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“The world’s first pure electric hyper-SUV” is how Lotus chose to describe what purists might see as the opposite of the Norfolk brand ethos. Company founder Colin Chapman was all about “simplify, then add lightness”, but it’s 2022 and automakers need to adapt to customer tastes to survive. As a result, we will meet the first production SUV from Lotus, an all-electric model at the time.
This isn’t the brand’s first EV as the role has been linked to the Evija hypercar, but the Eletre is the company’s “lifestyle first electric vehicle.” Technically this isn’t the first four-door Lotus considering that the early 1990s brought us a twin-turbo, inline-six Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega with a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h) thanks to 377 horsepower.
The world premiere scheduled for today will take place at the Tower of London, but Eletre won’t actually be built in the UK. Instead, the SUV will be assembled in China at a new factory built by parent company Geely in Wuhan (yes, that Wuhan). Pronounced “El-etra,” the equestrian Lotus gets its name from “reviving” in several Eastern European languages.
It will drive the newly developed Lotus Premium architecture adapted to vehicles with a wheelbase measuring 2,889 to 3,100 millimeters (113.7 to 122 inches). These bases have been engineered for batteries with capacities varying from 92 to 120 kWh, complete with 800 volt fast charging support. The fastest EV of the bunch will do 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under three seconds.
It is widely believed that the Lotus on stage will get two good electric motors for a combined output of 600 to 750 horsepower. It is unclear if there are plans for a lower configuration with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. Such a version would reduce the weight for what everyone expected to be the heaviest production car from the famous British brand.
Lotus had previously announced the “Type 132” electric SUV would be doing the battle in the E-segment, meaning it would be going up against the Porsche Cayenne. In 2023, a similarly sized four-door coupe known as the “Type 133” will take on the Panamera, while a smaller “Type 134” crossover will rival the Macan in 2024. All three newcomers will be sold strictly as EVs as the Emira will go down in history. as the company’s last ICE-powered car. In 2026, the “Type 135” will arrive as a new electric sports car co-developed with the performance sub-brand Renault Alpine.
While the “Lotus” name is exclusively associated with sports cars, three practical models coming before 2025 will help the brand become more profitable than ever. As Porsche has done with the Cayenne and Macan, the SUV’s potential success will help fund the development of a sports car that will stay true to the brand’s legacy.
Join us for the world premiere scheduled to start at 14:30 East / 18:30 GMT from London.
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