Why even the most expensive Lotus Eletre is a steal
Earlier we wrote about the Lotus Eletre being faster than a Lamborghini Urus. The beginner pays only a third of what you have to pay for the Italian thoroughbred.
We tried to put together the most expensive Lotus Eletre and to our surprise this car is still surprisingly “affordable”. Affordable, however, is a multi-interpretation term, and its definition may need a little stretching for some.
A Lotus Eletre for under a ton
Lotus’ entry-level electric SUV starts at less than a ton; 98,690 euros to be exact. Less than the Lotus Emira and change compared to Lotus’ nearly two million euro hypercar called Evija.
Of course, a ton is not nothing, but you get everything you need even with the entry-level model. First of all, it’s a big, spacious SUV from a sports car manufacturer. You will soon be paying around 10,000 euros more for the cheapest Cayenne. But where there is a hybrid V6 with 470 hp in this Cayenne, the entry-level Lotus Eletre is powered by two electric motors that deliver a full 603 hp.
The most expensive Lotus Eletre R
To configure the most expensive Eletre, however, you have to start with the top model: the Lotus Eletre R. The beastly electric vehicle produces a non-nausea-inducing 919 hp, with which it takes just 2.95 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km. He lets a Lamborghini Urus Performante gather dust. The Italian manages the same sprint in 3.3 seconds.
The Lotus Eletre R starts at over 154,000 euros. As we tick options, the receipt grows at a grueling pace. Blossom Gray costs over two grand, making it the most expensive paint color possible. For 5,690 euros we tick 23-inch rims in black high-gloss. If you want to see carbon-ceramic brakes shimmering between the spokes, it’s another 11,860 euros lighter. With the extensive carbon exterior package, another seven giants are added.
The same package is also available for the interior and costs 3,390 euros. You also have to pull out your wallet for the comfort seats (4,600 euros). Anyone who would like to have it together with the rest of the interior in “Cloud White” pays an additional 2,550 euros. We are happy to check further: KEF audio system (6,660 euros), intelligent glass roof (1,820 euros) and highway assistance package (2,420 euros) drive up the price significantly.
After all the expensive options of the Lotus Eletre have been ticked, an amount of 203,380 euros rolls out in the end. A big chunk of money, and yet we dare call it “affordable” (in the broadest sense of the word). While it’s impossible to compare the prices of dirt cheap used cars, it’s a relatively cheap car in its class.
A bargain
It’s about perspective. View high performance SUVs from other sports car manufacturers: The cheapest new Lamborghini Urus costs at least a ton more, an Aston Martin DBX ditto. For the most powerful Porsche Cayenne, the Turbo GT, you also have to spend at least 300,000 euros. An SUV with this power and the exclusive badge of a sports car manufacturer is hard to come by for two tons. In this respect, even the most expensive Lotus Eletre R is a bargain.