HAVING already launched in China the place it’s made, Lotus has staged the European introduction of its new, absolutely electrical Eletre hyper-SUV in Norway, billing it because the quickest absolutely electrical dual-motor SUV on the planet.
Nevertheless, with a kerb weight of as much as 2640kg, the porky household hauler would probably make Lotus founder, Colin Chapman, flip in his grave. Chapman’s obsession was making light-weight sports activities vehicles and his credo was, “including energy makes you quicker on the straights, subtracting weight makes you quicker in all places”.
The brand new Eletre weighs greater than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Collection and in prime spec’ and is able to dipping into the sub-3.0 second bracket for a 0-100km/h dash… hyper-car territory. It’s aptly described in some circles as a sledgehammer efficiency automobile moderately than a “mild weight scalpel”, as have been earlier Lotus fashions.
The massive Lotus BEV hits UK showrooms priced from £89,500 ($A171,400) plus on-road prices for the entry stage variant. Down Below launch particulars and pricing, other than 2024 availability, are but to be suggested.
It’s up in opposition to potential competitors from Audi’s e-Tron Wagon and Sportback from $166,900 and $173,900 respectively +ORC, the BMW iX xDrive 50 Sport from $180,400 +ORC and possibly the Jaguar i-Tempo HSE EV400 from $165,600 +ORC. Although a sedan, Porsche’s all electrical Taycan can also be a potential contender and the incoming Mercedes-Benz’s EQE absolutely electrical giant SUV.
Lotus says the Eletre is “geared toward a brand new era of its clients in search of a sensible, versatile and spacious family-focused electrical hyper-SUV,” and that it’s “probably the most superior Lotus ever, mixing consolation, efficiency and cutting-edge luxurious design with sustainable supplies.”
Included within the Eletre is a state-of-the-art infotainment system that makes use of Lotus’ Hyper OS to ship an intuitive and immersive expertise for all occupants. The SUV additionally leverages different Lotus EVs, the Emira and Evija, for crucial parts such because the suspension and chassis tech.
Although a heavyweight, Lotus claims the Eletre delivers “world-class experience and dealing with constructed on Lotus’ pioneering improvement of lively programs in street and race vehicles”. The physique boasts race automotive derived lively aerodynamics to optimise vary and effectivity and to supply extra downforce for a “extra rewarding” driving expertise and high-speed stability.
The all-electric powertrain is claimed to be able to offering as much as 600km (WLTP) mixed vary whereas the high quality Eletre R variant is able to a 2.9 second 0-100km/h dash that locations it firmly within the hyper-SUV phase in opposition to far more costly hybrid and ICE fashions from Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
It may be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 20 minutes utilizing fast recharge services and as much as 120 km is attainable in 5 minutes.
The Eletre boasts a full suite of superior driver help programs centred on an progressive deployable LIDAR system whereas over-the-air updates (OTA) ship the newest performance and software program to the automobile. Although nonetheless in a authorized mire, autonomous driving to Degree 4 is accessible within the Eletre.
Made in China (Lotus is a part of the Geely Holding Group) the corporate says the Eletre is ‘Born British, Raised Globally’, a collaboration between extremely skilled and devoted Lotus groups within the UK, Germany and China.
Lotus’s dwelling in Hethel UK was closely concerned in any respect ranges of Eletre improvement utilising design groups at UK Inventive Centre (UKCC) in Coventry; the engineering and dynamics groups at Germany Innovation Centre (GIC) in Raunheim; and the Lotus Tech engineering and manufacturing groups in Wuhan.
Three variants might be out there on which Lotus is holding hundreds of deposits globally. They’re the Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R – with the selection of two powertrains.
Normal spec contains lively air suspension, steady damping management, torque vectoring, Lotus Clever Dynamic Chassis Management, 22-inch 10-spoke cast wheels in silver with a diamond-turned end (20-inch five-spoke in European markets), Matrix LED headlights, Adaptive Cruise Management, Visible Park Help, four-zone local weather management, 12-way electric-adjust entrance seats, head-up show, wi-fi Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and a 1380-watt 15-speaker KEF Premium Audio system.
The Eletre S is concentrated extra on luxurious with specification reflecting that to incorporate comfortable door shut, privateness glass, lively rear spoiler, configurable ambient lighting, illuminated facet sills, air high quality system, 2160-watt 23-speaker KEF Reference Audio system, and 22-inch 10-spoke cast wheels in gray with a diamond-turned end.
The brutal flagship Eletre R is all about efficiency boasting Lotus Dynamic Dealing with Pack (comprising Clever Energetic Roll Management and Energetic Rear Steering), Carbon Pack, Pirelli P Zero efficiency tyres, and a gloss black end for the wheels. A sixth Drive Mode: Monitor is supplied.
If all this doesn’t reduce it, Eletre clients can tailor their automobile to their necessities utilizing a complete record of choice packs – the Govt Seat Pack, Consolation Seat Pack, Prolonged Carbon Fibre Pack, Inside Carbon Fibre Pack, Parking Pack and a Freeway Help Pack.
Superior driver help programs (ADAS) embrace: Clever Adaptive Cruise Management (ACC); Freeway Help (HWA); Collision Mitigation Help Entrance (CMSF); Site visitors Signal Info (TSI); Door Open Warning (DOW); Rear Cross Site visitors Alert (RCTA); Entrance Cross Site visitors Alert (FCTA); Lane Change Help (LCA); Life Detection and Care (LDC); Lane Hold Support with Lane Departure Warning / Prevention (LKA+); Parking Emergency Brake (PEB); Collision Mitigation Help Rear (CMSR); and Emergency Rescue Name (E-Name).
The powertrain choices are fed by an underfloor 800-volt, 112kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack’s subtle thermal administration system and battery management module ship the best working circumstances essential to each vary and sturdiness.
Everlasting magnet, synchronous motors are housed along with the transmissions and inverters inside a single, solid housing for optimum packaging effectivity. All fashions function a single-speed transmission on the entrance axle. Whereas the identical is true for the rear axle of the Eletre and Eletre S, the Eletre R encompasses a two-speed design. Lotus says the superior electrical drive items ship “astonishing and exploitable new ranges of efficiency to the SUV phase, along with outstanding effectivity”.
With 450kW and 710Nm of instantaneous torque, the Eletre and Eletre S can speed up from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds and go on to a V-max 258km/h. Each are rated at a WLTP mixed vary of as much as 600km. However with an consideration grabbing 675kW and 985Nm, the Eletre R covers the benchmark dash in a mere 2.9 seconds with a V-max of 265km/h and claimed WLTP mixed vary of 490km.
“Like each Lotus, the Eletre is firstly a automotive ‘For The Drivers’,” mentioned Lotus group vice-president and chief business officer, Mike Johnstone.
“Its DNA is 100 per cent Lotus, with distinctive dynamic efficiency. It’s additionally probably the most superior Lotus ever, mixing that efficiency with consolation, practicality, versatile house, cutting-edge tech and fashionable luxurious design right into a automobile that brings the Lotus expertise to an entire new group of shoppers for the primary time.
“We all know that two-seater sports activities vehicles should not for everybody, however the incredible expertise of driving a Lotus needs to be. The Eletre, plus the opposite absolutely electrical life-style fashions that we’ve already introduced, are offering clients and followers with a variety of extremely fascinating Lotus vehicles that may fulfil all their wants at totally different instances of their life.
“It’s a pure development for the model, and a massively thrilling one as a result of Lotus is about delivering the easiest efficiency it doesn’t matter what phase the automotive sells in.”
