Lotus introduces ‘hyper-SUV’ Eletre
Lotus has presented the Eletre, its second electric model after the Evija hypercar. The new model is called a ‘hyper SUV’ in PR-speak and is based on an 800-volt platform. Following the start of production in Wuhan, deliveries are scheduled to begin in China and Europe in 2023.
Let’s look at the technical specifications first: Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) by Lotus works with a system voltage of 800 volts, the battery has an energy content of “over 100 kWh” – this is not quantified more precisely yet. Since the vehicle has not yet been homologated, Lotus has not yet named a final range. However, the target is up to 600 kilometres according to WLTP.
Propulsion is provided by an electric all-wheel drive with a system output of 441 kW. According to Lotus, this should enable the Eletre to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in less than three seconds. The Geely brand is not yet giving any further details about the engines.
There are minor ambiguities regarding the maximum DC charging power. At the beginning of the announcement Lotus only mentions 350 kW, later in the text the wording reads “At a 350 kW charging station, the car charges a range of 400 kilometres in 20 minutes”. Thus, even the short-term peak charging power can be less than 350 kW. On the AC side, however, the charging power is impressive. A 22 kW on-board charger is installed ex works.
When it comes to driving assistants, Lotus speaks of the “world’s first deployable lidar technology in a production vehicle”, with the Xpeng P5 having already been delivered with lidar sensors since last year. In the case of the Lotus, the laser sensors are intended to support “intelligent driving technologies”.
That leaves us with a look at the bodywork: although the Eletre is an SUV, it picks up on some of the Evija’s visual elements. The two-tone paintwork of the presented car with a black roof makes the Eletre look flatter, but it is still 1.63 metres high. The length of 5.10 metres and the wheelbase of 3.02 metres also contribute to the flat overall impression.
The Eletre, previously known as the Type 132, is the first of four electric models to be launched in the coming years with a similar design language. Qingfeng Feng, CEO of Group Lotus, sees the model as a “turning point for our business and our brand”. The Lotus Eletre is built in Wuhan, China.
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