Click to Enlarge.
The all-new and all-electric Lotus Eletre, billed as a progressive Hyper-SUV has debuted. It’s the first of a new line of pure electric SUVs from, ahem, Lotus. Known until now by its Lotus code-name, Type 132, the Eletre claims to be a “globally relevant product of sustainable mobility for a worldwide audience.” Hyper, because Eletre joins select ‘Two-Second Club’ – capable of 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in less than three seconds.
“The Eletre, our Hyper-SUV, is a new performance car from an iconic performance car brand and it will appeal to independent-minded and adventurous driving enthusiasts -those who love the thrill of driving. It is a unique combination of beautiful design, exceptional dynamic performance and everyday usability, for those who dare to look beyond the conventional, and marks a turning point for our business and brand,” claimed Qingfeng Feng, CEO, Group Lotus.
Add in a dynamic walk-up sequence that delivers a light show worthy of a rock concert every time the driver approaches the car, it’s clear the Eletre is not in Hethel anymore.
As a new offering in the Lotus performance car, err, vehicle portfolio, the Eletre delivers a number of firsts for Lotus – the first five-door production car, the first model outside sports car segments, the first lifestyle EV, the most ‘connected’ Lotus ever.
The Eletre is 4WD, has a battery capacity that’s more than 100kWh and with claimed output from 600 horsepower. A 350kW charger will deliver a 400km (248 miles) range in just 20 minutes. The car’s target maximum WLTP driving range is 600km (373 miles). Claimed top speed is 260 km/h or 161 mph. It also comes with the ability to accept 22kW AC charging which, where available, reduces the time plugged in.
Technology includes what’s said to be the most advanced active aerodynamics package on any production SUV, and intelligent driving technologies such as the world’s first deployable Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system in a production car.
Add in a dynamic walk-up sequence that delivers a light show worthy of a rock concert every time the driver approaches the car, it’s clear the Eletre is not in Hethel anymore, but rather the delivery of a new product into the Lotus stables located globally.
The Eletre is the first of premium lifestyle performance electric vehicles to be built at an all-new production facility in Wuhan, China. The car has been ‘Born British, Raised Globally,’ with design led by the UK, supported by collaborative work with teams in China, Sweden and Germany. The overall exterior and interior design has been led by an international team based at the Lotus Tech Creative Centre (LTCC) in Warwickshire, UK.
AutoInformed.com on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Chinese Hyper EV – the Lotus Eletre SUV Debuts
Click to Enlarge.
The all-new and all-electric Lotus Eletre, billed as a progressive Hyper-SUV has debuted. It’s the first of a new line of pure electric SUVs from, ahem, Lotus. Known until now by its Lotus code-name, Type 132, the Eletre claims to be a “globally relevant product of sustainable mobility for a worldwide audience.” Hyper, because Eletre joins select ‘Two-Second Club’ – capable of 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in less than three seconds.
“The Eletre, our Hyper-SUV, is a new performance car from an iconic performance car brand and it will appeal to independent-minded and adventurous driving enthusiasts -those who love the thrill of driving. It is a unique combination of beautiful design, exceptional dynamic performance and everyday usability, for those who dare to look beyond the conventional, and marks a turning point for our business and brand,” claimed Qingfeng Feng, CEO, Group Lotus.
Add in a dynamic walk-up sequence that delivers a light show worthy of a rock concert every time the driver approaches the car, it’s clear the Eletre is not in Hethel anymore.
As a new offering in the Lotus performance car, err, vehicle portfolio, the Eletre delivers a number of firsts for Lotus – the first five-door production car, the first model outside sports car segments, the first lifestyle EV, the most ‘connected’ Lotus ever.
The Eletre is 4WD, has a battery capacity that’s more than 100kWh and with claimed output from 600 horsepower. A 350kW charger will deliver a 400km (248 miles) range in just 20 minutes. The car’s target maximum WLTP driving range is 600km (373 miles). Claimed top speed is 260 km/h or 161 mph. It also comes with the ability to accept 22kW AC charging which, where available, reduces the time plugged in.
Technology includes what’s said to be the most advanced active aerodynamics package on any production SUV, and intelligent driving technologies such as the world’s first deployable Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system in a production car.
Add in a dynamic walk-up sequence that delivers a light show worthy of a rock concert every time the driver approaches the car, it’s clear the Eletre is not in Hethel anymore, but rather the delivery of a new product into the Lotus stables located globally.
The Eletre is the first of premium lifestyle performance electric vehicles to be built at an all-new production facility in Wuhan, China. The car has been ‘Born British, Raised Globally,’ with design led by the UK, supported by collaborative work with teams in China, Sweden and Germany. The overall exterior and interior design has been led by an international team based at the Lotus Tech Creative Centre (LTCC) in Warwickshire, UK.
AutoInformed.com on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.