After the launch of Lotus L5 sedan at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2011, the two-door hatchback model, L5 Sportback, was introduced just half a year later at the Guangzhou Auto Show in September. This shows that Youngman Lotus Cars has an unstoppable momentum for the two-door version of the L5. However, the actual market sales performance of the L5 (including both the two-door and four-door versions) is not very optimistic. Perhaps it's because Youngman Lotus lacks a long-standing car culture domestically, or perhaps its sales channels have not been fully established yet. Maybe... But does poor sales mean that the L5 has poor quality and no competitiveness? The fact is quite the opposite.
Design Background: The Lotus L5 was designed over a period of five years by the British Lotus Engineering design team specifically for Youngman Lotus Cars. Its design elements come from the currently popular hatchback style. Therefore, on the exterior of the L5, apart from the fashionable hatchback shape, one can also see its British style. The market positioning of the L5 Sportback (two-door) is as an "Urban Fashion Coupe." Further细分ation of the models provides more choices for young people who love coupes.
In terms of appearance: Although the design of the Lotus L5 comes from British Lotus Engineering, and we can indeed see some British style in the L5, whether this British style will be accepted by domestic consumers remains to be seen. If the answer is yes, then at least it hasn't been achieved so far, and it still needs some time. On the exterior of the L5, we can see many shapes similar to willow leaves, such as the headlights, grille, and taillights. However, there is a discrepancy between this willow-leaf style and the aesthetic preferences of domestic consumers.
The metallic grille shaped like willow leaves deserves high praise in terms of craftsmanship. We can also see this kind of metallic grille on some handcrafted sports cars. However, the combination of the willow-leaf grille with the willow-leaf headlights seems to go against domestic design trends, though it is indeed unique. However, the configuration is generous, with full LED daytime running lights and blackened headlights with lenses standard across all models.
Compared to the front face, I believe the hatchback styling on the side of the L5 two-door version is easier for consumers to accept. The transition of the rear hatchback design is very natural, and the rear design is quite successful. Let's take a look at the rims and tires. The tires used are Dunlop SP3 sport tires, with dimensions of 205/50 R16. The spare tire is also a full-size spare, and it is standard across all models! You can make an online reservation for a test drive of the Lotus L5! Even among high-end domestic cars, it's hard to find another car that is so well-equipped.
Besides making the "rear end" look fuller and more stylish, the hatchback design also greatly enhances the storage space of the trunk. In daily use, you can fold down the rear seats, and you can put whatever you want in the trunk, as long as you dare to imagine! The designer considered the inconvenience of opening and closing the trunk due to the hatchback design and carefully designed a handle. If you want an electric tailgate, then you should check out Audi or BMW. At around 100,000 yuan, you won't find a car with an electric tailgate.