Lo and behold, Lotus has finally made its way to India! The British marque, renowned for its extravagantly luxurious sports cars, has introduced its all-electric Eletre SUV at a price of Rs 2.55 crore (ex-showroom), establishing it as the most expensive all-electric SUV in the country.
When it comes to its design, unlike many EV SUVs on the market, the Eletre boasts a sportier stance with an elongated wheelbase and sleek bodywork. The front features a relatively compact layout, but not without the eye-catching pair of headlamps. What’s particularly intriguing is the addition of an active front grille (a feature not typically seen on EVs) aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency.
Moving to the rear, you’ll notice a carbon-fibre-clad three-stage deployable roof-mounted spoiler, solidifying the Eletre’s sporting credentials. Also notable are the ribbon lights that run the length of the car.
Inside, a 15.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system takes centre stage, operating on the carmaker’s custom ‘Lotus Hyper OS.’ Three smaller screens beneath the dashboard display essential driver aid information. Additional features include four-zone climate control, 12-way adjustable front seats, a 15-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, ambient lighting, OTA updates, Lidar technology, and, of course, the ADAS safety suite.
The SUV’s standout feature, however, is what’s beneath the hood. The Eletre comes in three trims: Standard, S, and R, with two powertrain options. The Standard ‘Eletre’ and the ‘Eletre S’ feature a dual-motor setup generating 611PS with a range of 600km. In contrast, the more powerful ‘Eletre R’ produces 917PS and offers a maximum range of 490km, enabling it to accelerate from 0-100kmph in just 2.95 seconds. Lotus also claims that the ‘R’ model is the world’s fastest production electric SUV, boasting a (claimed) top speed of 258kmph.
All three models share the same 112kWh battery pack that can be charged from 10-80 per cent in just 20 minutes via a rapid charger, and Lotus provides a 22kWh AC charger as standard. With its official launch already underway, the next addition to the lineup is the Emira sports car, scheduled for release sometime in 2024.
