Overview
Lotus, the British company best known for making low-volume, lightweight, high-performance sports cars, is diverging from this long-held marketing strategy with a new model that’s entirely different from any Lotus that came before it. The new Eletre is a high-performance electric SUV built in China and set to go on sale in the U.S. sometime in 2023. While it is considerably heavier than any other Lotus model due to its large battery pack, the Eletre still delivers strong acceleration thanks to its electric motors, producing at least 603 horsepower. Lotus aims to compete with other electric SUV models including the Audi e-tron and BMW iX, but the Eletre bears more than a passing resemblance to the jaw-dropping Lamborghini Urus.
What’s New for 2024?
The Eletre is the company’s first SUV and a completely new addition to the Lotus lineup.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Lotus says it will offer the Eletre in Base, S, and R configurations and the base price will be below $85,000. To maximize range, we’d stick with either the base or S trim, both of which come with a less potent—but still quite powerful—603-hp electric powertrain and an estimated driving range of about 315 miles per charge.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The Eletre’s base powertrain is a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup making 603 horsepower. After taking a test drive, we think that’s enough to launch the Eletre to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. Our first impressions are of a performance SUV that’s quick and comfortable, but it isn’t as agile as Lotus’s sports cars. The top-spec R boasts a whopping 905 horsepower and we estimate a zero-to-60-mph time of only 2.7 seconds. That model is far more dramatic on the road and exhibited unnerving squirms and twitches when we got aggressive with the throttle pedal. When we can test the Eletre on our home turf, we’ll update this story with more driving impressions and test results.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
A 109.0-kWh battery pack should provide about 315 miles of driving range in base and S trims. The high-performance Eletre R’s range won’t be quite as impressive and should be around 260 miles per charge. Once we get an Eletre to test, we’ll run it through our real-world 75-mph highway fuel economy-and-driving range test to see what it can do.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA has not yet released fuel economy estimates for the Eletre and we haven’t had a chance to test the electric SUV for ourselves. When we do, we’ll take it on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and update this story with test results. For more information about the Eletre’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Eletre will be offered as either a four-seater with two individual buckets in the rear or as a five-seater with a three-place rear bench. Its cabin features interesting materials such as microfiber, stitched leather, wool-blend fabric, and milled bronze accents. Altogether, it’s a surprisingly upscale experience inside given Lotus’s normal stripped-down, lightweight interiors. The sport seats are comfortable for long-haul driving and the switchgear is rendered in aluminum with knurled details that wouldn’t look out of place in a Bentley.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A large 15.1-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard and will run a version of parent company Geely’s ECARX infotainment system that’s shared with the Smart #1 SUV that’s not sold in America. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be standard; a head-up display is available as is an upgraded audio system with 23 speakers and 1500 watts.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Lotus claims that the Eletre will be capable of driving in a semi-autonomous mode thanks to several LIDAR sensors that are mounted on the roof and front wheel arches. The sensors rise out of the bodywork and retract when they’re not in use. But the company has not yet detailed which driver-assistance features will be standard and which will be optional. For more information about the Eletre’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features will likely include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Lotus doesn’t provide spectacular coverage compared with other auto manufacturers. While its limited warranty aligns with many competitors, both its short powertrain plan and lack of complimentary maintenance are disappointing.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2024 Lotus Eletre
Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 4- or 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE (C/D EST)
Base: Eletre, $115,000; Eletre S, $135,000; Eletre R, $155,000
POWERTRAIN
Front Motor: permanent-magnet AC
Rear Motor: permanent-magnet AC
Combined Power: 603 or 905 hp
Combined Torque: 523 or 726 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 109.0 kWh
Onboard Charger: 22.0 kW
Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 350 kW
Transmissions: direct-drive, direct-drive/2-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 118.9 in
Length: 200.9 in
Height: 64.2–64.4 in
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 54/22–24 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 5500–5850 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 2.7–4.2 sec
100 mph: 6.3–7.4 sec
1/4-Mile: 10.3–11.4 sec
Top Speed: 160–165 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 70–75/75–80/65–70 MPGe
Range: 260–315 mi
