Lotus takes bold step into electric cars with the sleek Eletre

As a quick introduction, Lotus is a revered British car-maker renowned for lightweight, super-agile sports cars. Ask driving enthusiasts anywhere about their dream garages and chances are that a Lotus will be in there.

The company has now taken a very bold leap into the electric car arena with the Eletre. Bold because it’s an enormous SUV, not a lightweight sports car (also, Lotus is now owned by Chinese carmaker Geely, so the Eletre is made in China, not the UK).

On paper, the Eletre offers high-performance, blistering acceleration, luxurious comfort, and more than a touch of Lotus DNA. Does it stay true to the brand's heritage while carving a niche in the ever-growing electric SUV segment? Let's take a look.

There’s absolutely no doubt that the Eletre's design is... arresting. It looks far better in the flesh than it does in photos, with a sleek, aerodynamic silhouette punctuated by sharp angles and aggressive lines. The signature Lotus headlights and hexagonal tail lights retain the brand identity, while the sculpted hood and huge air vents hint at its performance prowess.

The design is not going to go down well with everyone, but the Eletre will turn heads and spark conversations. It throws several design punches and most of them land, it has to be said.

‘Porosity’

Don’t be fooled by its bulk – the Eletre has more air flowing through its body than a lot of sports cars out there - ‘porosity’ is what Lotus likes to call this. Still, the car tips the scales at 2.6 tonnes and up, which makes it by far the heaviest automobile ever made by the brand. A four-wheel drive system and a huge battery will do that, as they do to most large electric SUVs.

The Eletre's huge interior is a stark contrast to the spartan nature of other Lotus models. Premium and luxury are the two words in operation here, with materials like Nappa leather and Alcantara swathing the spacious and futuristic cabin, offering a plush and comfortable environment.

The minimalist dashboard houses three digital screens: a driver display, a central infotainment screen, and a passenger display.

This futuristic setup boasts cutting-edge technology and intuitive user interfaces. However, some might find the abundance of screens overwhelming and distracting, and the reliance on touch controls can be frustrating at times. If only manufacturers would revert to good old buttons!

Lotus has also used a number of recycled (and recyclable) materials in the cabin, which match up to the best in the segment. The audio system is top notch, and every ADAS and safety feature you can think of is included.

Now to the most important part of any Lotus – the performance numbers. The Eletre comes in three variants (EV, EV S and EV R), each packing a very serious punch, but it’s the top-end R model that should interest most buyers because it has a staggering 905 bhp and 985 Nm of torque. Those numbers are almost too ludicrous to comprehend.

Switch the car to ‘track’ mode, hold on to the steering wheel, floor the accelerator and be prepared for punch-in-the-stomach acceleration. The Eletre blasts off the line so quickly that it’s difficult to comprehend, and the claimed 0-100 kph time of 2.95 seconds is easily believable, as is the claimed 260 kph top speed – Lotus claims this is the world’s fastest dual-motor, pure electric SUV.

This is hypercar performance from a gargantuan SUV, and the instant torque delivery and exhilarating acceleration have to be experienced to be believed. It’s pure electric muscle, pushing the boundaries of performance SUVs. It’s also so forgiving to drive that almost anyone will be able to do so. The different driving modes – track, sport and tour – alter the way the car reacts to your accelerator and steering inputs.

Impressive range

The Eletre R boasts an impressive claimed range of up to 490 km from its 112 kWh battery, but if you drive it in the way it likes to be driven, expect that to drop considerably, to about 400 km – which is still pretty impressive.

There’s an 800V system in it and a 22 kW charger will fully juice it up in about six hours. A 350 kW DC fast charger can get it from 10-80 percent in 20 minutes, but those chargers don’t exist in India as yet.

In terms of handling, the Eletre gets it spot on. It’s truly astonishing what engineering can do to something of this size and weight because, honestly, the SUV feels like something much more compact. Its rear-wheel steering system, along with its four-wheel drive system, give it the kind of handling you’d (almost) expect in a Lotus sports car, allowing you to carry plenty of speed into corners without fear. The massive performance brakes have excellent bite, and the steering wheel has a directness that is very satisfying.

Of course, you won’t out-handle a smaller Lotus in this car, but then you wouldn’t expect to. The ride quality is way too stiff in track mode, but you can adjust that feature in the Eletre’s settings; once dialled down, it makes for a pretty comfortable highway cruiser.

It’s a highway cruiser that will set you back by Rs 2.99 crore, so you *really* need to want a Lotus in your collection. That kind of money will buy you all manner of other performance cars with petrol engines, and the fact that it’s a Chinese car may put off some potential buyers in India. It’s a tremendous achievement, but it also feels like a missed opportunity for Lotus to truly translate its sports car DNA into an SUV. While it offers impressive performance, there’s a disconnect between the Eletre and the focussed, driver-centric experience synonymous with the Lotus brand.

Additionally, the rear seat space, while decent, isn't as generous as some rivals, and the cargo capacity is surprisingly limited for an SUV of this size.It feels more like a luxurious electric SUV with a Lotus badge than a true heir to the brand's legendary sports car legacy. Whether it carves a niche in the market depends on your priorities – if you prioritise raw performance, exclusivity, and cutting-edge technology, the Eletre might be worth a look. If you want a pure, unadulterated driving experience, you may need to look elsewhere.