Electric sports cars stall: Polestar 6 on hold and Lotus turns to V8
Large electric GTs and SUVs are multiplying, but the light two-seater is going backwards. Polestar put the 6 on the back burner in 2025 and Lotus's next sports car is a hybrid V8. Here is what is left for UK drivers.
Quick answers
- Polestar said at the Munich motor show in September 2025 that the 6 sports car was on the back burner behind the Polestar 7 compact SUV, due in 2028, and the next-generation Polestar 2.
- Lotus dropped its all-electric plan in May 2026 and will launch the Type 135 in 2028 with a hybrid V8 of over 1,000PS.
- Lotus now targets roughly a 60 to 40 split between plug-in hybrid and battery-electric sales.
- Porsche has postponed the electric 718 Boxster and Cayman to at least 2027, so the MG Cyberster, from £54,995 at UK launch, is the main electric two-seater on sale.
- Rolls-Royce dropped its 2030 all-electric pledge in June, while Bentley launched the Torcal electric SUV on 23 September.
Polestar put its 6 electric sports car on the back burner in 2025 and Lotus has said its next sports car, the Type 135 due in 2028, will use a hybrid V8. Big electric GTs and SUVs are arriving in force, but the light electric two-seater is the part of the market going backwards, and UK drivers who want one have very few options.
What has Polestar done with the 6?
Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller told Autocar at the Munich motor show in September 2025 that the next priority is the compact Polestar 7 SUV, which offers the biggest volume potential the brand has had, and the next-generation Polestar 2 (Autocar). He said Polestar still intends to build the 6, on a new bespoke architecture shared with the 5 saloon. The 7 is confirmed for 2028.
So the 6 is delayed rather than cancelled, but the order is telling: volume SUVs and the brand’s best seller come first.
Why is Lotus changing course?
In May 2026 Lotus dropped its plan to go fully electric by 2028 and shifted towards plug-in hybrids, starting with the Eletre (Autoblog). It now targets roughly 60% plug-in hybrid and 40% battery-electric sales, according to Yicai Global, which said luxury buyers are reluctant to go fully electric.
The flagship is the Type 135, a hybrid V8 supercar with over 1,000PS arriving in 2028 (What Car?). The Emira, Lotus’s petrol sports car built in the UK, continues. The plug-in hybrid Eletre X has had UK pricing announced ahead of a 2027 UK debut, so it is not yet on sale.
Where is the money going instead?
Luxury makers are building big, heavy electric cars. Jaguar’s Type 01 is a 1,000PS GT, Bentley’s Torcal costs £173,000, and Range Rover Sport Electric starts at £109,810. Those cars can carry a large battery without hurting what they are meant to be.
Elsewhere, brands are hedging. Rolls-Royce dropped its pledge to go all-electric by 2030 in June (newmobility.news), and CNBC reported luxury rivals pulling back as Bentley launched the Torcal on 23 September. Our report on Porsche reviving the petrol Macan shows the same pattern.
Why do light electric sports cars struggle?
The reasons reported are consistent. Battery weight works against the light, agile feel that defines a sports car. Volumes are small, so development cost is hard to recover. Porsche’s electric 718 Boxster and Cayman were postponed to at least 2027, with battery supply problems and weaker than predicted demand both cited (ArenaEV).
What can you actually buy?
| Car | Type | UK price |
|---|---|---|
| MG Cyberster | Electric roadster | From £54,995 at launch, no grant |
| Alpine A290 | Electric hot hatch | About £34,000 before grant |
| Polestar 6 | Electric roadster | On hold |
| Lotus Type 135 | Hybrid V8 supercar | Due 2028 |
Cyberster price from CAR Magazine. The A290 launched at £33,500 for the original GT (Autocar); the updated range is about £34,000 before the £3,750 Band 1 grant, as in our hot hatch price comparison.
What this means for you
If you want an electric two-seater, the MG Cyberster is effectively the only current option, and used examples of earlier cars will be the other route. Do not wait for the Polestar 6: it has no date, and we found no sign it has been revived since the 2025 report. If a smaller, cheaper electric driver’s car appeals, the A290 is the closest.
For wider brand shifts, see which EV brands are winning and losing.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 6 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Has Polestar cancelled the Polestar 6?
No. Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller told Autocar at the Munich motor show in September 2025 that the company still intends to build the 6 in future, on a new bespoke architecture shared with the 5 saloon. It was put on the back burner behind the Polestar 7 and the next-generation Polestar 2.
Is the new Lotus sports car electric?
No. The Type 135, due in 2028, uses a hybrid V8 producing over 1,000PS. Lotus dropped its plan to go all-electric by 2028 in May 2026 and is targeting about 60% plug-in hybrid and 40% battery-electric sales.
What electric sports cars can I buy in the UK now?
The MG Cyberster is the clearest option, from £54,995 at UK launch, before any grant (China-built cars are not eligible). Alpine's A290 hot hatch, about £34,000 before the Electric Car Grant, is a smaller and cheaper electric driver's car, though it is not a two-seater.
Why are electric sports cars struggling?
Reports point to battery weight and cost, low volumes and weaker than expected demand. Lotus said luxury buyers are reluctant to go fully electric, and Porsche's electric 718 was postponed partly because demand for EVs was lower than predicted.
Sources and further reading
- autocar.co.ukAutocarPrimary source referenced in this article.
- carmagazine.co.ukPolestar 7: confirmed for launch in 2028Polestar 7 timing.
- autoblog.comLotus Abandons All-Electric Plan, Shifts to Plug-In Hybrids Starting With the EletreLotus's shift to plug-in hybrids.
- whatcar.comNew Lotus hybrid V8 supercar to arrive in 2028Type 135 hybrid V8 for 2028.
- arenaev.comPorsche postpones electric Boxster and Cayman launch once againElectric 718 delayed to at least 2027 and the reasons given.
- carmagazine.co.ukMG Cyberster UK pricing announcedCyberster UK pricing.
- newmobility.newsRolls-Royce drops the 2030 EV promise but not the SpectreRolls-Royce's change of plan, June 2026.
- cnbc.comBentley launches Torcal as luxury rivals pull back on electric carsTorcal launch and luxury brands' retreat.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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