LOTUS ELETRE
Autocar UK|April 26, 2023
Sacrilegious to some but inviting to many more, this stonking great electric SUV from China heralds a new dawn at Lotus
MIKE DUFF
LOTUS ELETRE

TESTED 20.4.23, WUHAN, CHINA ON SALE JULY PRICE £121,305

Well before reaching Wuhan to experience the Lotus Eletre, I already know the answer to one question.

This is undoubtedly the most radical road-going Lotus of all time, even by the high standards of this innovative company.

Even 10 years ago, the idea of a Chinese-built electric SUV wearing Lotus badges would have been inconceivable. Now Chinese customer deliveries have started and I'm driving a near-finished European-market example.

The Eletre sits on Lotus's all-new Electric Premium Architecture, which will soon underpin two more cars, these a sleek saloon and a smaller SUV.

There's plenty of room in the Eletre's shadow for a more compact sibling, it being 5103mm long and weighing about 2400kg.

Other brand firsts include four-wheel drive (thanks to a motor on each axle), air suspension, active rear steering and support for higher-level autonomy.

Three versions of the Eletre will be launched in the UK later this year. The £89,500 entry-level car and the £104,500 S share the same 602bhp peak output from 301bhp motors, the difference instead being in sportiness of character. The £120,000 R swaps the rear motor for a 603bhp one with a two-speed gearbox, giving a system total of 904bhp. Both powertrains use a 112kWh battery pack, which supports DC charging at an ultra-fast 420kW.

So although the targeted WLTP range of 373 miles (304 for the R) is impressive, Lotus engineers reckon the ability to gain up to 248 miles of range in just 20 minutes (once public charging infrastructure catches up) is the more important statistic.

Denne historien er fra April 26, 2023-utgaven av Autocar UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra April 26, 2023-utgaven av Autocar UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA AUTOCAR UKSe alt
THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA
Autocar UK

THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA

When the Huracán bowed out, the curtain fell forever on Lambo's V10

time-read
2 mins  |
November 27, 2024
HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH
Autocar UK

HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH

Manufacturers are honing every detail to close in on big efficiency goal

time-read
1 min  |
November 27, 2024
MASERATI MC20
Autocar UK

MASERATI MC20

We bid a sad farewell to a handsome supercar that was easy to live with

time-read
4 mins  |
November 27, 2024
The quickening
Autocar UK

The quickening

Instant acceleration is part of the appeal of an EV, but is it all getting a bit much for unwary and inexperienced drivers? JOHN EVANS investigates

time-read
3 mins  |
November 27, 2024
Inside track
Autocar UK

Inside track

Watching an F1 race with live access to engineers and telemetry is the stuff of dreams for racing fans. ALEX WOLSTENHOLME makes a day of it

time-read
3 mins  |
November 27, 2024
WHOLE IN ONE
Autocar UK

WHOLE IN ONE

The Volkswagen Golf has been all things to all motorists for half a century. At the wheel of a classic Mk1, VICKY PARROTT charts the eight-generation history of one of the world's most successful cars

time-read
7 mins  |
November 27, 2024
DACIA DUSTER
Autocar UK

DACIA DUSTER

Mk3 model gains digital tech, ADAS, slicker looks... Is this mission creep?

time-read
10 mins  |
November 27, 2024
MAZDA CX-80 PHEV
Autocar UK

MAZDA CX-80 PHEV

Another look at Mazda's hefty SUV, this time in plug-in hybrid form

time-read
2 mins  |
November 27, 2024
VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC
Autocar UK

VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC

Newcomer looks to ease the average family SUV driver into EV motoring

time-read
2 mins  |
November 27, 2024
BMW X3 20 XDRIVE
Autocar UK

BMW X3 20 XDRIVE

Fourth generation of brand's best-seller arrives with base petrol engine

time-read
3 mins  |
November 27, 2024