The luxury SUV is looking more like the way of the future and this week, Lotus has revealed the full specifications of its own first move into the five-door market with the aggressively angular Eletre. The Cayenne and Macan have proven incredibly popular for Porsche, the Urus has been a winner for Lamborghini, and even Ferrari has put its own SUV into production with the Purosangue (just don’t call it an SUV). So how does the Lotus Eletre stack up?
First up, it’s fast and impressively powerful, with the basic model Eletre promising to deliver 600bhp and 524lb-ft, while the premium-spec Eletre R is capable of an eye-watering 900bhp and 727lb-ft. No small numbers, that’s for sure, which are made possible thanks to twin electric motors and industry-leading battery technology packed inside.
All that power translates into real-world speed too, with a 0-100 km/h time of 2.95 seconds and a respectable top speed of 260 km/h, which isn’t as rapid as the contenders from Lamborghini or Ferrari, but plenty to keep up with equivalents from Porsche. The range is very decent too, with 600 kilometres of driving possible from a single full charge, and the perky 1,12kWh battery technology that is able to deliver 400 kilometres of range after just 20 minutes on the charging cable.
RELATED: Elon Musk Bought 007’s Lotus For $1 Million From A Couple That Paid $100
The Lotus Eletre also arrives with air suspension, 22-inch forged wheels, torque vectoring, LED headlights and even an active front grille to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle. It’s also smarter than the Lotus cars of times gone by, with the capacity for fully autonomous driving thanks to an array of sensors and cameras including millimetre-wave radar, a LiDAR system that scans 200m in every direction and five cameras including a forward-facing telephoto camera.
Inside the five-seater, you’ll find four-zone climate control, 1,380-watt 15-speaker KEF speaker system, High Definition OLED central screen that serves as the infotainment system, and even a panoramic sunroof to keep an eye on the weather. The details and finishes of the cabin are top-notch, with jewellery-grade metal details, Nappa Leather across the seats and even sustainable Re-Fibre textiles to reduce the environmental footprint of the vehicle.
It’s safe to say, there’s a lot to love about the freshly announced Lotus Eletre, with plenty of grunt to get your heart racing, enough technology to launch a NASA rocket and a properly luxurious interior. While we are yet to receive a confirmation on Australian pricing, the UK edition starts from £89,500 (AU$160,342). Not bad at all.
