It’s the start of 2024, and for those who occur to be the type of that will get sucked into countless reels and memes on socials, you’ll have observed an excessive amount of 2024 expectation-disappointment memes. The kind that talks about how we anticipated flying vehicles and dwelling on Mars by now however as an alternative, we’ve organic males competing in ladies’s sports activities.
In that exact same context of future expectations, the Lotus Eletre could also be an odd exception as a result of it’s truly what number of could have imagined 2024 to be; filled with ahead considering know-how that truly works.
The Eletre is a spaceship on wheels in lots of respects, and the truth that it’s a Chinese language-made SUV (from Wuhan no much less) sporting a British badge that when emphasised simplicity and lightness shouldn’t take something away from its engineering prowess.
For people who don’t know, Lotus’ car manufacturing course of in the present day is break up into two manufacturers, Lotus Vehicles which makes the Emira at the moment, and prior to now produced the likes of the Exige, Elise and Evora in Hethel, Norfolk (UK); after which there may be Lotus Tech, which is the Wuhan-based electrical carmaker in command of the Eletre and future EV fashions. There’s additionally Lotus Engineering, but it surely doesn’t produce vehicles.
Since 2017, Lotus as a complete has been majority owned by China’s Geely, which additionally owns Volvo and Polestar plus lesser identified manufacturers like Lynk & Co and Good (three way partnership with Mercedes-Benz).In that point the famously British model has been present process a critical transformation involving billions of funding to turn out to be a number one producer of sports activities vehicles and electrical automobiles to compete with the likes of Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Whereas the Lotus Emira continues the custom of two-door mild(ish) weight sports activities vehicles, the Eletre follows the completely simple profitable formulation of tremendous sports activities automotive producers producing SUVs to fulfill not solely shopper demand but additionally serving to create a viable enterprise.
So whereas the rusted-on purists will say firm founder and automotive icon, Colin Chapman, could be rolling in his grave if he knew a four-door high-riding SUV weighing practically 2.7 tonnes is bearing the Lotus identify, by that very same token Enzo Ferrari would have a coronary heart assault realizing the Purosangue SUV (sarcastically, that means ‘pure blood’ in Italian), is diluting the… pure blood of the Ferrari secure.
To not point out the Lamborghini Urus, the best-selling Lamborghini of all time, has single-handedly helped save the corporate from the brink, a lot in the identical approach the Porsche Cayenne rescued the ‘911 firm’ from close to chapter.
So in case you are right here to fulfill your morbid curiosity about how unhealthy the Lotus Eletre is and the way it doesn’t should put on the Lotus badge, you can be bitterly disillusioned as a result of the true query right here is whether or not the Lotus badge deserves to be on the Eletre.
To provide you some context about this explicit top-spec Lotus Eletre R, which we picked up from the house of Lotus in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, we have been genuinely anticipating it to be just a little bit terrible.
There have been a number of jokes between a number of of us right here as as to whether we must always begin writing our ‘most disappointing vehicles of 2024’ checklist already and the way the Eletre actually is not sensible in any respect and… essentially the most repeated phrase: “who of their proper thoughts would pay greater than $300,000 for a Chinese language-made electrical SUV sporting a Lotus badge?”
The reply to that query must be ‘lots of people’ if they really come and expertise it as a result of the Eletre is admittedly, ridiculously good – although not fairly glorious.
This isn’t an announcement to throw round calmly, however the Eletre is as a lot an insanely quick SUV because it is without doubt one of the most superior vehicles we’ve ever examined; not in simply sheer pace – it’s arguably the second quickest SUV on this planet after the Tesla Mannequin X Plaid – but additionally the way it implements its know-how and offers with its environment, displaying but once more why the Chinese language strategy of shopping for and adapting current know-how as an alternative of making an attempt to create all of it from scratch is the best way to go – good day, Japan? Are you listening?
Australian-spec Eletres will arrive regionally by Might or June 2024, however for now we got a non-AU-spec Eletre R mannequin in a beautiful mixture of Galloway Inexperienced and Malachite inside, with some options lacking and a few system working in demo mode.
Even so, it modified our thoughts virtually solely about what Lotus will and may very well be, sooner or later.
How a lot does the Lotus Eletre price?
In Australia Lotus will promote the Eletre in three variants – right here we’re testing the flagship Eletre R.
Lotus Eletre pricing:
2024 Lotus Eletre: $239,0002024 Lotus Eletre S: $269,0002024 Lotus Eletre R: $315,000
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Lotus Eletre like on the within?
There’s a sure stage of expectation for patrons at this value level, and to be truthful – ignoring a number of the ridiculous limited-edition ideas – Lotus has by no means needed to meet these necessities earlier than with a sports activities automotive, not to mention an SUV that should enchantment to the feminine driver of the home as a lot because the male.
There are definitely some inspirations and classes taken right here from the likes of Tesla, equivalent to its huge 15.1-inch central display that controls most issues within the Eletre, however there may be additionally an excessive amount of finesse and class to the inside’s match and end that’s uniquely Lotus.
Whether or not it’s the tremendous high-quality inside lighting system, the Ferrari-inspired passenger show (normal throughout the vary), the standard of the three shows typically, or the 2160W 23-speaker KEF sound system, the Eletre feels its value.
It could be in-built China, however having been in just about all of its Italian, German and British opponents, for those who didn’t know the place it got here from or what badge it wore on the surface, you wouldn’t be scrutinising the surfaces and supplies as arduous.
Most significantly, even when you do, you wouldn’t be suspicious of why it stands as much as the check after which ask your self : ‘what’s the catch?’
There isn’t any motive to lie about it, there may be an inherent bias in opposition to luxurious objects that come from China. We now have an intrinsic perception that Chinese language made items should be constructed to a value and use materials that isn’t of the identical high quality of the Europeans or Individuals.
It’s an entire false impression, after all, and as only one primary instance one has to select up the world’s most used high-quality, high-margin product: the iPhone. The titanium iPhone 15 Professional is a product of western engineering and Chinese language manufacturing (very similar to the Eletre), and the standard and craftsmanship that goes into it’s second to none.
The Eletre will undoubtedly undergo from the ‘made in China’ stigma, but it surely’s 2024 and if we’re to sit down right here and choose a automotive on its advantage, and advantage alone, it’s one hell of an inside.
The seats, each entrance and rear, are very snug whereas additionally being supportive. There’s heaps of room contained in the Eletre and you may simply match 5 adults for these lengthy journeys, with a fairly substantial boot as properly.
The steering wheel is epic to carry and use, whereas the paddles hooked up management the driving modes (proper) and regenerative braking (left). We discovered the scale and really feel of the steering wheel to be perfect and positively giving the suitable atmosphere to the Eletre.
We did discover the different-sized cup holders just a little annoying and to be truthful, the wi-fi telephone charging mat is totally flat with virtually nothing to carry your telephone in place and for a automotive that may go from 0-100km/h in underneath 3.0 seconds.
Our iPhone flew into the again seat a minimum of 10 occasions through the few days we had the Eletre on check. It’s principally ineffective to cost your telephone for those who intend to ever speed up.
It might make a number of sense to design that with a holder or on an angle going through down.
Little question for those who examine it to a Bentley Bentayga it doesn’t stand as much as the extent of element and high quality, however put it aspect by aspect with an Urus or perhaps a a Purosangue and it definitely holds its personal and for those who love know-how, it truly embarrasses the each of them.
The largest drawcard of the Lotus Eletre in opposition to its European rivals is that it brings know-how that’s extra superior than Tesla, with European dealing with and styling.
The oldsters at Lotus determined to not stuff round constructing their very own working system from scratch, as an alternative, the Eletre makes use of the most effective graphics engines cash should buy, the Unreal Engine.
And never simply any model, however Unreal Engine 5, absolutely the newest.
The identical programming base that runs video games like Fortnite can also be what powers the Eletre’s screens and infotainment. This implies it presents one among – if not the – smoothest in-car experiences we’ve ever seen with a display.
That is the primary automotive we’ve been in that feels extra superior than a Tesla. Not simply how briskly it responds or how good the graphics are, but additionally the way it shows the vehicles in visitors or the way it behaves with a number of touches .
It actually looks like you’re utilizing the most recent iPad Professional however with higher graphics. There’s not a touch of lag or wrestle in any respect and absolute kudos to Lotus for happening this path.
It’s truly very shocking {that a} small producer can produce such an unbelievable infotainment system however the mainstream OEMs nonetheless use reversing cameras that make issues seem like YouTube from 2008.
We hope the Europeans and Japanese makers can even see the good thing about utilizing next-generation know-how for the automotive slightly than making an attempt to stay with their very own proprietary methods.
Aside from the cup holders and charging mat, the one different inside function we might like to see modified is the indicator stalk, which simply don’t really feel as good to the touch as the remainder of the automotive.
General, the Lotus Eletre’s inside is a delight and an enormous shock.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
All variations of the Lotus Eletre function a 112kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Claimed vary on the WLTP check cycle is 600km within the Eletre and Eletre S, whereas the R has a claimed vary of 490km.
Throughout our check, we principally abused the Eletre R as a lot as doable with countless intermittent acceleration and managed to get about 340km out of a full cost. We now have little doubt it should do 400-450km if pushed sanely however 490km might be theoretical at greatest.
Energy within the base Lotus Eletre and the mid-range Eletre S comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive electrical powertrain with 450kW and 710Nm. It has a single-speed transmission on each motors, and hits 100km/h in 4.5 seconds from standstill.
Shifting to the Eletre R brings a beefier dual-motor powertrain making 675kW and 985Nm; the rear motor has a dual-speed transmission (just like the Porsche Taycan) as an alternative of the single-speed in lesser fashions. The 0-100km/h dash takes a claimed 2.95 seconds.
Lotus claims that utilizing its 800V structure at its peak charging pace (350kW ultra-rapid DC charger), the Eletre can add 400km of driving vitality in simply 20 minutes – with a most vary of as much as 600km.
How does the Lotus Eletre drive?
The 0-100km/h declare of two.95 seconds appears just a little gradual in comparison with the way it feels. The Eletre R in actual life appears to wrestle simply that little bit to get off the road however as soon as it does, it feels as fast as a Ferrari 296 GTB if not faster in a straight line.
The sub-3.0-second 0-100 acceleration determine takes into consideration what we may solely suspect is Lotus engineers making an attempt to offer the powertrain some respite, by limiting simply how offended and violent the automotive could launch from the road.
We discovered that if we received the car to say, 20km/h and plant the suitable foot, it will be in one other suburb earlier than you would rely to a few. It’s straightforward to speak about electrical vehicles being quick, however the Eletre isn’t simply quick, it’s f*#king ballistic.
It’s at a degree the place you actually should query your self with things like “would I let my youngsters on this automotive with my spouse?” (who’s all the time dashing) or “do I want an SUV that’s quicker than a model new V10 Lamborghini?” The usual mannequin with 4.5-second acceleration time is totally sufficient for nearly each possible utility, besides those that embrace your ego.
We put the Eletre up in opposition to a Lamborghini Huracan Evo on a flat piece of personal street, and to say the Lamborghini driver went house with some soul-crushing reminiscences could be an understatement. In his personal phrases: “I felt like I used to be in a Hyundai i30”. So sure, the Eletre is stupidly quick, unnecessarily quick truly – there isn’t a motive a household SUV must be this quick, but additionally there isn’t a motive why it shouldn’t be this quick.
I’d say anybody shopping for the Eletre R wants to noticeably think about if they really want this a lot energy, as a result of 985Nm of torque is rather a lot. Examine that to the V12 Ferrari SUV at 716Nm, and it places issues into context.
After all, it additionally weighs someplace between 2.6 and a pair of.7 tonnes relying on spec; so whereas it goes actually quick, it does are likely to wrestle to decelerate with the identical vigour. We really feel as if in case you are going for the Eletre R, you should spend the $32,199 and go for the carbon ceramic brakes, as a result of it wants them.
After a good bit of repeated acceleration and braking, the usual brakes start to wrestle and the stopping distance will get longer and scarier. Certain, you’re most likely not going to drive it with such aggression on a regular basis, however frankly, in case you are loopy sufficient to select an SUV that looks like it will take off if it had wings, then you definately higher be loopy sufficient to pay the worth of a small hatchback for it to additionally cease correctly.
Given it’s a Lotus, the dealing with functionality of the Eletre is underneath insane scrutiny by all those that drive it and the corporate is properly conscious of the expectations it should meet.
Does it deal with like a Lotus Emira? Completely not, however does it deal with like a Aston Martin DBX? No, it handles higher. It’s truly surprisingly good round corners, and whereas there’s a sure diploma of simple weight switch aspect to aspect, the Eletre feels worlds other than a Mannequin X in steadiness and agility.
It’s nonetheless not on par with a Lamborghini Urus or Ferrari Purosangue while you push it to the restrict, however given its supposed utility of taking the children to highschool whereas wanting like a spaceship, it’s greater than able to maintaining with virtually some other SUV on a twisty street due to a mixture of straight-line pace and dealing with know-how.
The Eletre’s experience on the optionally available 23-inch wheels was additionally significantly better than we anticipated. The energetic air suspension can elevate and drop the car top slightly quickly, and as you undergo the varied driving modes (Sport is the one to go for if you wish to have enjoyable, Vary for those who want most mileage), the character of the automotive adjustments slightly noticeably and we actually did admire the rear wing coming out and in to essentially emphasise the energetic aerodynamics.
We did attempt launch management a number of occasions but it surely didn’t make an enormous quantity of distinction in comparison with simply planting it, nor did the automotive actually point out {that a} curler coaster experience was about to start out. It might be nice if Lotus labored on an analogous launch system to what Mercedes-AMG use of their EQ fashions, which nearly violently shakes the automotive earlier than take off to provide the sensation launch management is energetic – as you’ll get with an inner combustion-engined car.
With the R utilizing a two-speed gearbox, you’ll be able to completely really feel when the Eletre shifts from first to second. It’s not as easy as you’ll assume, but it surely’s truly refreshing since you virtually really feel like you’re driving a traditional automotive.
It is a sentence we thought we might by no means write, however on this case it’s true: it will be nice if the Lotus Eletre had the choice for pretend sound. The car is so extremely quiet no matter how briskly you’re going or what you’re doing, that there have been occasions that we (hypothetically) appeared on the speedometer and had flashes of jail time with out ever realising how briskly the automotive was travelling.
Nearly all of different high-performance EV producers have bitten the bullet and added some pretend noise to their vehicles and prior to now we’ve chastised them for it; however having now skilled an EV that looks like it might crack the sound barrier in silence (sure, pun supposed), it’s completely screaming for some stage of audible output.
General, the driving expertise is the perfect we’ve skilled in an electric-only SUV, and an enormous wakeup name for its opponents for what Lotus is popping into – and quick. If that is the corporate’s first go at making SUVs, then we will’t wait to see what the long run merchandise will probably be like.
Is the Lotus Eletre protected?
The car has not been crash examined by any authorities security physique – and it’ll unlikely ever be examined, given its restricted manufacturing.
Nevertheless, the Eletre is constructed on the identical Electrical Premium Structure (EPA) platform as vehicles just like the Volvo EM90 in addition to the Polestar 4, so we don’t doubt its capability to resist a crash.
Moreover, the superb factor in regards to the Eletre is the huge variety of security methods constructed into the car.
From the spaceship-looking pop up LiDar methods on the roof and the edges, we’ve by no means seen a car in a position to detect pedestrians, vehicles, bikes, vans, utes and even buses so uniquely and flawlessly. The system may even see security cones on the aspect of the street or on the street and supply a really clear visible show.
Lotus claims the Eletre has an unbelievable 34 sensors, together with the aforementioned LiDar array along with 12 ultrasonic sensors, seven HD cameras and 6 radars. All of that data is fed by means of a Nvidia graphics processing unit together with the Unreal engine.
Nevertheless, whereas the security methods stored the car very a lot in line, our Eletre’s lane protecting help was very aggressive and assertive.
We’re hopeful this may be toned down just a little bit earlier than Australian fashions arrive. It additionally sometimes didn’t detect our (proper) hand on the steering wheel, which might see the car make a number of warning noises and finally placed on the hazard lights, which was just a little annoying to say the least.
For now we’re placing all of those bugs right down to its pre-production standing however we are going to revisit this once more as soon as precise Australian-delivered automobiles arrive.
How a lot does the Lotus Eletre price to run?
The Eletre has a five-year, 150,000km guarantee (whichever comes first) for the automotive itself, whereas the battery is rated for eight years or 200,000km. Different guarantee intervals embrace 12 years for corrosion and 5 years for the paint.
As for working prices, Lotus Australia distributor Merely Sports activities Vehicles is finalising the capped priced servicing charges for the Eletre at this second, however scheduled Service intervals are two years/30,000km and even then, the one necessary substitute objects at these scheduled providers are the cabin air filter and brake fluid.
All different objects are examine and substitute provided that vital. Additionally, you will want to interchange the battery coolant each 5 years/100,000km and drive motor transmission lubricant each 4 years/80,000km.
What do you get?
Lotus Eletre highlights:
22-inch alloy wheelsActive air suspensionMatrix LED headlightsHands-free energy tailgateKeyless entry and startincl. Telephone-based locking/unlocking4-zone local weather control12-way energy entrance seatsHeated steering wheel29-inch head-up display12.6-inch digital instrument cluster12.6-inch passenger display15.1-inch central touchscreenSatellite navigationDAB radioWireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto8.0-inch rear screen15-speaker KEF sound system4 x USB-C portsWireless telephone charger
Eletre S brings:
Configurable ambient lightingPrivacy glassSoft-close doorsIlluminated aspect sills2160W 23-speaker KEF Reference sound system
Eletre R brings:
Lively rear-wheel steeringContinuous Damping ControlTorque vectoring by brakingCarbon package deal
What choices can be found?
Checklist of choices and costings throughout the the S and R fashions is beneath – “o” means obtainable.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Lotus Eletre
We jumped within the Lotus Eletre anticipating – virtually hoping – to be disillusioned. However each day that glided by, that disappointment was a real sense of pleasure.
As an avid critic of electrical efficiency automobiles, the actual fact the Eletre is definitely actually, actually good is considerably worrying but additionally – logically – it offers us hope the way forward for motoring can nonetheless be filled with thrills, laughs and good experiences.
The principle situation with the Eletre is just not the automotive, it’s truly the Lotus badge mixed with the truth that it’s the most costly automotive in Australia we get from China. For some patrons, that could be a step too far.
Nevertheless, in case you are available in the market to purchase an SUV priced someplace between $250-350,000, take it as a cultural expertise and simply go drive an Eletre.
The worst that may occur is you’ll nonetheless purchase one thing else, the perfect that may occur is you’ll realise simply how extremely quick and enjoyable, but luxurious technologically superior the Eletre is.
If that doesn’t assist query your individual inner dialogue across the car’s elementary advantage versus its nation of origin, nothing will.
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