Lotus Eletre

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Lotus Eletre
Lotus Eletre Automesse Ludwigsburg 2025 DSC 2658.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Lotus Cars
Also called
  • Lotus NYO Eletre (China, 2022–2024) [1]
  • Lotus For Me (PHEV, starting 2026)
Production2022–present
AssemblyChina: Wuhan, Hubei (Wuhan Lotus Technology)
Designer Ben Payne [2]
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size luxury crossover SUV [3]
Body style 5-door coupe SUV
Layout
Platform Electric Premium Architecture (EPA)
Related Lotus Emeya
Powertrain
Engine
Electric motor Permanent Magnet Synchronous motors
Power output
  • 450 kW (610 PS; 600 hp)
  • 675 kW (918 PS; 905 hp) (R-series)
  • 710 kW (970 PS; 950 hp) (For Me)
Transmission 1-speed direct-drive (2-speed for the rear motor, R-series)
Battery
Range304–373 mi (489–600 km) (WLTP) [4]
Electric range 214–221 mi (344–356 km) (For Me; CLTC)
Plug-in charging 800 V, 430kW DC [5] or 22kW AC
Dimensions
Wheelbase 3,019 mm (118.9 in)
Length5,103 mm (200.9 in)
Width
  • 2,019 mm (79.5 in) (For Me)
  • 2,135 mm (84.1 in) (with side camera mirrors)
  • 2,231 mm (87.8 in) (with conventional mirrors)
Height
  • 1,630 mm (64.2 in)
  • 1,636 mm (64.4 in) (For Me)
Kerb weight
  • 2,634 kg (5,808 lb) [6]
  • 3,055–3,080 kg (6,735–6,790 lb) (For Me)

The Lotus Eletre is a battery electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by the British sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. It was revealed on 29 March 2022 as the company's first production SUV and its first vehicle produced in China.

Contents

Overview

Conceived by Jean-Marc Gales, Lotus's CEO at the time, the Lotus SUV project originally surfaced in 2016. Prior to this project, Lotus had revealed the 2006 Lotus APX concept crossover SUV, the first SUV that the company had built. In 2020, it was revealed that the internal codename for the new SUV project was 'Lambda' and that the model will be revealed in 2022. [7] Later in 2021, teasers for the SUV were released and the 'Type 132' codename name for the model was revealed. [8] In February 2022, Lotus showed more teasers and revealed that the SUV would debut on 29 March 2022. [9] [10]

Ahead of its official debut, 3D patents published by the intellectual property office on 8 March revealed the Lotus Type 132, showing the SUV's coupe-like design. [11] Later that month, the final production name of Type 132 was revealed to be 'Eletre', consistent with the other mass-production Lotus model nameplates which all begin with the letter 'E'. [12] The name of the car is derived from the Hungarian word "életre" which means "(coming) to life". [13]

The Lotus Eletre was designed at the Lotus Tech Creative Centre in West Midlands, England and is produced in Wuhan, China. [10]

Lotus For Me

The Lotus For Me is the plug-in hybrid version of the Eletre and will launch in January in 2026. It is expected to produce up to 952 horsepower (710 kW; 965 PS) and will use a 2 liter turbocharged inline 4 producing 279 horsepower (208 kW; 283 PS). The For Me is expected to only be sold in China. As with the Eletre, it also features a retractable roof-mounted LiDAR sensor. Compared to the Eletre, the For Me is around 1,000 pounds (453.6 kg) heavier. [14]

Specifications

Battery and platform

The Eletre is based on the Lotus Premium Architecture for the company's future C-segment and E-segment electric models. After the Type 132, two more SUVs and a sports car are planned to be released. [15]

For model year 2024, The Lotus Eletre is available in three trim levels: base, S, and R. All models are equipped with a 112.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that supports charging speeds up to 350 kilowatts. [16] The base and S trims feature a dual-motor powertrain producing 603 horsepower and 524 pound-feet of torque, while the range-topping R trim boasts a more powerful setup (with an uprated rear motor), generating 905 horsepower and 726 pound-feet of torque. The R version, furthermore, is equipped with a 2-speed gearbox for the rear motor. The Eletre R can reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. [4]

Technology

In a teaser video released by Lotus, a LiDAR sensor is shown rising from the roof of the Lotus Eletre. [17] Also shown through teasers are digital side mirrors and a floating infotainment system. [11]

References

  1. Andrews, Mark (1 January 2025). "Lotus regains right to name in China as brand has record sales in December". CarNewsChina. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025.</ref?
  2. "Eletre - Lotus Cars Media Site". Lotus Cars. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  3. "Lotus Eletre Launched In China With 918 hp, 600-km Range And Starting Price Of 115,900 USD". Carnewschina.com. 25 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 Ewing, Steven. "2024 Lotus Eletre First Drive Review: New Beginnings". Insideevs. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  5. "Li Mega showed a 552 kW peak charging capacity thanks to CATL's 5C battery". 24 October 2023.
  6. Neil, Dan (16 December 2023). "An All-Electric Dreadnought From the House of Lotus". The Wall Street Journal. p. D13.
  7. Allen, Lawrence (9 November 2020). "Electric Lotus SUV due in 2022 with 750bhp, 360-mile range". Autocar . Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  8. Gauthier, Michael (8 November 2021). "Lotus Type 132 Electric SUV Teased, Debuts Next Year". Carscoops.
  9. Gauthier, Michael (28 February 2022). "Lotus Type 132 Electric Crossover To Debut On March 29th". Carscoops. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  10. 1 2 Parikh, Sagar (2 March 2022). "Lotus Type 132 electric SUV to enter production this year – Report". TopElectricSUV. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  11. 1 2 Bell, Sebastien (8 March 2022). "New Lotus Type 132 Electric SUV Uncovered Thanks To Design Patents". Carscoops. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  12. Gutman, Andrew (27 March 2022). "It's Official: Lotus Type 132 Electric SUV To Be Called "Eletre"". Carscoops. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  13. Lotus Eletre: What Makes It So Unusual? | Catchpole on Carfection, 29 March 2022, retrieved 31 March 2022
  14. Leung, Adrian (6 December 2025). "Lotus Eletre gets plug‑in hybrid in China, with 952 horsepower to launch January 2026". CarNewsChina.
  15. Pappas, Thanos (31 August 2021). "Lotus Teases Four New EV Models, Including Three SUVs And A Sportscar". Carscoops. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  16. Kinoti, Victor (9 February 2024). "2024 Lotus Eletre Price: Every Trim Compared". TopSpeed. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  17. Anderson, Brad (16 November 2021). "The Lotus Type 132 Electric SUV May Have A LiDAR Sensor". Carscoops. Retrieved 8 March 2022.