Lotus Eletre and Emeya: an update to make more noise

The Lotus Eletre and Emeya gain a new artificial soundtrack thanks to a remote update. A quirky way to give a voice to electric vehicles.

A Lotus that makes more noise without changing a single mechanical part? Welcome to 2026. The British manufacturer is rolling out a new OTA software update in Europe for the Lotus Eletre and Emeya, featuring a novelty that should raise eyebrows: Active Sound Design.

The concept is now well-known in the electric car realm, but Lotus brings its own twist to it. The system generates sounds inspired by performance, amplified in the cabin and evolving according to acceleration, deceleration, driver commands, and the selected driving mode. In short, no need for a finely tuned exhaust to provide a voice: a few lines of code might now be enough.

No Lotus Without Sound

For Lotus, whose history is filled with lightweight sports cars and mechanics, this exercise is certainly not without intrigue. The Eletre is a hefty electric SUV while the Emeya takes the shape of a large electric sedan. Two models that are far removed from an Elise or an Esprit, but which the brand clearly seeks to imbue with more sensations.

Fortunately, the update is not just about turning the cabin into a concert hall. The Drive Setup function now allows users to save their favorite settings and recall them with a simple press. Lotus also improves several safety features, particularly monitoring for electrical insulation faults and fatigue and distraction alerts on the Eletre.

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In Germany, the latter additionally receives Lotus Hyper Pilot, a highway driving assistance system capable of supervising certain overtaking maneuvers on approved sections.

But the most accessible novelty to try will obviously be the Active Sound Design. In the past, to modify the sound of a Lotus, one would change the exhaust. Today, you simply need to download the update.