The Lotus Eletre electric SUV will boast very fast charging coupled with a host of technology and performance features.
As the first SUV from the British automaker known for sports cars and one of a number of planned electric models, the Eletre uses an 800-volt electric architecture that allows for 350 kw DC fast charging. —consistent with the maximum power rates widely available from public chargers in the US
Afterward reveal Eletre Over a year ago, Lotus finally confirmed this week that the Eletre will be able to complete a 10-80% charge in 20 minutes, or an extra 74 miles of range in just five minutes of charging. According to Lotus, a standard 22 kW AC charger can, when combined with a home wall box to support that, charge the battery from 0-100% in less than six hours.
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Lotus is offering the base Eletre, mid-range Eletre S and top-of-the-line Eletre R models, all of which feature a 112 kWh battery pack. The package features prismatic cells in a cell-by-cell configuration that eliminates battery modules, reducing weight and increasing power density to more than 175 watt-hours/kg, Lotus claims. The European WLTP range estimate is 373 miles for the Eletre and Eletre S base, and 304 miles for the Eletre R.
Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, followed the motto of “simplify and add light” when designing Lotus’ small sports and racing cars, but today’s Lotus engineers can only do So much for a car of this size (at 200.9 inches, longer than a Range Rover). ) with a larger battery pack onboard. Even the lightest Eletre — the base model — weighs in at 5,489 pounds. That’s with what Lotus claims is the extensive use of aluminum in Eletre’s Electric Advanced Architecture (EPA) platform.
However, performance is not lacking. Two-engine four-wheel drive is standard, making 603 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque in the Eletre and Eletre S, and 905 hp and 726 lb-ft in the Eletre R. Edition that will hit 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 165 mph, according to Lotus, while the other versions take 4.5 seconds to hit 62 mph and hit 160 mph. Adaptive air suspension, active anti-roll bars, brake-based torque vectoring and four-wheel steering help manage weight around corners.
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Lotus also claims a drag coefficient of just 0.26, with aggressive aerodynamic elements to maximize efficiency and performance. The active grille can be opened and closed as needed for cooling or aerodynamic benefits, while the active rear spoiler can be adjusted to provide more downforce or reduce drag when needed. Pop-up flap sensors for the driver assistance system and camera mirrors (for Europe and China at least) reduce drag even further.
Inside, the Eletre has a 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen, a 12.6-inch OLED instrument cluster, and a 29.0-inch head-up display. The panel itself is designed with the minimum amount of material required to save even more weight. According to Lotus, the available Re-Fibre upholstery fabric is made from waste from the fashion industry, helping to reduce consumption of raw materials. In keeping with the brand, the automaker also notes that the material is lighter than the leather upholstery.
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Eletre deliveries have already started in China and are expected to begin in the UK and Europe soon. Prices start at £89,500 and €95,990, or about $114,000 and $105,000 at current exchange rates, respectively. Lotus did not discuss the timing of sales in the United States.
Eletre is Lotus’ first episode EV, after a very limited production evija supercar. This automaker has some notable history with electrification, as Original Tesla Roadster is based on Lotus Elise.
The brand’s electrification shift will continue with a large displacement sports car launching in 2026 and potentially push battery packaging further under the lightweight designation, along with a four-door coupe and a smaller SUV. The latter is expected to be launched later this year, with the four-door coupe launching in 2025.
