Meet the future of Lotus, it’s called the Eletre and it’s far from the lightweight sports cars the British brand built its reputation on.
The all-new Eletre is not only the brand’s first SUV but it’s also electric, as the brand tries to forge a new identity after years of turbulence. Now under the control of Chinese automotive giant Geely, Lotus will launch three “lifestyle EVs” within the next four years as it reshapes itself as a company.
READ MORE: Lotus outlines its electric future
“The Eletre is a bold and revolutionary new car, delivering on our commitment to move Lotus into completely new automotive segments as we widen our global appeal and accessibility,” explained Matt Windle, managing director of Lotus Cars. “This is a momentous point in our history and a clear signal of our ongoing desire to transform our business. It is a true Lotus, and we’re confident it will delight performance car customers and offer a distinct alternative to the segment’s established players. The Eletre has the soul of a Lotus and the usability of an SUV. Alongside the Emira sports car, this is the perfect two-car garage from Lotus.”
The Eletre takes lessons learnt on the Evija electric hypercar program to help create a supercar-quick SUV. Lotus claims the all-wheel drive Eletre boasts 447kW of power from its electric motors, plus has a 100kWh battery pack. This allows it to have a driving range of 400km, despite its performance, and can be recharged using a ultra rapid charger in just 20-minutes.
The Eletre follows the launch of the brand’s last petrol-only sports car in 2021, the Emira. This replacement for the Elise, Exige and Evora comes with the choice of a 3.5-litre V6 or 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine.
Next up comes the rest of the so-called ‘lifestyle EV’ models, with a new ‘four-door coupe’ coming in 2023 and a mid-size SUV due in 2025. An all-electric sports car, codenamed Type 135, is set to launch in 2026. This is being developed in partnership with Alpine, as the French brand also transitions to an electric future.
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