The Lotus Eletre electrical SUV will boast very quick charging to go along with its bevy of efficiency and tech options.
The primary SUV from the British automaker identified for sports activities vehicles, and certainly one of a number of deliberate electrical fashions, the Eletre makes use of an 800-volt electrical structure that enables for 350-kw DC quick charging—matching the utmost energy charge broadly obtainable from public chargers within the U.S.
After revealing the Eletre over a yr in the past, Lotus lastly confirmed this week that the Eletre will be capable of accomplish a 10-80% cost in 20 minutes, or add 74 miles of vary in simply 5 minutes of charging. A typical 22-kw AC charger can, when teamed with a house wallbox to assist that, take the battery from 0-100% cost in lower than six hours, in accordance with Lotus.
Lotus Eletre
Lotus is providing base Eletre, mid-level Eletre S, and prime Eletre R fashions, all with a 112-kwh battery pack. The pack options prismatic cells in a cell-to-pack configuration that eliminates battery modules, lowering weight and rising vitality density to greater than 175 watt-hours/kilogram, Lotus claims. European WLTP vary estimates are 373 miles for the bottom Eletre and Eletre S, and 304 miles for the Eletre R.
Lotus founder Colin Chapman adopted the maxim “simplify and add lightness” when designing Lotus’ petite sports activities vehicles and race vehicles, however at the moment’s Lotus engineers might solely achieve this a lot with a automobile of this dimension (at 200.9 inches, it is longer than a Vary Rover) with a bigger battery pack onboard. Even the lightest Eletre—the bottom mannequin—weighs a hefty 5,489 kilos. That is with what Lotus claims is in depth use of aluminum within the Eletre’s Electrical Premium Structure (EPA) platform.
Efficiency is not missing, although. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain is customary, producing 603 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque within the Eletre and Eletre S, and 905 hp and 726 lb-ft within the Eletre R. That model will do 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and attain a 165-mph prime pace, in accordance with Lotus, whereas different variations take 4.5 seconds to achieve 62 mph and prime out at 160 mph. Adaptive air suspension, lively anti-roll bars, brake-based torque vectoring, and four-wheel steering ought to assist handle the mass in corners.
Lotus Eletre
Lotus additionally claims a coefficient of drag of simply 0.26, with lively aerodynamic parts to maximise effectivity and efficiency. An lively grille can open and shut as wanted for cooling or aerodynamic profit, whereas an lively rear spoiler can regulate to offer both further downforce or much less drag, as wanted. Pop-up lidar sensors for the driver-assist programs and digital camera mirrors (for Europe and China, not less than) assist additional scale back drag.
Inside, the Eletre includes a 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen, 12.6-inch OLED instrument cluster, and a 29.0-inch head-up show. The dashboard itself was designed with the minimal quantity of fabric obligatory, to additional save weight. Accessible Re-Fibre upholstery is produced from fashion-industry waste, lowering consumption of uncooked supplies, in accordance with Lotus. In preserving on-brand, the automaker additionally famous that this materials is lighter than leather-based upholstery.
Lotus Eletre
Eletre deliveries have already begun in China and are scheduled to begin within the U.Ok. and Europe quickly. Pricing begins at 89,500 British kilos and 95,990 Euros, equal to roughly $114,000 and $105,000 at present trade charges, respectively. Lotus hasn’t mentioned a timeline for U.S. gross sales.
The Eletre is Lotus’ first quantity EV, following the very restricted manufacturing Evija supercar. The automaker has some notable historical past with electrification, because the unique Tesla Roadster was primarily based on the Lotus Elise.
The model’s electrification shift is ready to proceed with a high-volume sports activities automobile launching in 2026, and probably pushing battery cell packaging additional within the title of light-weighting, together with a four-door coupe and a smaller SUV. The latter is anticipated to be unveiled later this yr, with the four-door coupe debuting in 2025.
