You are looking at the first Lotus SUV.
More than fully electric Evija hypercar or run on gasoline Sports car EmiraEletre represents the beginning of a new era for Chinese-owned brands.
It is yet to be confirmed for Australia, but Lotus has said it intends to import the car into Australia on the condition that it is ADR compliant.
Here are the highlights of Eletre:
- Eletre will have a battery with a capacity of “more than” 100kWh
- Power output will vary by model, but range will start from 442kW
- The maximum range during the WLTP test cycle will be around 600 km
- The 100km/h sprint in the most powerful model will take less than 3.0 seconds
At 5103mm long, 2231mm wide including mirrors, 1630mm tall and riding on a 3019mm wheelbase, the Eletre is just 50mm shorter from nose to tail compared to BMW X7and 231mm wider.
It’s no doubt a big monster, but Lotus says their “renowned expertise in the areas of driving and handling, optimized steering and aerodynamics has been developed.” carefully and respectfully”.
Under the hood is a skateboard-style platform built on top of the 800V, ultra-fast charging support connected to a 350kW public DC charger. Lotus says the 350kW charger can provide a range of 400 kilometers in 20 minutes.
The car also supports 22kW AC home charging from the wall box.
With a dual-motor electric powertrain, the Eletre will go up against… in fact, it’s quite light compared to the competition at the moment.
The BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV shaped like the competition, but they’re not nearly as sporty, while the upcoming electric Porsche Macan will be a smaller car. In the large luxury SUV space, it can be considered a Lamborghini Urus or Bentley Bentayga opponents provided you are willing to go through gas and electric power stations.
Lotus is promising the “most advanced active aerodynamics package of any production SUV” and says the battery’s high energy density has allowed it to offer great range in a smaller, lighter package. than.
The car uses a five-link rear suspension as standard, supported by air springs and adjustable dampers. Adjustable ride height, active rear steering, active anti-roll bars and brake-based torque are all on the options list.
There are four driving modes for the car, each adjusting the steering, damper, powertrain and accelerator pedals.
Lotus has always been about the enjoyment of driving, but the Eletre is also aiming for the feeling of self-driving. Along with the usual active driver assistance system, the car will be the first production model to feature the LiDAR system.
Sensors on the front and rear windscreens as well as the front wheel arches, appear when needed and retract when not. Once they’re up and running, Lotus says the Eletre supports “end-to-end and future-proofed autonomous driving technology for further development”.
As you’d expect, its self-driving software can be updated over the air over the life of the vehicle.
The cabin of the first five-door Lotus is, as you’d expect, a luxury tech festival.
Driver and passenger face a 15.1-inch infotainment touchscreen that folds when not in use and has a second slimmer display behind the steering wheel in place of the usual tools.
Lotus says the touchscreen can be used to control every car function, and 95% of menu items can be accessed within three taps. The design of the system revolves around 3D Eletre, and is designed to borrow from the worlds of games and mobile phones.
There are also some physical buttons on the hands for those who prefer to do things the old fashioned way. A 15-speaker KEF sound system is standard, but a 23-speaker system is optional.
There are only two seats in the back, separated by a panel that houses a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment touchscreen and a wireless phone charger, along with cup holders and armrests. hand.
Eletre will be built at a new factory in China. Production will begin at the end of 2022, with deliveries to China, US, UK and Europe slated to begin in 2023.
Matt Windle, CEO of Lotus Cars said: “The Eletre is a bold and revolutionary new vehicle that fulfills our commitment to bringing Lotus into entirely new automotive segments as we expand its global appeal and reach”.
“This is a pivotal moment in our history and a clear signal of our desire to continually transform our business.
“It is a true Lotus, and we are confident it will delight performance car buyers and provide a differentiated alternative to long-standing players in the segment. Eletre has the soul of a Lotus and the usability of an SUV. ”
Can the Eletre pull you away from the BMW iX, or something like the Lamborghini Urus?
