By: Nauman Farooq
Lotus has been around for 75 years, and in all this time, it has done just one thing – and that is to produce sports cars. It has (mostly) been so good at that, that the Lotus brand has become a benchmark for light weight, handling and performance.
This helped them achieve success not just in the world of road cars, but also in the world of racing, where Lotus branded vehicles have won sports car championships and even in Formula 1. However, times change, finances change! Lotus has probably spent most of its life on the brink of bankruptcy, and has hence been tossed around from company to company.
It’s latest caretaker however, the Geely Group out of China (which also owns Volvo and Polestar), wants to do things a little differently! They actually want the Lotus brand to succeed, and make a profit. Hence, they took a page out of Porsche’s handbook, while another one out of Tesla – and that is to go into the sports utility or crossover market (SUV or CUV), and also to go electric.
Hence, we have what you see here – it’s called the Lotus Eletre – and it is the first all-electric vehicle offered by Lotus (it was supposed to be the Evija hypercar, but I don’t think that is actually out yet), and it is most unlike any Lotus model ever produced in the past; but is that a bad thing? Unlike; because the Eletre is a big, four-door crossover (Lotus had never offered anything other than a two-door vehicle in the past – I know, some of you might be say, what about the Lotus Carlton, but that was a Opel / Vauxhall model, and not a ground up Lotus), and it is also not light – in fact, at 5,850 lbs. this is by far the heaviest vehicle ever offered by the brand.
But (as the title of this video asks), is it any good? Well, thanks to a test drive invite from Lotus of Oakville, I got to sample the Eletre – read on!
Styling: Judging by the pictures, I wasn’t convinced; in fact, I didn’t like it! However, seeing one in the metal changes that opinion vastly – this is a stunning looking vehicle, and it grabs so much attention that a five minute stop turned into a 25 minute conversation. Score: 8/10.
Interior: This is where Lotus has truly shined! Remember the time when a Lotus interior was so minimalistic that it didn’t even have carpeting, and you had to use a crank to wind up/down the windows? That’s not the case with the Eletre – as it has a sumptuously appointed cabin with design and tech that is straight out of the future. On top of that, it has lots of space; not just for the people in the front seats, but also the rear – plus the trunk is huge! I’ve been in a lot of EVs, and in my opinion, the Eletre is the nicest one to sit in. Score: 9/10.
Safety: Not seen any independent crash test data on the Eletre, but given its platform is shared by Volvo and Polestar vehicles, it’ll do very well in this regard. Score: TBD.
Powertrain: Initial offering is one battery pack, and two power outputs. All Eletre models get a 109 kWh battery, which is capable of a DC fast charge of 350 kW. All Eletre models are dual motor with all-wheel drive. Base model offers 603 hp, while the R model (as tested) gets 905 hp. Unlike most EVs, the Eletre has a two-speed transmission – so it’ll be better than most on the highway, especially if that highway is called the Autobahn. Score: 9/10.
Performance: As you’d expect with a 905 hp vehicle, it is very quick! The 0 to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint is done in 2.7 seconds, while top speed is pegged at 165 mph (266 km/h) – that’s fast! Score: 9/10.
Driving Dynamics: For Lotus drivers, numbers were never important, it was all about how the car felt in your hands! I’m happy to say, this heavy crossover is actually very nice to drive. The ride is soft when you want it to be, and tight when you engage the sport mode. As for the steering, sure it is a fully electric power system, and that does mean it can sometimes feel numb; however, it is better than just about any other electric vehicle I’ve ever driven – so that’s a win for the Eletre. Score: 8/10.
Fuel Economy: Well, the EPA rates it at 70 MPGe – that’s decent, especially for a vehicle of this size and power. By comparison, the new GMC Hummer EV does 59 MPGe. Eletre score: 6/10.
Pricing: North American pricing has not been officially announced, but Car and Driver published a base price of US$115,000 – that’s $156,000 in Canadian funds! Not cheap, but luxury EVs aren’t for the masses! Score: 6/10.
Verdict: I was not happy when I learned that Lotus was going to do a big, heavy, electric SUV/CUV thingy! However, after spending some time with it, I am very happy with the way it has turned out; well done Lotus.
Automotive Affairs by Nauman Farooq 