Lotus Eletre: From Sports Car Pedigree to Electric SUV Extravaganza
Yes, it's a Lotus. Yes, it's an SUV. No, I've not been drinking.
There are three facts of life I’ve always held to be self-evident. The sky is blue, water is wet. And Lotus only makes sports cars. Yet, the boffins from Lotus have unveiled something that, like the concept of a vegan sausage, shatters one's fundamental beliefs: the Lotus Eletre, a fully electric hyper-SUV.
The Eletre is an anomaly, much like its name which apparently means ‘Coming to Life’ in some Eastern European languages. It could also mean 'sacrilege' in traditional Lotus terms, given their stubborn refusal to be a 'jack of all trades'. But this isn't your regular family wagon. It's the unholy love child of the Lotus Emira sports car and the Evija hypercar, mutated into an SUV. If this were a movie, it'd be 'The Avengers of Lotus', bringing together 75 years of superpower, I mean, sports car design and engineering.
Lotus Eletre: A Meme on Wheels?
To look at the Eletre, you'd think it was dreamed up by a bored intern on a slow Friday afternoon. It's the odd-looking cousin at the family gathering, trying to fit in. But don’t let the looks fool you. There's a hearty dose of Lotus DNA inside, as it promises to offer class-leading ride, handling, and aerodynamics. The same performance you'd expect from a Lotus, just with a 'few' extra kilos.
It's been tested over a million miles across the globe, including at the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife, a track that shows no mercy. Its blistering performance figures are a testament to that, hitting 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.95 seconds. That’s faster than you saying “Lotus Electric Hyper-SUV”.
And here's where it gets even better - it has a range of up to 373 miles (600 km). That's enough to get you from London to Edinburgh with juice to spare, or for our American friends, from Los Angeles to Vegas and back, with enough left to escape when you realize what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.
Thanks to electric wizardry, you can fast-charge from 10-80 percent in just 20 minutes. Finally, something that charges faster than my toothbrush yet lasts longer than my mobile phone battery!
The Driving Experience: Jekyll and Hyde
The Eletre comes with a variety of drive modes, each promising a different persona. 'Tour' is the sensible older sibling, focusing on balance and energy efficiency. 'Range' is the geek, milking every last mile out of the battery. 'Sport' and 'Track' are the adrenaline junkies, offering a razor-sharp response, lowering ride height, and increasing powertrain feedback, perfect for those who enjoy making their passengers vomit.
And then there's 'Off-Road', the survivalist who wants to keep going where the asphalt ends. For Lotus, a company that traditionally wouldn't consider a speed bump as an off-road challenge, this is a bold claim. And ‘Individual’? It’s the identity crisis mode, allowing you to mix and match powertrain, suspension, and steering settings to your heart's content.
Would you like an SUV with your Lotus?
The Eletre is a Lotus for the new age, a Lotus for those who need to carry the family, but also want the chance to terrify them on a B-road every now and then. It's for those who crave cutting-edge technology and luxury alongside speed and excitement. And let's not forget, it's also for those who have at least €95,990 (or more, depending on where you are in the world) burning a hole in their pocket.
While I might still be coming to terms with the reality of a Lotus SUV, it’s undeniable that the Eletre represents a new and exciting chapter for the brand. Even if it's as confusing as Sal Khan explaining differential calculus.
So, the sky is still blue and water is still wet. And Lotus? They still make sports cars, just with a new twist. Welcome to the age of the hyper-SUV, ladies and gentlemen. Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy (but electrifying) ride. And if SUV from Lotus is not your cuppa, then you are sure to like this retro Elise S1 electric revival of sorts.
