The British sports car company has revealed the first electric Lotus SUV
On Tuesday, the first electric Lotus SUV was debuted by the British marque. Named “Eletre”, the new Lotus SUV is definitely a different approach from what we’re accustomed to with the company’s sleek lightweight sports cars. Lotus aspires to become a major building block as they work toward a totally electrified future.
The company is billing the Lotus Eletre (pronounced El-etra) as the world’s first “hyper SUV” built upon a new electric platform based on an 800-volt architecture. It will use an electric vehicle chassis with a 100-kWh battery pack situated deep in the car’s floor. On the WLTP cycle, the Eletre’s maximum driving range is 373 miles, however once the EPA issues its range statistic for the Eletre, that number is likely to drop.
The proprietary electric platform of the first electric Lotus SUV will be found on three different trims of the Eletre. According to Lotus, the entry level Eletre will produce 600 horsepower and accelerate from zero to 60 in less than three seconds. The 900-hp flagship model will arrive in a couple of years, while the highest variant will add a second 300-hp electric motor on the rear axle.
Not surprising, this first electric Lotus SUV will be the company’s largest vehicle, measured 16.7 feet long, 6.6 feet wide, and 5.4 tall. In comparison, that’s almost the same size as the BMW X7 and a bit shorter than the Mercedes GLS. It’s stylish, with a body that appears both strong and quick. The fenders and flanks of the Lotus Eletre have large holes to allow air to flow over and through the car, with several aero elements including a closing grille shutter and three-position rear spoiler. It also features a lighting kit from front to back and sits low to the floor on 23-inch rims.
The Lotus Eletre uses high-end leather and wool-blend fabric in its interior. The 15.1-inch OLED infotainment touchscreen is set above the center console while the driver’s display has been simplified to only show the necessities such as speed, range, and battery charge. The front passenger also gets their own display that shows points of interest and radio details.
For a neater profile, European versions of the Lotus Eletre will include cameras that act as the car’s side mirrors, with screens on either end of the dashboard displaying the camera’s point of view. Unfortunately this feature is not approved in the United States, so Americans will have to settle with the standard mirrors. The Eletre will also come with advanced driver aids and optional features including adaptive cruise control, front cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and collision mitigation.
Pricing has not yet been confirmed but we expect the first electric Lotus SUV to retail around $120,000 once it arrives in the U.S. in 2024.
