Lotus Eletre: the 100% electric SUV hypercar ushers the brand into a new era

Lotus is embarking on its future as an all-electric carmaker with the reveal of its latest vehicle, the Eletre, a 100kW battery-powered hyper-SUV that can deliver nearly 400 miles on a full charge and reach 0-60 mph in under three seconds.

Previously known by its codename, Type 132, the Eletre is the first of three new Lotus lifestyle electric vehicles for the next four years, with design language inspired by the world’s first British hypercar, the Lotus Evija.

The Eletre takes elements of Lotus’ latest sports car – the Emira – and the aerodynamic performance of the all-electric Evija hypercar and reinterprets them as a 4WD Hyper-SUV.

The Eletre is built on Lotus’ all-new Premium Electrical Architecture (EPA). The low-to-the-ground design is intended to improve handling, and the EPA can easily be adapted to match the battery sizes, engines, component layouts and intelligent driving technologies of Class C+ to E+ vehicles .

The 800V dedicated electric vehicle architecture with integrated high voltage power distribution system. This architecture uses aluminum and high-strength steel for optimal structural rigidity. The flat, skateboard-style battery and electric motors sit low to the ground to create a low center of gravity and deliver on Lotus’ core commitment to exceptional dynamic performance. The battery’s high energy density provides the best possible balance between performance and range. There are two electric motors, one driving the front wheels and another driving the rear wheels. A three-in-one electric drive system integrates each motor with a controller and gearbox, an efficient design that makes the unit smaller and lighter.

A 350 kW charger will provide a range of 400 km (248 miles) in just 20 minutes. The target maximum range of the car in WLTP is around 600 km (373 miles). It also comes with the ability as standard to accept a 22kW AC load which, when required, reduces connection time.

The Eletre makes extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum to reduce weight, while the interior features highly durable synthetic textiles and lightweight, durable wool blends.

Light and eco-friendly interior of Lotus Eletre

Matt Windle, Managing Director of Lotus Cars, said: “The Eletre is a bold and revolutionary new car, delivering on our commitment to bring Lotus into entirely new automotive segments as we expand our appeal and accessibility to the global scale. This is a pivotal moment in our history and a clear signal of our continued commitment to transforming our business. It’s a real Lotus, and we’re confident it will delight performance car customers and offer a distinct alternative to established players in the segment. The Eletre has the soul of a Lotus and the friendliness of an SUV.

Manufacturing of the vehicle will take place at a brand new high-tech factory in China later this year.