“Simplify, then add lightness”might be the most famous phrase ever associated with Lotus. Seeing the Eletre (pronounced E-leh-tra) gave me mixed feelings. Is it still a true Lotus?

But I had more positive feelings for the car than negative. After all, if it means Lotus can be in a more stable position to produce sports cars because of the Eletre, it can only be a good thing.

First impressions are good. The car has a super SUV air about it, not unlike the awe when one sets their eyes on the Lamborghini Urus. The wind-sculpted body is intriguing to look at, while there are enough easter eggs planted around the car to elevate its uniqueness. For example, there is a metal plaque on the B-pillar right where people would likely not notice, inscripted with the words ‘Pioneers since 1948’.

It’s even better when one steps inside. There is nappa leather on most surfaces, while the infotainment - dubbed Lotus Hyper OS - is very, very slick, pretty to look at and easy to use. Lotus is using ‘Unreal Engine’ technology from the gaming industry and boasts state-of-the-art processing power which includes two Qualcomm 8155 System-On-Chips. For its sound system, the Eletre is the world’s first car to combine Dolby Atmos and KEF Audio.

The overall quality and build is right up there with the very best. It’s amazing what Lotus has come up with despite being a low volume manufacturer. Depending on options (5 seats are standard and 4 are an option), seats have massage and ventilation functions, which still strikes me as something of a novelty in a Lotus. Never thought I’d see the day, and all the rest of it.

There will be three versions of the Eletre, the Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R. Eletre and Eletre S feature the 603 hp single-speed version, with a maximum range of 600 km (373 miles). The Eletre R comes with the flagship 905 hp dual-speed system and a maximum range of 490 km. Torque figures are 710 and 985 Nm respectively, delivering a 0-100 km/h performance of either 4.5 or 2.95 seconds. The 112 kWh battery for both versions has a charging time (10%-80%) of just 20 minutes using a rapid charger.

The Eletre S that was previewed is expected to retail for around $580,000-600,000 without COE, while the whole range is expected to make its formal debut early next year. The Eletre R is claimed to be the world’s fastest dual-motor pure electric SUV and may cause a sweat drop or two from its super SUV competitors. We certainly can’t wait to try them out and let you know how they drive!

Photos by New Gen Marketing

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