For pretty much the entirety of its 75-year history, Lotus has focused exclusively on developing purist, true driver’s cars that put a premium on raw performance capabilities over creature comforts and amenities — an ethos best summed up by company founder Collin Chapman’s famous adage of “simplify and add lightness.” For the first time in Lotus’ history, however, the company is deviating from its typical MO in order to deliver its first-ever SUV — as well as its first-ever four-door model — with the all-new Lotus Eletre.
While the Eletre sees Lotus venture into uncharted territory, this hyper SUV maintains much of the British brand’s signature DNA, with a major emphasis on overall performance. Taking ample inspiration from Lotus’ existing hypercars, the Eletre sports an Evija-derived aero kit with numerous active elements including a rear wing, plus a bevy of ports and openings to funnel air through the vehicle’s bodywork, thereby increasing downforce. Boasting an ultra-slippery drag coefficient of just 0.26, this streamlined bodywork assists the SUV in achieving its 165-mph top speed and 0-60mph time of 2.95 seconds — areas that are also no doubt helped along by the SUV’s available 905-hp (675-kW) powertrain. Riding on five-arm alloy and carbon fiber wheels, the Eletre also comes loaded with numerous exposed carbon fiber elements including the fender flares at all four of the all-electric SUV’s corners.
Offered in three trim levels — a base model, an S variant, and the range-topping R-spec — this hyper SUV’s supercar-esque performance capabilities are made all the more impressive by the fact that these numbers are delivered alongside a generous 373-mile range that’s made possible by the hyper SUV’s 800-volt battery architecture — which can also receive 250 miles of autonomy after just 20-minutes of charging. Lotus’ inaugural SUV doesn’t skimp on tech either, coming outfitted with a suite of advanced cameras, a millimeter-wave radar system, and Lidar sensors that provide 360° coverage for the vehicle, ultimately affording full autonomous driving capabilities. The ultra-plush cabin of the hyper SUV also sports a Tesla-style glass roof, a flat-bottom steering wheel, multiple digital displays, customizable mood lighting, and memory foam-cushioned, 20-way adjustable seats trimmed in recycled fabrics and Napa leather. What’s more, despite its compact size, the Eletre packs more than 730 liters of collective storage space, with a 688-liter boot complemented via a 46-liter front trunk.
The 2024 Lotus Eletre Hyper SUV is available for reservation now in select markets, with pricing for the base model Eletre, the Eletre S, and the Eletre R starting at €95,990 (~ $94,700), €120,990 (~ $119,400), and €150,990 (~ $166,000), respectively.
