After the launch of the Lotus L5 sedan at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2011, within a short span of less than half a year, the two-door hatchback model followed suit and was launched at the Guangzhou Auto Show in September. This shows that Young Lotus Cars had an air of inevitability regarding 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) has not been particularly optimistic. Perhaps it's because Young Lotus does not have a long-standing automotive culture in China, or perhaps the sales channels have not yet been fully opened, or perhaps... But does poor sales mean that the L5 lacks quality and competitiveness? The fact is quite the opposite.
Design Background: The Lotus L5 was designed over a period of five years by the British Lotus Automotive design team for Young Lotus Cars. The design elements are derived from the currently popular hatchback style. Therefore, on the exterior of the L5, apart from the fashionable hatchback styling, one can also see its British style. The L5 Sportback (two-door) is positioned in the market as an "Urban Fashion Coupe". Further segmentation of the model provides more choices for the fashionable young people who like coupes.
In terms of appearance: Although the design of the Lotus L5 comes from British Lotus Automobiles, and we can indeed see some of its British style on the L5, whether this British style can be accepted by domestic consumers remains questionable. If the answer is yes, then at least so far, it hasn't been achieved and will still require 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 willow-leaf shaped metal grille deserves high praise in terms of craftsmanship. We can also see this kind of metal grille on some handcrafted sports cars. However, the combination of the willow-leaf shaped grille with the willow-leaf shaped headlights seems somewhat contrary to the domestic design style, indeed very unique. Nevertheless, the configuration is generous, with LED daytime running lights and blackened headlights with lenses being standard across all models.
Compared to the front face, I believe the side hatchback shape of the L5 two-door would be easier for consumers to accept. The transition of the rear hatchback shape is very natural, and the design of the rear 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! Even among domestically produced cars that emphasize high configurations, it is difficult to find another car that is so generous.
Besides making the "rear end" more full and stylish, the hatchback design significantly enhances the storage space of the trunk. In daily household use, by folding down the rear seats, you can store whatever you want, as long as you dare to imagine! The designer considered the inconvenience caused by the hatchback design when opening and closing the trunk, and carefully designed a handle. If you want an electric tailgate, then you should check out Audi or BMW. Among cars priced around 100,000 yuan, it's hard to find one with an electric tailgate.