Ah, the Lotus Eletre. Remember when it was supposed to be this almost-affordable electric SUV that would bring Lotus's legendary handling to the masses? Well, forget about that. The newly launched Eletre Carbon has landed in North America, and it's got a price tag that'll make your eyes water faster than a 0-60 mph sprint in this thing.

It's essentially the high-performance Eletre R but with a carbon fiber makeover and a price hike that could buy you a decent used sports car. We're talking $229,900. That's a far cry from the original $107,000 starting price announced earlier this year. Blame it on those pesky tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, which have skyrocketed from 25% to a whopping 100%. Thanks, Uncle Sam! Or is it Joe? I'm confused…

The Eletre Carbon boasts a dual-motor setup that pushes out a mind-boggling 905 horsepower and 727 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to propel this hefty SUV from 0 to 60 mph in a neck-snapping 2.95 seconds. Top speed? A cool 165 mph. Not bad for a family hauler that weighs as much as a small moon.

Aside from the ludicrous performance figures, you get some exclusive goodies like a new "Stardust" black paint job with a satin finish, more carbon fiber trim than you can shake a stick at, and a choice of three fancy leather interiors. Oh, and those carbon-ceramic brakes that were optional on the other trims? They're standard here. Because, you know, stopping a two-and-a-half-ton SUV from 165 mph is probably a good idea.

The million-dollar question, or rather, the quarter-million-dollar question in this case, is: is it worth it? The Eletre Carbon is undeniably impressive, but it's also ridiculously expensive. For that kind of money, you could buy a Porsche Taycan Turbo S and a Tesla Model X Plaid and still have some change left over for a weekend getaway.

Who will buy it then? Well, probably the same folks who buy Lamborghinis and Ferraris. You know, the ones who don't blink at six-figure price tags and want the fastest, most exclusive toys on the block. If that's you, then go ahead and place your order. Just be prepared to explain to your accountant why you spent more on an SUV than most people spend on their first house.

As for the rest of us - we can still dream, can't we? Maybe one day, Lotus will release a more affordable version of the Eletre that doesn't require us to sell a kidney. Until then, we'll just have to admire the Carbon from afar and hope that those tariffs come down soon.

The Lotus Eletre Carbon is a technological marvel, a testament to what's possible when you combine cutting-edge EV tech with Lotus's racing heritage. It's also a stark reminder that the dream of affordable electric performance is still a long way off. But at least it's fast. And who knows, maybe one day we'll all be zipping around in 900-horsepower SUVs without having to remortgage our houses. Until then, keep dreaming, and keep an eye on those tariff negotiations.