People don’t like change. It’s human nature to resist things that are different or unusual – and the Lotus Eletre is both different and unusual, at least as far as the British brand is concerned.
Up until this point in time Lotus was focused almost entirely on lightweight sports cars, iconic models like the Elan, Elite and Esprit. In more recent years it has created driver focused, spartan machines like the Elise and Exige that put driving enjoyment above all else. And that’s great for driving purists and the Elise/Exige duo are brilliant cars, but they lacked wider appeal.
READ MORE: Why Lotus is abandoning its past for a bold new future
Lotus is a great brand, one with a legacy of challenging Ferrari on and off the racetrack, but in recent years that’s not been the case. So when Chinese automotive giant Geely (which also owns Volvo, Polestar, Zeekr and more) bought Lotus it decided to take a different path.
The result is the Eletre – a full-size, luxury, all-electric SUV.
That is the opposite of everything Lotus stood for previously (small, light, petrol-powered, sports car) but that doesn’t make it a bad car. In fact, having spent a week with the Eletre, I came away impressed with what it offers. Does it offer the same experience as any previous Lotus? No, but instead it gives those looking for a premium and very rapid SUV a new option.
Let’s be honest here, everyone makes SUVs these days because that’s what buyers want. Ferrari has the Purosangue, Lamborghini the Urus, Aston Martin the DBX and so on… If you’re a purist who hates these kinds of SUVs from these brands, I will admit I feel your pain but the reality is it’s about commerce not sentimentality these days.
So looking at the Eletre with an open mind, there’s a lot to like about it. Geely has clearly invested in ‘New Lotus’ to allow it to create something truly premium and special.
The looks are nothing if not dramatic, whether you love the design or hate it, you can’t miss it. And if you’re spending nearly $200k or more on a new car you don’t want something that blends into the crowd.
The same goes of the cabin, which is dramatic and luxurious, ditching Lotus’ traditional spartan treatment for something more pampering. Not only is there carpet, there’s high quality materials used throughout, leather, Alcantara, metal brightwork, etc. Our test car was finished with gold switchgear that really elevated the ‘wow factor’ inside.
The design of the cabin is utterly contemporary with only a slim screen with the key information, rather than a conventional dashboard and instrument display, and a huge central touchscreen to run most of the Eletre’s functions.
READ MORE: Review – 2024 Lotus Emira, the last Lotus (as we know it)
Using a flat electric platform underneath allows for a spacious cabin (another new element for a Lotus) with good space in both the front and the rear. Those in the back seats are actually well catered for, with reclining seats and plenty of headroom; thanks to the elongated cabin which leads to some of the exterior awkwardness.
There are three models to choose from – base Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R – with the first two sharing the same powertrain, while the R gets a more potent set-up. Not that the Eletre S we tested wasn’t potent, the dual motors create an impressive 450kW of power and 710Nm of torque, all sent to the road via a single-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. The Eletre R gets more powerful motors that boost its performance to 675kW/985Nm as well as a two-speed gearbox for even faster acceleration.
How fast? Lotus claims the Eletre R only needs 2.9 seconds to run 0-100km/h, which is nothing short of stunning for such a big, heavy vehicle. The Eletre S takes 4.5 seconds, which is incredibly fast in its own right and it feels that quick on the road.
Not to sound like a broken record (apologies to anyone under 40 who doesn’t know what a record is), but Lotus’ have not typically been ‘fast’ cars in the acceleration category. They were about handling and going faster around corners rather than in a straight line, but this new era changes that as well. It launches out of corners with genuine ferocity, despite its size.
But, and this is a big ‘but’, Lotus hasn’t completely abandoned its heritage and the handling of the Eletre is really something special. Again, keeping in mind this is a two-tonne SUV, the Eletre feels sharper and more direct in the corners than it should have any right to be. Lotus engineers are known for their magical ability to tune the handling of cars and this may be one of their greatest creations yet.
Having said all that, it needs to impress when you take a look at the price, with the range beginning at $189,900 (plus on-road costs) and rising to $229,990 for the Eletre S and $279,990 for the Eletre R.
The truth is, the Eletre won’t appeal to traditional Lotus buyers because it’s simply not what they’re used to or what they want. But that’s fine, because the company still has the Emira to appeal to those people and by offering the Eletre it will open the brand up to a whole new range of customers.
Change can be hard, but it can also be worth it – or at least that’s what Lotus will be hoping…
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