap AXS or SRAM Force eTap AXS, and DT Swiss ARC 1100 wheels, while the same tyres will remain.

Lotus Groups CEO Feng Quingfeng was proud of the launch "as the next chapter in our high-performance journey". He said that throughout its history, the iconic manufacturer "has been relentlessly pushing the boundaries of innovation" and that "the Type 136 demonstrates that we continue to do so".

Lotus - which celebrates its 75th birthday this year - unveiled the Type 136 at an exclusive event in London. The British firm will produce 136 models, which will go on sale for a price of 25,000 euros. The standard model will arrive next spring with two versions, priced at 17,950 and 19,950 euros respectively.