Lotus is jumping on the electric bandwagon with the Eletre, a plug-in crossover SUV with aesthetic cues from the automaker’s Evija hypercar. The Eletre will also be the first of three new EVs to be released by Lotus over the next four years, including a sports car (of course), a coupe-sedan, and another SUV.
Lotus’ 800V Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) platform served as the foundation for the Eletre. That voltage puts it on level with the Audi e-Tron and Hyundai Ioniq 5. According to Lotus, a 350kW charger will provide 400km (248 miles) of range in just 20 minutes. The maximum WLTP driving range of the automobile is 600km (373 miles). It also has the capacity to take 22kW AC charging as standard, which, if available, minimizes the time plugged in.
But just because the Eletre can rip it up on the track doesn’t mean it’s not designed like an SUV. The five-door EV will be pretty tiny with all-wheel drive, but it will nevertheless carry a lot of power, including a battery capacity of more than 100kWh and 600 horsepower.
Geely purchased a controlling share in Lotus in 2017, and the Chinese conglomerate has added everything from Volvo to an electric vertical takeoff and landing startup to its portfolio during the previous decade. Even before the Eletre debuted, the corporation had developed a reputation for resurrecting dormant brands, such as Volvo or the Swedish automaker’s Polestar brand.
Lotus’ new production site in Wuhan, China, will begin production of the Eletre later this year, with deliveries commencing in 2023. The model will first be sold in China, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Pricing information has not yet been released but I suspect it wont be cheap.
