Lotus Eletre: you get what you need

We can hear you thinking: another electric one full size SUV. Beats. But this is Lotus. And Lotus is a real sports car manufacturer. Does that make any difference? Defense put to the test.

Lotus was founded in 1952 by the brilliant and amazing mechanic Colin Chapman, who had a very unique vision of the ‘sports car’ phenomenon. Where everyone else was concerned with engines with as much power as possible, Chapman focused heavily on weight savings. After all, a 500 kg car with 100 hp is in theory as fast as a 1,000 kg car with 200 hp. At first, thanks to its low weight, it has the best handling. If you have a few kilos to drag, you can also do with smaller brakes. And with a small brake you can… Anyway, you can get it: it’s a self-reinforcing effect. It is not without reason that Chapman’s iron rule was ‘.simplify, then add agility‘.

Eccentric

In 1958, Lotus entered Formula 1, which at the time still had dedicated enthusiasts and fanatical mechanics with mourning edges under their fingernails. Chapman’s aggressive approach turned the game upside down. They already won in 1960, and the championship followed three years later. In 15 years, Lotus scored 13 world titles, which can certainly be called a unique achievement. Chapman was the first to sponsor his F1 cars (1968) and was the ‘inventor’ of ground effect (1978), which means that the eccentric Briton was at home in many markets.

A financial hole

Not only in the area of ​​healthy business activities. Lotus may have been very successful on the circuit, but at its home base in Hethel the accounts were written entirely in red ink. With the income from the Lotus road cars, Chapman financed his F1 hobby, while he also did not avoid business activities on the edge of what was legally allowed (his shadowy part in the development of De Lorean ‘Back to the Future‘ DMC-12 speaks volumes in that regard). Clever marketing tactics – Lotus Esprit as a submarine The Spy Who Loved Me it was a great discovery – it couldn’t stop Lotus from constantly sliding over the edge of the financial abyss. After Chapman’s sudden death in 1982, fashionably just before the judicial net closed around him, there was no saving and the iconic brand faced a new owner every few years. Only in 2019 did things settle down, when China’s Geely, owner of Volvo and Polestar, among others, acquired all the shares. Finally there was money, vision and continuity.

Roaring in the corner

The ‘old’ Lotus still exists, if only for a reason inheritance it is currently the USP of a popular brand. And so for the time being, the UK will continue to focus on developing and building (fossil) light sports cars. Because of the brand’s experience and as long as it lasts, because from a sales point of view such romantic abuse around the edge makes no sense. Most important are the new areas in Germany and China, where the real future is being addressed: models of the amount of electricity for the paid part. In 2022, the first results showed the light of day: Eletre, built in Wuhan, China (yes, due to the Corona epidemic).

It’s not flyweight

And as – especially Chinese and American – the market dictates, that is a very large SUV. The Eletre is 5.1 meters long, which means it beats the Audi Q8 e-Tron and the BMW iX, to name just two direct competitors, by no less than twenty centimeters (!). Boss up boss. If you thought that the Eletra, in true Lotus tradition, is a relative flyweight, then we have to disappoint you, because the light version already weighs 2,600 kg. While this is consistent with the market, it is also disappointing. We expected more (or in this case less) from Lotus. On the other hand, history has shown that the ‘real’ Lotus (read: light, small and light) does not bring any money and the pipe should still be smoked. Compare with Porsche, which survived thanks to the Cayenne, hated by the purists. Or in the words of the Rolling Stones: you don’t always get what you want, you always get what you need.

Three versions

Lotus’ first SUV is available in three versions. The unspecified entry-level model has a power of 603 hp (0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, top speed 258 km/h) and a theoretical range (WLTP) of 600 km, which in practice is equivalent to 500 km like this. Above this is the S, which has the same technology, but has more comprehensive equipment. The top model is the R, which with 905 hp (2.9 sec, 265 km / h, WLTP 500 km) aims directly at the Tesla Model X Plaid. All-wheel drive is standard, as is air suspension and variable damping. Four-wheel drive and active controls are available at an additional cost. The lithium-ion battery pack measures 112 kWh and fast charging is possible with an amazing 355 kW, with which you can find such a charging station (damage alert: not yet available) – ‘fills’ a distance of 120 km in five minutes.

Large interior space

The wheelbase measures a whopping 3.02 meters, which translates into plenty of interior space, front and rear. For an additional charge, you can replace the rear seat with two electrically adjustable sports seats (same as the front seats), with a wide tunnel in the middle and a 9-inch touchscreen that you can use for everything. Very nice, but be aware that the backrests cannot be folded down and that the loading space is significantly reduced. At the touch of a button, the panoramic glass roof dims, the infotainment system uses Unreal technology derived from the world of gaming, which ensures sparkling images and exemplary performance. Apple Carplay is not yet supported, but will be available soon via a software update on the airis available.

Headache

We drove the 603 hp S. In a very boring Acting Gray. A no-brainer choice, because Eletra’s expressive look is the perfect canvas for ‘off-herd’ paint. Our tip: Galloway green. For daredevils, but it looks strange on it. Besides, you didn’t choose Lotus just for the sake of it it is not blend in with the crowd?
The interior finish is very high quality. Where the more famous (German) brands are increasingly using cheap plastic, in Eletre you are immersed in a sea of ​​leather, Alcantara and polished aluminium. For a quality experience that will surely cause headaches for the established order. Everything is very well put together and feels like it’s carved from marble. The central 15.1-inch OLED touch screen works flawlessly, the 23-speaker KEF sound system with Dolby Atmos is very enjoyable and the optional mirror screens for the cameras (if necessary – we’ll leave them) are beautifully finished and the doors are connected. The silence in the interior is almost unreal and the comfort is at a high level.

Responsibilities

But with the Lotus badge also comes responsibilities, particularly in the areas of driving pleasure, dynamics and road holding. First of all: in that regard, the Eletre is exceptionally powerful for a vehicle of this size and weight. Even in the S version it is nauseatingly fast (we would not know what the extra 300 hp of the R adds – on the contrary, we would say close), the power is given with good progress, the opening and closing of the roof spoiler is a cool device and the handling is predictable for happiness. You can place the Eletre very well and it directs well and directly, where you are faced with a person who inspires confidence in the border areas. But let’s be honest: it’s not that different. We expected a car with exceptionally sporty characteristics and a lot of steering feel, but we were a little disappointed. No matter how well the Eletre drives, in terms of dynamics it should be better than the Porsche Cayenne.

Lotus Eletre is available from 98,690. The top version R costs 154,090. By the way, if you are really looking for an SUV, but you want to get to know the fully electric Lotus, know that the Emeya was introduced recently: a four-door sports sedan, with the same technology as the Eletre.

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