Blick drives the new Lotus Eletre: Chinese British

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This time, with the help of the mighty Geely group, the reboot should work. An SUV should make the brand fit for the future, and so the manufacturer follows its role models Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin or Lamborghini. Unlike its competitors, Lotus does not want to retain customers, but rather to win new ones.

The 5.10 meter long Lotus Eletre is eye-catching. And not just because of the nice front, which, together with the clad underbody and rear, allows an aerodynamic drag value of 0.26. All the hardware needed for autonomous driving is already built in. And whatever software is still missing, it will be delivered via a wireless update.

from the game world

The interior is made of carbon and microfibre, the seats are covered with a wool-blend material. Pitman sleeves don’t just feel cheap; they have the same sound when operated – a pain in this price segment. But the creative infotainment system will distract most customers from these shortcomings. Using the Unreal engine borrowed from the gaming industry, two powerful minds feed the so-called Hyper OS system. The 15.1 inch screen uses very fast and bright graphics in real time and in 3D. A passenger screen is also included.

Another nine-inch diagonal screen is located behind the center armrest. There, rear passengers can adjust the seating position as well as the air conditioning and audio functions. Rear visibility is poor, which Eletre tries to compensate with digital rear and side mirrors. Space in the rear is generous in the two-seater configuration, but narrow for the three-seater. However, the load compartment is generous with a volume of 611 to 688 liters.

One battery – two electric drives

A 112 kWh battery is available for the three Eletre versions (Basic, S and R), which can be charged up to 80 percent in just 20 minutes thanks to a 350 kW charging capacity. The basic and S versions are expected to cover a distance of around 600 kilometers. Even the Lotus Eletre R with over 900 hp can travel 490 kilometers. The electric motors deliver 612 hp/450 kW and 710 Nm in the Basic and S versions, and 918 hp and 985 Nm in the top model R.

Despite its curb weight of 2.5 tons, the Eletre S is fast on the road. The left rocker switch is used to adjust rest levels from 0 (sail) to 3 – 3 being the strongest level, but no single-pedal drive option. Top speed is an impressive 258 km/h, making European competition look like it’s old with early closures.

Driving stability instead of comfort

Despite the air suspension and adaptive shock absorbers, the independent wheel suspension focuses more on driving stability than comfort. In Sport mode, body roll and body roll are noticeably reduced without the vehicle becoming too stiff. Meanwhile, active air suspension allows the vehicle to be lowered depending on speed to reduce drag and increase range.

With off-road mode automatically deactivated from 40 km/h, the ground clearance can be increased by 15 to 25 millimeters by pressing the button to improve off-road mobility. Eletre is the first Lotus to use electromechanical power steering. It’s a good decision, especially for the S version, which doesn’t use factory rear axle steering. The electric SUV offers excellent vehicle control and a good driving experience in this package.

Priced in the premium segment

The electric 4×4 helps increase traction with a 50:50 torque distribution between the axles, but can go up to 100 percent to both axles, depending on speed, road conditions and grip. Eletre customers in Europe enjoy a five-year or 150,000 kilometer vehicle warranty and an eight-year or 200,000 kilometer battery warranty. The entry-level price is CHF 116,090 and goes up to CHF 180,890 for the top-of-the-line R model.

Source: Blick