The Lotus Eletre electrical SUV will boast very quick charging to go together with its bevy of efficiency and tech options.
The primary SUV from the British automaker recognized for sports activities vehicles, and one among a number of deliberate electrical fashions, the Eletre makes use of an 800-volt electrical structure that enables for 350-kw DC quick charging—matching the utmost energy fee broadly out there from public chargers within the U.S.
After revealing the Eletre over a 12 months in the past, Lotus lastly confirmed this week that the Eletre will have the ability to accomplish a ten%-80% cost in 20 minutes, or add 74 miles of vary in simply 5 minutes of charging. A normal 22-kw AC charger can, when teamed with a house wallbox to assist that, take the battery from 0-100% cost in lower than six hours, in keeping with Lotus.
Lotus Eletre
Lotus is providing base Eletre, mid-level Eletre S, and high Eletre R fashions, all with a 112-kwh battery pack. The pack options prismatic cells in a cell-to-pack configuration that eliminates battery modules, reducing weight and rising power density to greater than 175 Wh/kg, Lotus claims. European WLTP vary estimates are 373 miles for the bottom Eletre and Eletre S, and 304 miles for the Eletre R.
Lotus founder Colin Chapman adopted the maxim “simplify and add lightness” when designing Lotus’ petite sports activities vehicles and race vehicles, however at this time’s Lotus engineers might solely achieve this a lot with a automobile of this dimension (at 200.9 inches, it is longer than a Vary Rover) with a bigger battery pack onboard. Even the lightest Eletre—the bottom mannequin—weighs a hefty 5,489 lbs. That is with what Lotus claims is in depth use of aluminum within the Eletre’s Electrical Premium Structure (EPA) platform.
Efficiency is not missing, although. A dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain is customary, producing 603 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque within the Eletre and Eletre S, and 905 hp and 726 lb-ft within the Eletre R. That model will do 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and attain a 165-mph high velocity, in keeping with Lotus, whereas different variations take 4.5 seconds to achieve 62 mph and high out at 160 mph. Adaptive air suspension, lively anti-roll bars brake-based torque vectoring, and four-wheel steering ought to assist handle the mass in corners.
Lotus Eletre
Lotus additionally claims a coefficient of drag of simply 0.26, with lively aerodynamic components to maximise effectivity and efficiency. An lively grille can open and shut as wanted for cooling or aerodynamic profit, whereas an lively rear spoiler can regulate to offer both extra downforce or much less drag, as wanted. Pop-up lidar sensors for the driver-assist methods and digital camera mirrors (for Europe and China, a minimum of) assist additional scale back drag.
Inside, the Eletre contains a 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen, 12.6-inch OLED instrument cluster, and a 29.0-inch head-up show. The dashboard itself was designed with the minimal quantity of fabric vital, to additional save weight. Obtainable Re-Fibre upholstery is created from fashion-industry waste, decreasing consumption of uncooked supplies, in keeping with Lotus. In protecting on-brand, the automaker additionally famous that this materials is lighter than leather-based upholstery.
Lotus Eletre
Eletre deliveries have already begun in China and are scheduled to start out within the UK and Europe quickly. Pricing begins at 89,500 British kilos and 95,990 Euros, equal to roughly $114,000 and $105,000 at present alternate charges, respectively. Lotus hasn’t mentioned a timeline for U.S. gross sales.
The Eletre is Lotus’ first quantity EV, following the very restricted manufacturing Evija supercar. The automaker has some notable historical past with electrification, as the unique Tesla Roadster was based mostly on the Lotus Elise.
The model’s electrification shift is ready to proceed with a high-volume sports activities automotive launching in 2026, and probably pushing battery cell packaging additional within the identify of light-weighting, together with a four-door coupe and a smaller SUV. The latter is predicted to be unveiled later this 12 months, with the four-door coupe debuting in 2025.