British carmaker Lotus has revealed its first-ever SUV, the electric Eletre. The Lotus Eletre SUV will arrive in 2023.
The word Eletre means ‘Coming to Life’ in some Eastern European languages. Lotus’ new SUV bearing the name also marks a ‘momentous moment’ for the British marque with the Eletre being the first-ever SUV in the carmaker’s 74-year history.
Speaking about the new Eletre, Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars, commented: “The Eletre is a bold and revolutionary new car, delivering on our commitment to move Lotus into completely new automotive segments as we widen our global appeal and accessibility. This is a momentous point in our history and a clear signal of our ongoing desire to transform our business. It is a true Lotus, and we’re confident it will delight performance car customers and offer a distinct alternative to the segment’s established players. The Eletre has the soul of a Lotus and the usability of an SUV. Alongside the Emira sports car, this is the perfect two-car garage from Lotus.”
Lotus Eletre Specs & Dimensions
Full details about the Lotus Eletre’s powertrain have not been revealed as of now. However, the Hethel based carmaker has revealed that the Lotus Eletre will have a battery pack with a capacity in excess of 100kWh. The Lotus Eletre will sport a dual motor setup with a minimum power output of 592bhp (600PS).
Lotus claims that the Eletre will sprint from 0-100km/h in under 3 seconds and will continue accelerating till it tops out at around 260km/h. The Lotus Eletre also features 4 driving modes – Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual.
The production Lotus Eletre will feature a 600-kilometre range as per the WLTP (World harmonized Light-duty vehicles Test Procedure) testing process. Lotus claims that if connected to a 350kWh fast DC charger, the Eletre will be able to charge from 0-80 per cent in just 18 minutes. The Eletre also supports 23kW AC charging.
In terms of dimensions, the Eletre electric SUV from Lotus is 5,103mm long, 2,231mm wide and 1,630mm tall. The wheelbase of the Lotus Eletre is 3,019mm long.
Lotus Eletre Design & Features
The Lotus Eletre features a very aggressive design especially up at the front. The front end of the Eletre SUV looks like an extra aggressive version of the Lamborghini Urus. The Urus features sleek headlights which are partly hidden. The LED daytime running lights sit higher on the front end and look quite sharp as well. The Eletre features an active grille with triangular elements that open and close depending on how much cooling is required.
The sides of the Eletre are heavily sculpted and the SUV also features flush door handles. Also seen are rearview cameras which can be specified instead of regular mirrors. The Eletre sits on 21-inch alloy wheels though these can be upgraded to either 22 or 23-inch units. Also seen on the side is the charging port for the electric SUV.
At the rear, the Eletre is dominated by a large light bar that runs across the width of the SUV. Also seen are vents inspired by the Evija hypercar. The roof features two winglets that channel air down the rear end of the car. The Eletre also features deployable LIDAR sensors.
Step inside the Eletre and current Lotus owners will feel like they’ve stepped on a different planet. The interior features either a four or five-seat layout with screens all around the front of the SUV. There are practical storage spaces everywhere and the multi-screen setup with the large 15.1 landscape infotainment display really looks futuristic.
Thankfully, the Eletre hasn’t gone full touch mad and there are quite a few functional knobs and buttons. The Eletre also features a sound system from KEF with up to 23 speakers and 3D surround sound.
The interiors of the Eletre make use of sustainable materials with the carbon fibre used being made using sections trimmed from the edge of the weave. These are then reconstructed into a new matting which is then compressed in a resin to create the car’s premium marble-like finish.
Thoughts on the Lotus Eletre
The Lotus Eletre sees the carmaker move away from its founder Colin Chapman’s lightweight philosophy. However, the Eletre’s powertrain and handling when it arrives in 2023 will be enough to keep the anorexic zealots at bay.
Keyword: Lotus Eletre EV Revealed - Hethel Joins The Super SUV Brigade