Kind of inevitable, really. If there's an electric newborn in the automotive world, the first thing it must be compared with is a Tesla. Which is an incredible compliment to the American company when you think about it. But we just happened to be jauntily clipping along a Norwegian backroad when we came across a brand new Tesla Model X - so it would seem rude not to see how the Eletre measured up.
Full disclosure here: the Eletre you see in the pictures is an S, and the Model X is a 1,020bhp Plaid, so the more accurate match up would be S (604bhp) versus Long Range X (671bhp), or 905bhp R versus Plaid. But luckily, we've experienced all the relevant cars, so there's a comparison to be had. And the first thing to recognise is that the Tesla is still rabidly competitive even though it was launched back in 2015. Eight years old is venerable in car terms, and although there have been generous improvements with the car in that time, there still really isn't much like it. Six seats in the Plaid (the regular dual motor Long Range can be configured with seven), tri-motored, over 1,000bhp and a 0-62mph time that calls into question the Eletre's world beating claims. It's also the most aerodynamic SUV in the world according to Tesla with a Cd of 0.24 versus the Lotus' 0.26.
It's still cool, too. The falcon rear doors simply never get boring, and the space and size make for a wonderful place to stow people.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HEAD TO HEAD VANTAGE vs 911 TURBO
For as long as we can remember the Porsche 911 has been the default best sports car money can buy. Does the new Aston Vantage represent a changing of the guard?
BOSS LEVEL:PART TWO
In a world exclusive, three makers of the world's most powerful hypercars are cordially invited... to drive each other's creations
THE THEORY 0F EVOLUTION
Ridged bladder seats, an inflating steering wheel and an AI track day coach... has Lotus hit on the supercar's future, or gone mad?
Koenigsegg Jesko Attack
The Jesko Attack drives like a conventional supercar. Brakes like one, turns like one, grips like one. But it doesn't accelerate like one.
STIC LAPS are back!
It's a 1.75-mile figure of eight on an old Canadian Air Force base just south of Guildford. Hardly Monza, or the Mulsanne straight, and never in a million years - you'd think a place that would become one of the most sought after performance benchmarks in the motoring world.
URBAN OUTWITTERS
Does the solution to city motoring lie in designs from the past with powertrains from the future? TopGear goes in search of answers... at rush hour
FUTURE FERRARIS
If you thought Ferrar's past was colourful, wait until you see what it's cooking up next. The future's bright, the future's rosso
DIRTY DOZEN
Ferrari's new super GT makes no secrets about what's under the bonnet, but can it swallow five countries in just a few hours? Better get on with it...
MYTH BUSTER
\"ADAPTIVE DAMPERS ALWAYS NEED TO ADAPT\"
The S2000 from a parallel universe
Meet Evasive Motorsports’ Honda S2000R, the car the Japanese firm should have built itself
