The new Lotus Eletre has been presented in society. The first 100% electric SUV Lotus burst onto the scene loaded with technological equipment and offering performance scandal. It is equipped with a battery of more than 100 kWh and has a range of up to 600 kilometers.
Lotus is ready to enter a new era. The iconic British firm has unveiled its first 100% electric SUV. The new Lotus Eletre bursts onto the scene with the aim of boosting Lotus’ transition process towards all-electric mobility.
The new Eletre, in addition to being Lotus’ first SUV, is also the first mass-market electric vehicle created by the company. A model that boasts design, technological equipment and performance.
Exterior design of the Lotus Eletre
A quick glance at the images illustrating this article is enough to discover the keys to the exterior design of the new Eletre. This new Lotus electric vehicle adopts a striking design language that combines elegance with sportiness. At the front it is abundantly clear that this is a powerful vehicle. The optical groups, very sharp and thin, are divided and in a high position. The hood has some characteristic lines of expression and the bumper adopts some characteristic shapes.
The side view brings out its SUV essence. The lower part of the body is protected by fenders and the waistline is quite high. The door handles are perfectly flush with the bodywork. It is a detail that shows how worked the aerodynamics is. It also highlights the digital rear-view mirrors and 23-inch alloy wheels.
Finishing our tour of the exterior at the rear, we will find several design elements that are worth highlighting. On the one hand there is a roof spoiler and, on the other hand, a bumper in which, again, aerodynamics is noted. The taillights adopt a totally horizontal and very slim arrangement. They are basically a thin line of light that helps to emphasize the feeling of width.
The new Eletre is underpinned by a dedicated platform for battery electric vehicles. This is key when designing such a model.
Lotus Eletre measurements: Length: 5,103 mm. Width: 2,231 mm. Height: 1,630 mm. Wheelbase: 3,019 mm.
Interior and technology of Lotus Eletre
Leaving aside the exterior, if we go into the interior of the new Eletre we will be quickly enveloped by a modern, digital and connected environment. Lotus has placed special emphasis on the quality of the finishes. That is why the materials used have been carefully chosen. The first thing to note in this section is that the vehicle will be available in a four-seater configuration (2+2) with individual seats and in a more conventional five-seater alternative (2+3) which, logically, will offer extra practicality.
The panoramic sunroof, together with the glazed surfaces on the sides, allows the passenger compartment to be flooded with natural light. This helps to increase the feeling of spaciousness. Carbon fiber also makes an appearance to highlight the sporty and aggressive side that hides this new SUV.
Lotus designers have taken inspiration from the Emira and Evija to conceive the Eletre’s cabin.
One of the main components is the huge 15.1-inch touchscreen located in the center console. It is the “nerve center” of the cabin and provides access to the infotainment system. This screen is complemented by the slim, minimalist instrument cluster. An instrumentation that has been reduced a thin strip of less than 30 mm in height in which the most relevant information for driving is displayed.
It has been equipped with the latest 5G connectivity technology. This will make possible future OTA-type remote updates for the addition of new features and/or improvements. It even opens the door to customers themselves acquiring additional software functionalities for the vehicle.
In terms of driving assistance systems, the new Eletre is well served. Among other technologies, it has adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, open door warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assistant, child presence detection, lane keeping assistant, rear collision mitigation support and e-Call emergency call system.
Technical specifications
- Batteries: +100 kWh
- Range: 600 km
- Power: 600 CV
- Maximum speed: 260 km/h
- Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 3,0 s
The autonomy of the Lotus Eletre
Beyond the exterior and interior design as well as the technological equipment, all of which is very important, being a battery electric vehicle, the propulsion system focuses all eyes. At the heart of the new Eletre is a lithium-ion battery with more than 100 kWh that has the main purpose of powering a total of two motors, one per axle. This is key as it gives the vehicle all-wheel drive capability.
The electric motors develop a power output of 600 hp, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds and reach a top speed of 260 km/h. Lotus has indicated that it is the power “from”, which hints that there will be higher levels. The range reaches 600 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle. A driving mode selector allows the driver to choose between Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual profiles to prioritize, for example, efficiency over performance or vice versa.
The vehicle is built on an 800-volt architecture. It boasts particularly low charging times and can achieve 400 km of range in just 20 minutes with a 350 kW charger. It also has the standard capability of accepting a 22 kW AC charge.
