Lotus Cars Malaysia (LCM) has received over 500 bookings for the Lotus Eletre in Malaysia. That’s a big surprise when you consider the electric SUV’s price point (great value for what it is, but RM578k to RM798k is no small sum) and the fact that Lotus isn’t really a mainstream brand – this is Hethel’s first EV and first SUV. Also, there’s no shortage of premium badged EVs in the market now.
At the Eletre’s official launch in April, LCM revealed that it already had 140 names in its order books, out of a 200-unit allocation for Malaysia in 2023. With orders continuing to pour in, it looks like there will be a bit of waiting time for those who recently put their names down for one. First deliveries will start in the fourth quarter of this year.
You may or may not like how the Eletre looks, but there’s no denying that it’s attention grabbing, as those of you who were at EVx 2023 over the weekend can testify. Under that sculpted body is a dual-motor AWD powertrain for all three variants – the RM578,000 Eletre, the RM648,000 Eletre S and the RM798,000 Eletre R ‘hyper SUV’.
The base Eletre and the S have 605 hp and 710 Nm of torque, good for a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds and an 80-120 km/h overtaking time of just 2.2 seconds. Top speed is 258 km/h. That’s plenty fast already, but the Eletre R takes things up a few notches with 905 hp, 985 Nm and a 0-100 km/h time of 2.95 seconds. The 80-120 km/h time is down to 1.9 seconds and top speed is 265 km/h, making it the world’s fastest dual-motor electric SUV, according to Lotus.
All three variants get a 112 kWh battery, which provides the Eletre and Eletre S with a range of 600 km on the WLTP cycle. The range-topping R trades some of that range for its prodigious performance, but still manages a respectable and practical 490 km WLTP. Charging is as fast as the SUV itself – thanks to an 800-volt electrical architecture that supports up to 350 kW DC fast charging, going from 10-80% state of charge takes just 20 minutes.
Five drive modes are available as standard – Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual – with the Eletre R getting an extra Track mode. The latter applies further adjustment to the active rear-wheel steering, adaptive dampers and active anti-roll control, while also fully opening the active front grille and enabling launch control.
Inside, all three variants have five seats as standard, with cargo capacity of 688 litres with all seats in place and up to 1,532 litres with the rear seats folded – crazy performance aside, this is also a practical SUV. The car you see here has the optional Executive Seat pack, which trades the rear bench for two individual chairs.
Speaking of options, customers can personalise their Eletre with a selection of packs; these include the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, Ceramic Brake Pack, Comfort Seat Pack, Carbon Fibre Pack, Extended Carbon Fibre Pack and Interior Carbon Fibre Pack, as well as a Parking Pack and a Highway Assist Pack for the ADAS suite. Of course, ticking a few boxes would add to the base prices quoted above.
A total of six exterior colours are offered for the Eletre, and they are Natron Red, Galloway Green, Stellar Black, Kaimu Grey, Blossom Grey and the bright Solar Yellow you see here. Official distributor LCM offers a five-year, 150,000 km factory warranty for the SUV, while the battery gets its separate eight-year, 200,000 km warranty.
Did you manage to get up close to the Eletre at EVx? What do you think of its looks, price and package? We’ve driven it already and here’s what our man thinks of the Eletre, which is unlike every other Lotus that came before it.
Four years is an awfully short amount of time to be making a car from scratch, much less an ultra premium SUV, and a high-performance fully-electric one at that. Both are uncharted territories for Lotus, a brand known mostly to have made incredibly raw and engaging sports cars for hardcore enthusiasts.
Outside of that circle, few share the same reverence for the British carmaker, which at some point in its 75-year history can be mentioned in the same breath as Ferrari. This refers specifically to its illustrious motorsports endeavours – Lotus won the Formula One World Championship seven times, and came ahead of Ferrari to become the first marque to bag 50 Grand Prix victories.
That’s no mean feat, but if we’re honest, its past successes carry little to no significance for the modern day folk looking to buy their next flashy new electric car. Vicious and unrelenting; such is the pace of the car market today.
Lotus understands this full and well, which is why it pulled all the stops to make the Type 132 a reality. Enter the Eletre (or Project Lazarus, if you catch our drift), Lotus’ first-ever SUV, and probably the largest and heaviest car it will ever make.
What is it?
The Eletre is first and foremost, an inevitability. Its existence is as strategic as it is an impetus for a corporate rebrand, one that serves to springboard Lotus well into mass market appeal. It’s a tale we’re all too familiar with, a fate similarly shared with the industry’s preeminent brands.
Spanning about 5.1 meters-long and over two meters-wide, the Eletre is a behemoth, its size dwarfing that of the Ferrari Purosangue and Porsche Cayenne (both a tad over 4.9 meters-long).
A clever mixture of soft lines, streamlined sheetmetal, short overhangs and cab-forward design make the SUV look smaller in pictures than in real life. But the difference makers lie in the positioning of the LED headlamps (at the corners of the black gaping frame), the blacked out pillars, steeply raked windscreen (at 27 degrees), and the slim digital side mirrors (dubbed the Electric Reverse Mirror Displays). These altogether give the Eletre a clean, almost minimalist finish.
While Lotus may be new to the SUV scene, its grasp on the principles of aerodynamics is anything but. The Eletre is a masterclass on form and function, with ducts and vents on the bonnet and behind the wheel arches to smoothen airflow. There are air blades on the D-pillar as well, plus a split spoiler on the roof (this also reduces weight while remaining functional) and a largely flat underside.
But perhaps the most significant feature, at least visually, is the active front grille that is comprised of seven individual apertures, each featuring six triangular petals. These petals open and close seemingly at random, and can be quite therapeutic to observe.
The active rear spoiler also automatically adjusts between three positions to add or reduce downforce. The Eletre boasts a drag coefficient value of just 0.26. By comparison, the Tesla Model S and X have a Cd value of 0.24. Impressive.
All new cabin, and a slew of firsts for Lotus
Stepping inside evokes an unusual sense of awe and bewilderment. Never before has a Lotus looked so swanky, what with jewellery-grade stainless steel, full-sized electrochromic glass roof, ambient lighting system, and a Dolby Atmos sound system. More on that, later.
There are no corners cut in making the cabin feel truly premium, and you couldn’t tell that the majority of materials used are either made from recycled textile or sustainably-produced synthetic goods. They all feel appropriately upmarket, the finishing substantial to the touch and completely rattle-free on the move. Even the Ultrafabric polyurethane seats (also known as man-made leather) feel nearly as supple as full-grain Nappa.
In some markets, the Eletre comes with a staggering seven displays – the main 15.1-inch OLED panel in the middle, a slim 12.6 inch-long OLED instrument panel (plus another for the front passenger), a 29-inch head-up display with augmented reality, a nine-inch touch display at the rear (eight-inch for the five-seater), and two high-definition six-inch displays for models equipped with the digital side mirrors, which I couldn’t possibly get used to in two days. Mirrors over cameras for me, anytime.
KEF, British maker of top-end HiFi systems, makes its first automotive debut here with two offerings; a 15-speaker 1,380-watt surround sound system, and the flagship 23-speaker, 2,160-watt setup with 3D surround sound.
The good news is they both have official Dolby Atmos support, but the bad news is you really want the 23-speaker setup. I won’t pretend to be an audiophile, but the experience is moving, and quite literally second to none. Truly next level stuff, and better experienced than explained.
Another highlight here is the main infotainment display. Functionally, it is far more immersive than what most of us are used to, which presents a learning curve that can be mildly irritable (at the initial stages, at least) for those accustomed to switches and toggles. To simplify user experience, Lotus designed its proprietary Hyper OS to make sure you needn’t tap more than three times to access any vehicular/multimedia function, and will continually refine the UI/UX over time.
That aside, the display is gorgeous, graphically and physically. It’s only 10 mm thin (rests on a rather ornate curved hinge) and is mighty responsive, thanks to twin, air-cooled Qualcomm 8155 Snapdragon chips. This provides enough firepower for the Unreal Engine to render graphics processing in real-time, and navigating the 60-frames OLED panel is a treat on its own.
An embedded SIM with 5G connectivity is standard from the factory, allowing full over-the-air software updates. Some of your favourite audio/video streaming services can also be consumed through the main display, if not now then in the very near future. Apps developed in-house by Lotus – such as its telematics feature – will also continue to grow.
It’s every bit desirable so far, but is it a real Lotus?
The Eletre weighs just over 2,500 kg, while the R starts from 2,640 kg. It seems like the deeper we dive, the further we stray from the good old “simplify, then add lightness” ethos first coined by the late Colin Chapman. There’s no defying the laws of physics, so here we are in Norway to see just what sort of trickery Lotus has got up its sleeves.
For those who haven’t been, Oslo’s restrictive speed limits doesn’t quite provide the ideal setting to be sampling the full capabilities of a high-performance SUV like the Eletre. The venue is very much a novelty (it being the EV capital of the world), yet crucially provides the opportunity to savour the car as you would on the daily – plenty of stop-and-go traffic in the city, plus a small serving of spirited driving on suburban backroads.
Armed with two electric motors as standard, the Eletre and Eletre S both dish out 603 hp and 710 Nm of torque. Our tester is the latter, brisk off the line virtually all the time, leaving no hint of its heft in the process of building speed. Lotus claims a century sprint time of 4.5 seconds, and there’s hardly any reason to doubt that.
Ride is pleasantly refined for a car that ships with 22-inch wheels. There’s little incentive in upsizing to 23s, to me at least, but the option is on the table for those whose spine can take a bit more abuse. I don’t imagine the ride to be much harsher either way – the standard air suspension with continuous damping control seem unfazed throughout our stint, however varied the surface.
The Lotus brand is very much synonymous with suspension tuning, the result of which has seen Proton introduce some commendably well-handling passenger cars while stewarding the sports car maker. The same magic – however befuddling in application – can be felt here, from the base of the Eletre’s driver seat right through the electromechanical power steering (a first, too).
Through a combination of finely tuned electronics and cutting-edge hardware, the Eletre effectively drives and handles like a far smaller SUV. Our tester is fitted with the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack (standard on the R, optional on the rest), which includes the third-generation Intelligent Active Roll Control (IARC) with fast-reacting electromechanical actuators to mitigate body roll as the need arises.
On flatter surfaces, these actuators will decouple for the benefit of ride comfort. IARC also ships with the active rear-wheel steering system (another first for Lotus), which plays a monumental part in making the Eletre feel deceptively agile and manoeuvrable.
All this to say, despite its weight, the Eletre handles with far more poise, finesse and neutrality than I had expected, its balance unperturbed even when pressed through switchbacks. This is also made possible thanks to its skateboard architecture, which allows battery pack to sit close to the ground. Good fun behind the wheel, this.
Two things that really stand out for me are the fast rack (2.5 turns lock-to-lock) and the brakes. The former is highly communicative (yet isn’t tiresome on long jaunts), bringing great joy by way of feedback, while the brakes feel just as natural to modulate as any other Lotuses. There is no one-pedal driving here, because the Eletre has insofar proved to be made for the drivers. Talk about separating the wheat from the chaff.
As a longtime aspirer to own the Elise S3, I never imagined the need to assess a Lotus from a refinement standpoint. But here, the Eletre scores high. Really high. Its slippery shell keeps wind noise well at bay, even when cruising past 100 km/h on the freeway. Tyre noise (on factory-fitted Pirelli P Zeros) is also barely audible below 90 km/h, but this could vary depending on the quality of your tarmac back home.
In all honesty, logically, the Eletre S is more than sufficient for most people. However, springing for the R is what grants you the license to bear the title of “hyper-SUV owner,” and out on the Eggemoen airstrip, we got a taste of what 905 hp and 985 Nm of torque feels like in an all-electric setup.
Exclusive to the Eletre R is the Track Mode, which is what allows you to launch from standstill to 100 km/h in just a hair under three seconds. Accelerating off the mark isn’t as violent as I had expected, but claims of a sub three-second sprint are true, as have been verified by other media through GPS-based performance meters. Watch our video to see how progressive, not explosive, the acceleration is.
The Eletre R in Kaimu Grey
Regardless of your pick, the Eletre ships with a 112 kWh lithium-ion battery pack as standard. It is among, if not the largest currently available in the EV market, giving you an estimated range of about 600 km (WLTP combined cycle; 490 km on the R) on a full charge. A 22 kW onboard charger (OBC) is also standard, which fully juices up the SUV in six hours. Its 800-volt electrical architecture also supports rapid DC charging of up to 350 kW (10% to 80% in under 20 minutes).
So, can the Eletre propel Lotus into superstardom?
Yes, and deservingly so. The Eletre signals the beginning of a brand new chapter for Lotus, a model that anchors its range of premium lifestyle performance EVs. There will be two more mass market models to follow, and if the Eletre is any indication of their potential, then to that we say, ready your chequebooks.
I’ll leave you with this. In 2021, Lotus sold a grand total of 1,710 cars globally (a record, mind you, in its 75-year history), to an ever-shrinking pool of diehard petrolheads and brand loyalists. But the automotive landscape is evolving at a pace the like of which is historically unprecedented, and in a sea of lumbering and rather unexciting EVs, the Eletre is the panacea this jaded writer so desperately seeks.
Its styling tasteful and ravishing, the cabin excellently appointed and delightfully cosy, and drives more than well, all without ever feeling like a try-hard. Orders will ship from a new factory in Wuhan, China, which has an annual output capacity of 150,000 units, so don’t worry about lead time.
With the way things are going, Lotus is undoubtedly off on a solid footing, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. It’s a sedan, by the way, and a Porsche Macan-rivalling SUV. Both fully electric, and due much sooner than expected. How Lotus took just four years with the Eletre will continue to boggle my mind. Unbelievable.
Importer and distributor for the Lotus brand in Malaysia, Lotus Cars Malaysia has launched the Lotus Eletre, the brand’s first SUV that arrives as a fully electric model. In line with details revealed in October, the Eletre is available with a choice of two powertrains across the three variants.
Prices for the Eletre in Malaysia start from RM578,000 for the base Eletre, from RM648,000 for the Eletre S, and from RM798,000 for the Eletre R. All versions get a dual-motor, AWD powertrain, with the base variant and the Eletre S producing 605 hp and 710 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds and a 80-120 km/h time of 2.2 seconds, with a top speed of 258 km/h.
Meanwhile, the top Eletre R produces 905 hp and 985 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 2.95 seconds, 80-120 km/h in under 1.9 seconds and a top speed of 265 km/h, making it the world’s fastest dual-motor fully electric SUV according to Lotus.
All three variants get a 112 kWh battery, which provides the Eletre and Eletre S with a range of 600 km on the WLTP cycle, while the most powerful Eletre R has a range of 490 km (WLTP). All employ an 800-volt electrical architecture that supports up to 350 kW of DC fast charging, which enables a 10-80% state of charge in 20 minutes. The highest AC charging rate is 22 kW.
Standard exterior equipment on the Eletre is comprised of matrix LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights and fog lamps, welcome-home lighting, hands-free powered tailgate with opening height memory, and heated washer jets. Added to the Eletre S and R variants are self-dimming side mirrors, rear privacy glass and soft-closing doors, with the Carbon Pack standard on the top Eletre R.
Rolling stock for the Malaysian market Eletre is a set of 22-inch, 10-spoke forged alloy wheels on Pirelli P Zero tyres. The Eletre R gets P Zero Corsa tyres measuring 275/35 and 315/30 front and rear respectively on 23-inch forged alloy wheels in gloss black. There are a total of five wheel designs available.
The different variants of the Eletre can also be denoted by the colour of their brake calipers; the base variant gets black calipers while the S and R can be specified with calipers in a range of colours.
On the move, five driver modes are available as standard for the Eletre range – Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual, with the Eletre R additionally receiving a Track mode. This applies further adjustment to the active rear-wheel steering, adaptive dampers and active anti-roll control for greater chassis performance, and also fully opens the active front grille along with enabling launch control for access to the variant’s full performance.
Inside, all three variants of the Eletre bring a five-seater layout, with a luggage capacity of 688 litres with all seats in place and up to 1,532 litres with the rear seats folded. Optionally available and shown here is the Executive Seat pack, which brings a four-seater layout.
Materials used are full recycled and recyclable microfibres, presenting as an environmentally friendly, odour-free and longer-lasting alternative to genuine leather. The accompanying trim is taken from recycled edge cuts from carbon-fibre production, which is compressed in resin for a marble-like finish, says Lotus.
Interior compartments in the Eletre include a storage tray with wireless charging, flush-mounted cup holders and door bins that will each accommodate a water bottle of up to one litre in capacity. The luggage compartment also features underfloor storage.
The infotainment system runs on Lotus Hyper OS that brings server-level processing power from a pair of Qualcomm 8155 system-on-chip units. Next-generation 3D content and experiences are supported by Unreal Engine technology from the computer gaming industry, says Lotus.
Compatibility with 5G enables OTA software updates as well as the purchase of new software-enabled features, and which also enables users to lock and unlock the vehicle using a smartphone via an app.
Infotainment is accessed in the Eletre through a 15.1-inch central floating full HD OLED touchscreen, which folds flat when not in use. Made by ECarX, the screen offers fully customisable displays through an advanced Driver Information Module (DIM) which can be continually update via OTA updates over the car’s lifetime.
The driver gets a head-up display unit with augmented reality technology, and this is standard across all variants of the Eletre. 95% of functionality in the Eletre is accessible within three touches on the main screen, says Lotus, and voice control with advanced speech recognition is also available.
Integrated navigation services come courtesy of Here Technologies, offering functions such as EV routing, predictive routing and a range assistant, and these, too can be updated via OTA updates. Standard audio equipment comes from hi-fi specialists KEF, where a 1,380 W, 15-speaker KEF Premium setup brings Uni-QTM and surround sound. A higher-spec 2,160 W, 23-speaker KEF Reference setup with Uni-Q, Uni-Core and surround sound is also available.
For safety, the Eletre packs a host of ADAS that can be updated via OTA software for future revisions. All variants receive intelligent adaptive cruise control (ACC), a driver monitoring system, rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), front cross traffic alert (FCTA), Lane Keep Assist with lane departure warning and prevention (LKA+), blind spot detection, traffic sign information (TSI), front and rear park assist, and visual park assist.
The Eletre is also outfitted with the world’s first deployable Lidar system to support higher levels of autonomous driving, which Lotus says is future-proofed thanks to hardware that is already installed. Further capabilities can be added via OTA updates, as local market regulations permit.
Customers can further personalise their Eletre with a selection of option packs; these include the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, Ceramic Brake Pack, Executive Seat Pack, Comfort Seat Pack, Carbon Fibre Pack, Extended Carbon Fibre Pack and Interior Carbon Fibre Pack, as well as a Parking Pack and a Highway Assist Pack for the ADAS set.
A total of six exterior colours are offered for the Eletre, and these are Natron Red, Galloway Green, Stellar Black, Kaimu Grey, Blossom Grey and Solar Yellow. The Eletre is sold via Lotus Cars Malaysia with a five-year, 150,000 km manufacturer warranty, while the battery gets its own eight-year, 200,000 km warranty.
Initial demand for the Eletre has been strong, with 140 orders already collected in Malaysia out of a 200-unit allocation for the country in 2023. To recap, prices for the Lotus Eletre in Malaysia start from RM578,000 for the base Eletre, from RM648,000 for the Eletre S, and from RM798,000 for the Eletre R.
The Lotus Eletre will be available for public viewing at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur from this weekend until mid-May, according to Lotus Cars Malaysia, as part of the LCM pop-up showroom that will be set up at the retail outlet in the city centre.
Announced in March this year, Lotus has revealed the prices and more detailed specifications of its fully-electric Eletre hyper-SUV. Three variants will be available – the Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R. Prices start from £89,500 pounds (RM485k) for the Eletre, £104,500 (RM566k) for the Eletre S and £120,000 (RM650k) for the Eletre R.
There are two powertrains options available – single and dual electric motors. The Eletre and Eletre S variants are driven by a single electric motor that’s juiced by a 112 kWh battery. Both versions have 603 hp (450 kW) and 710 Nm of torque, and can do the 0-100 km/h run in 4.5 seconds, while 80 to 120 km/h takes less than 2.2 seconds. Top speed on both variants is 258 km/h.
The Eletre’s 800-volt electrical architecture can support up to 350 kW DC fast charging, where getting the battery from 10% to an 80% state of charge takes just 20 minutes. The Eletre is also equipped with an onboard 22 kW AC charger. At full charge, the Eletre can return up to 600 km of range based on the WLTP cycle.
As standard, the Eletre features five different drive modes – Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual – and is fitted with active air suspension, torque vectoring, Matrix LED headlights, an active front grille and 22-inch 10-spoke forged wheels. On the topic of wheel sizes, the Eletre rides on 22-inch wheels as standard in the UK, with 20-inch and 23-inch options available. There are five wheel designs and six brake caliper colours available for the car.
Inside, standard equipment includes a four-zone automatic climate control system, 12-way electrically adjustable front seats, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 1,380 watt, 15-speaker KEF Premium Audio system.
The Eletre S gets additional goodies such as privacy glass, an active rear spoiler, ambient lighting, illuminated side sills, soft-close doors, auto-dimming side mirrors and an air quality system. It comes with a 2,160 watt, 23-speaker KEF Reference Audio system. Lotus has collaborated with Dolby to combine the KEF speaker system with Dolby Atmos technology for an audio experience with increased depth, clarity and precision – the Eletre is the world’s first car to combine Dolby Atmos and KEF’s audio system.
As for the flagship Eletre R, its dual electric motor setup not only provides all-wheel drive capability but also makes it the world’s fastest dual-motor pure electric SUV. The dual electric motors are similarly powered by a 112 kW battery, with 10% to 80% state-of-charge taking just 20 minutes with DC fast charging.
Its EV range however is noticeably lower than the Eletre and Eletre S, returning just 490 km based on the WLTP cycle. According to Lotus, the Eletre and Eletre S’ 600 km range is based on the use of 20-inch wheels. How convenient.
The Eletre R produces a whopping 905 hp (675 kW) and 985 Nm, allowing it to go from 0-100 km/h in just 2.95 seconds while 80 to 120 km/h can be done in under 1.9 seconds. Its top speed is rated at 265 km/h. As for specifications, exclusive to the Eletre R are features such as Track Mode, which provides a lowered ride height and more performance-oriented setting for the dampers and anti-roll control.
The Track mode pack also includes a fully open active grille and launch control. Other standard specifications in the Eletre R include a Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, Carbon Fibre Pack, gloss black wheels, stainless steel sports pedals, black badging and higher performance tyres.
All three variants come with a centrally-mounted 15.1-inch full HD OLED infotainment display that’s powered by the new Lotus Hyper operating system. The infotainment system utilises ‘Unreal Engine’ technology from the gaming industry for real-time 3D content user interface and experience, with more realistic graphics and futuristic visual effects.
The system’s processing power is courtesy of two Qualcomm 8155 System-On-Chips for smooth rendering and rapid processing. The one-billion-colour OLED infotainment display is sourced from mobility tech company ECARX, offering customisable displays via an advanced Driver Information Module (DIM). The infotainment system can also be continuously improved with over-the-air (OTA) updates.
All three variants come with a five-seat configuration as standard, with a four-seat layout available as part of the optional Executive Seat Pack. Six unique interior designs are available with sustainability at heart. In addition to more durable, odour-free leather, a new man-made fibre – that’s 100% recycled and recyclable – is used in the carpets and boot liner.
Also standard is the deployable LIDAR technology, a world-first in a production car with end-to-end autonomous driving technology. The system can also be updated via OTA updates for more autonomous driving functions in the future. Having tested the car on the Nurburgring circuit, Lotus revealed that work is underway to develop advanced driver aids to allow customers ‘to drive’ on the circuit autonomously.
Standard driver aids include adaptive cruise control, lane centring assist, lane keeping assist, lane change assist, autonomous emergency braking, front/rear cross traffic alert, reverse and parking AEB, and a door opening warning. Customers can opt to further increase the vehicle’s capabilities with optional Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Packs such as the Parking Pack and a Highway Assist Pack.
Still on the topic of driver aid and convenience, Lotus revealed that it is partnering with HERE Technologies to deliver integrated navigation services for the Eletre. This includes EV Routing, EV Range Assistant and Predictive Routing which, like the other functions, can be updated via OTA updates.
What was not mentioned when the Eletre was revealed in March is that it has a ground clearance of 187 mm (with 20-inch wheels) and 194 mm (with 22/23-inch wheels). Rear boot space is rated at 611 litres for the four-seater layout, while the five-seater offers 688 litres of space. With the rear seats folded in the five-seater configuration, boot space is rated at 1,532 litres.
Six exterior colours will be available for the Eletre, namely Natron Red, Galloway Green, Stellar Black, Kaimu Grey, Blossom Grey and Solar Yellow. More personalisation can be had via the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, Ceramic Brake Pack, Executive Seat Pack, Comfort Seat Pack, Carbon Fibre Pack, Extended Carbon Fibre Pack and Interior Carbon Fibre Pack, which will be available at market launch.
In the UK, the Lotus Eletre is accompanied by a five-year/160,000 km vehicle warranty. It is expected to make its debut in North America as well as the Middle East, Asia Pacific and other regions beginning 2024.
Last year’s Emira may have kickstarted the Lotus revival, but this is the car Hethel aims to rake the money in with. After decades of prototypes and falsedawns, the company has finally revealed its first ever SUV – the all-electric Eletre.
Lotus calls this an electric hyper-SUV, a label that entails a certain level of performance. To that end, the Eletre will be offered with all-wheel drive with twin motors and a power output “from 600 hp”, enabling the car to get from zero to 100 km/h in under three seconds before reaching a top speed of around 260 km/h.
The car will also be available with a battery capacity of “over 100 kWh”, providing a range of around 600 km on the WLTP cycle. It will support up to 350 kW of DC fast charging power, putting in 400 km of range in just 20 minutes, while a 22 kW onboard charger will allow relatively fast AC charging.
The Eletre is the first of three “lifestyle” electric vehicles from Lotus, built on a purpose-built platform that utilises aluminium and high-strength steel in its construction for optimum rigidity. The 800-volt electrical architecture enables the aforementioned high charging speeds and features an integrated high-voltage power distribution system.
Lotus said it has committed to “outstanding dynamic performance” by placing skateboard-style battery and motors low in the car, delivering a low centre of gravity. The electric motors also integrates the controller and reducer to make the entire unit smaller and lighter, while a five-link rear axle, air suspension and adaptive dampers all come as standard. Buyers can also specify an active ride height function, rear axle steering, active roll stabilisation and torque vectoring via braking.
On the outside, the Eletre gets a low-slung (for an SUV, anyway) body with cab-forward proportions, short overhangs and a short bonnet that Lotus says is reminiscent of its trademark mid-engined sports cars. Other design cues include the L-shaped LED daytime running lights with sequential indicators (the main headlights are hidden in a blacked-out section lower down), an upswept window line and an in-vogue black roof. The leading edge of the front end runs all around the car, incorporating the slim, full-width taillights.
Aerodynamics play a big role in the styling of the Eletre, just like on the Evija hypercar. While there are no big tunnels for the air to flow through, Lotus says there is a “porosity” to the design, with details that include a slot in the grille that leads into the bonnet vents. Air is also guided through ducts aft of the front wheels, the D-pillars and the rear of the car. An active rear wing (à la Porsche Cayenne Coupé) is also fitted.
Elsewhere, there’s an active grille shutter at the front with distinctive triangular petals, along with flush door handles, a power-retractable charging port door on both front fenders, mirror-replacing side-view cameras (in markets that allow them), and a split rear spoiler that is claimed to reduce weight. On a big electric SUV? Surely not.
Break out the measuring tape and you’ll see that the Eletre is a very big SUV, measuring 5,103 mm long, 2,135 mm wide (including the side-view cameras) and 1,630 mm tall. In fact, it’s almost as long as a short-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class, as is its wheelbase of 3,019 mm. It’s no wonder it rolls on massive optional 23-inch two-tone alloy wheels, which come with carbon fibre aero inserts and hide ten-piston front brake callipers and carbon ceramic discs.
The Eletre also beats its stablemate the Polestar 3 in incorporating lidar sensors, and these are also retractable for the first time on a production vehicle. These are located at the top of the front and rear windscreens and over the front wheel arches, working with additional cameras on the side stalks to deliver enhanced autonomous driving capabilities.
At launch, the Eletre will be offered with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane centring assist, lane keeping assist, lane change assist, front and rear cross traffic alert, reverse and parking AEB, traffic sign recognition, a door opening warning and a rear seat reminder. The car will also support over-the-air updates, adding further autonomous driving functions further down the line.
Inside, the Eletre features a minimalist interior with a layered horizontal dashboard that leads into the door cards, along with a tall “floating” centre console. A massive 15.1-inch OLED centre touchscreen dominates the cabin, which retracts when not in use and is equipped with a game-inspired interface that showcases a 3D model of the car; Lotus also says that users can reach 95% of the functions with just three taps.
This large display sits in between two slim screens for the driver and passenger, with the former being further supported by an augmented reality head-up display. While every function can be operated either through the infotainment system or voice control, certain functions are duplicated using physical switches. The car also comes with Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual drive modes.
Particular attention has been paid to material choices, with the use of microfibre on the major touch points and wool-blend fabric upholstery that is said to be 50% lighter than leather. The carbon trim is made from the edge trimmings from carbon fibre production, compressed in a resin for a marble-like finish. Four- and five-seater layouts will be made available, the latter adding a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen.
As standard, the Eletre is fitted with a 15-speaker, 1,380-watt KEF Premium sound system, with a 23-speaker, 2,160-watt KEF Reference system available as an option. Also part of the options list is a panoramic sunroof and matrix LED headlights. An integrated 5G connection allows for remote functionality via a smartphone app and the ability to purchase new features as they become available.
The Eletre will enter production later this year at a new plant in Wuhan, China, with deliveries due to kick off next year for the Chinese, British and European markets. Registrations of interest for customers over here have also opened, according to Lotus Cars Malaysia on Facebook.
Initially known as Type 132, the first electric SUV to come from British sports car maker Lotus has now revealed that it will be named Eletre. Once again confirming that the electric crossover will make its world debut on March 29 (tomorrow), we have also seen patent images of the Eletre earlier this month.
The more recently revealed patent images for the crossover now known as the Eletre has also shown that its exterior will feature pop-out, flush-fitting door handles, which will be joined by exterior mirror cameras, as well as forward- and rearward-facing cameras and a roof-mounted Lidar sensor.
So far, Lotus has revealed that the forthcoming electric crossover will be built on the firm’s modular EV platform called Evolution, and thus will feature an 800-volt electrical architecture for quick charging and battery packs with capacities ranging from 92-120 kWh.
Powertrain for the Eletre has been rumoured to be a dual-motor setup, initially said to boast of outputs between 600 hp and 750 hp depending on variant. Thus equipped, the Eletre is expected to have a battery range of nearly 600 km on a full charge, and a 0-100 km/h accleration run in under three seconds.
Earlier teaser images have depicted the Eletre as featuring an octagonal, multi-function steering wheel, digital instrumentation as well as ambient lighting strips throughout its cabin. Manufacture of the SUV itself is likely to be in China, as ownership of the patent filing has been attributed to Wuhan Lotus Cars.
Subsequent to the debut of the Eletre, there will be a four-door sedan currently codenamed Type 133 set for unveiling next year, and this will be followed by another SUV on this platform in 2025. A new sports car dubbed Type 135 will follow a year after that; for now, the latest unveiling from Lotus – the second EV after the Evija – will be tomorrow.
