The Lotus Eletre Looks Like A Stunning Tesla Model X Competitor
Following the launch of its all-electric Evija hypercar in 2019, Lotus has extended its EV portfolio with the unveiling of the Eletre, the first SUV in the company's history. The announcement comes days after fellow European automaker Maserati unveiled the Grecale, its first all-electric SUV. They will both join the list of current and upcoming SUVs from other premium automakers, including the Audi e-Tron, Jaguar i-Pace, Mercedes-Benz EQC, BMW iX, and more.
With gas prices going through the roof in recent months, electric vehicles are gaining popularity globally. According to reports, Tesla recently saw a 100 percent surge in orders due to increasing gas prices, but the company is struggling to meet demands. To stabilize demand, Tesla has been increasing the prices of its cars, which now means that its Model 3 and Model Y, which had been enjoying sizeable rebates in California, will no longer qualify for those discounts under the state's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP).
Lotus has unveiled an all-new, all-electric, high-performance crossover SUV called the Eletre as part of the company's aim of reinventing itself as an electric-only brand. According to the official press release, the Eletre packs 600hp of brute force and has a battery capacity of over 100kWh. The company further says that the car has a target driving range of 373 miles on full charge, and a 350kW charger will deliver 248 miles of range in just 20 minutes. The car can also accept 22kWh AC charging, which cuts down on the charging time. The company also claims that the Eletre has a 0-100kmph (0-62mph) time of less that three seconds.
In addition to the high-end specifications, the car also comes with futuristic components, such as camera-only side-view mirrors and a lidar sensor on the roof. In terms of design, the Eletre features an aggressive, forward-leaning nose with a sloping, coupe-like roofline. There's no mistaking the vehicle's crossover genes, and it is similar to the Tesla Model X. It does, however, look more rugged and purposeful. As far as the build is concerned, the vehicle generously uses carbon fiber and aluminum for weight reduction, and the company claims that it has the "Most advanced active aerodynamics package on any production SUV."
The Eletre, which translates to ‘coming to life’ in Hungarian, also marks a change in image for the company from a maker of niche sports cars to more accessible vehicles, such as sedans, crossovers, and SUVs. It will be the first of three new electric vehicles that Lotus plans to roll out between now and 2025. According to the company, those vehicles will include a sports car, a coupe, and another SUV. As for the Eletre, it is expected to go into mass production later this year, although pre-orders are already open, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin in 2023. There's no word on its pricing for now, but that will probably be announced closer to the EV's actual launch date.
Source: Lotus