Lotus Eletre: Goodbye Lightness, Hello Powered SUV

Lightweight sports car specialist, the English brand is embracing electric technology with its first SUV, the Lotus Eletre, exceeding 600 hp.

Automobile purists are about to shudder. Especially the founder of Lotus Cars, Colin Chapman, would likely be turning in his grave at this new car. What would the devotee of “light is right” who championed the lightweight sports cars like Elan, Elise, or Esprit think of the Lotus Eletre?

The First Daring Lotus SUV

No matter, Lotus is no longer the car manufacturer we once knew. The electric hypercar Evija already set the pace with its 2,000 horsepower, although it limited its weight to 1,680 kg. But this is far from the sub-tonne Elise.

Presented on March 29, the Lotus Eletre is truly the first electric model from the brand aimed at large-scale production, and the very first SUV. It’s “a turning point” declares group CEO Qingfeng Feng.

We leave it to you to judge the drawing inspired by Lamborghini Urus or Faraday Future FF91. Do not expect it to weigh less than 2 tons, especially given its 5.10-meter length. It’s understandable that the manufacturer is not yet communicating about its weight…

However, this evolution is natural; surviving with only 1,710 cars was no longer feasible for the brand, now under the auspices of Chinese automaker Geely. Before it, Porsche transitioned to SUVs (Cayenne in 2022), as Maserati launched its second model, Grecale, and soon Ferrari will introduce the Purosangue.

A Tech Packed Inside the Lotus Eletre

As for the interior, Lotus no longer aims for Spartan simplicity in sport driving. Here, the electric SUV focuses on comfort and technology. The Eletre features a retractable 15-inch central touchscreen, two smaller screens for the driver and passenger (+1 at the rear), and a cozy atmosphere with wool and microfiber instead of leather.

Regarding equipment, the Anglo-Chinese giant does not hold back. It includes rearview cameras, head-up display, audio system up to 2160 W, and driver assistance systems. For semi-automated driving, LiDAR sensors are on alert, also retractable, with software that can be updated remotely (like Tesla or Volkswagen).

Performance Figures of the Eletre

Fortunately, enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the Lotus Eletre pushes into high performance. The SUV aims to join the “2-second club”, with a 0-100 km/h time under 3 seconds, and a top speed of over 260 km/h. It guarantees at least 600 horsepower, built on the new EPA (Electric Premium Architecture) platform.

The lithium-ion battery, installed in the floor, has a capacity of 100 kWh. This energy, comparable to that of a Tesla Model X, would provide a WLTP cycle range of 600 kilometers. Theoretically, fast charging reaches up to 350 kW, which is the limit of the best current chargers Fastned or Ionity, allowing to go from 15% to 80% in less than 20 minutes. On AC three-phase, the Eletre accepts up to 22 kW, meaning less than 5 hours to recover most of the battery.

The Lotus Eletre does not yet have a price, as it is awaiting the beginning of 2023 for its first units. Only a reservation is possible, in exchange for 2,500 euros. And another sacrilege for Lotus enthusiasts: no production in England. The electric SUV will come out of the Wuhan factory in China. Normal, as owner Geely is steering the company, like Smart.

Also read: Skoda Enyaq iV RS Coupé: test of the “sporty” electric SUV