Launched in Malaysia last week, the Lotus Eletre is the first SUV to come from the renown lightweight sports car maker. That sentence is an oxymoron on its own, and that’s before you consider the fact this thing is a massive electric leviathan that weighs nearly 2.5 tonnes. But it’s got a whole lot of power to shift that bulk.
In Malaysia, the Eletre will be available in three variants, with pricing as follows:
- Lotus Eletre – RM578,000
- Lotus Eletre S – RM648,000
- Lotus Eletre R – RM798,000
All models are all-wheel drive with at least 603hp and 710Nm of torque, getting this leviathan from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 258km/h. The Eletre R adds another 202hp and 275Nm to bring the total to an insane 905hp and 985Nm, enough for it to complete the century sprint in 2.95 seconds. Top speed, on the other hand, is rated at 265km/h.
To keep the performance (and weight) in check, the Eletre comes with active air suspension and adaptive dampers as standard, with the Eletre R gaining active roll stabilisation and rear-wheel steering. The car has also been designed to be aerodynamic, with lots of scoops ducting air around the car, along with distinctive twin tailgate spoilers that aid the active rear spoiler—the latter only fitted to the Eletre S and R models.
Inside, the luxurious cabin is dominated by a 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen that runs on the Lotus Hyper OS, uses Unreal Engine 3D graphics and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. There are also slim 12.6-inch displays for the driver and passenger, along with an eight-inch panel at the rear, a front Qi wireless charger and a 15-speaker, 1,380-watt KEF Premium Audio system. The Eletre S gets a 23-speaker, 2,180-watt KEF Reference Audio setup instead.
All models come with a five-seat layout, with power-adjustable front and power-reclining rear seats; a four-seater option with fully-adjustable rear seats are offered as a cost option. You’ll also have to pay more for things like mirror-replacing side cameras and an electrochromic glass roof that can be turned opaque through a slider in the centre touchscreen. A head-up display, Nappa leather, a 360-degree camera system and a hands-free powered tailgate all come standard.
The Eletre comes with plenty of driver assistant features as standard, such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear collision warning, front and rear cross traffic alert and adaptive high beam. But the real highlight is the optional Highway Assist package, which includes Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities and a suite of lidar sensors claimed to enable up to Level 4 autonomy, set to be added via a software update in the future.
