Lotus, the British company best known for making low-volume, lightweight, high-performance sports cars, is diverging from this long-held marketing strategy with a new model that’s entirely different from any Lotus that came before it. The new Eletre is a high-performance electric SUV built in China and set to go on sale in the U.S. sometime in 2023. While it is considerably heavier than any other Lotus model due to its large battery pack, the Eletre still delivers strong acceleration thanks to its electric motors, producing at least 603 horsepower. Lotus aims to compete with other electric SUV models including the Audi e-tron and BMW iX, but the Eletre bears more than a passing resemblance to the jaw-dropping Lamborghini Urus.
Pricing and Trims
- The Lotus Eletre is expected to start around $115,000 for the base model and go up to around $155,000 for the top-spec R trim.
- Lotus will offer the Eletre in three main trims: Base, S, and R.
Performance
- The base and S trims will have a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing 603 hp, with an estimated 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds.
- The high-performance R model boasts 905 hp and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in an estimated 2.7 seconds.
- Despite the impressive performance, the Eletre is not as agile as Lotus’s traditional sports cars due to its larger size and weight.
Range and Efficiency
- The base and S trims are estimated to have around 315 miles of driving range from their 109 kWh battery packs.
- The R model’s range is expected to be lower, around 260 miles, due to its higher performance.
- Official EPA efficiency ratings are not yet available.
Interior and Tech
- The Eletre features a surprisingly upscale interior with premium materials and an advanced 15.1-inch infotainment system.
- It will be offered in both 4-seat and 5-seat configurations to provide flexibility.
- Tech features include a head-up display and a 23-speaker, 1500-watt audio system.