√2023 Lotus Eletre revealed as brand’s first SUV, in line for Australia

After 70 years of building compact two-door sports cars, Lotus has revealed its first SUV, the five-metre-long, Chinese-made Eletre – and it’s electric, with a 0-100km/h time under three seconds.

The 2023 Lotus Eletre has been revealed, ahead of the first cars rolling off the production line later this year – and first Australian deliveries likely to follow.

Codenamed Type 132, the Eletre represents a number of ‘firsts’ for Lotus: the sports car specialist’s first SUV, its first car with more than two doors – excluding the Opel and Vauxhall-derived Carlton sedan of the 1990s – and its first electric vehicle outside of the Evija hypercar.

It’s the first of four new Lotus electric cars due by 2026, joining a smaller Porsche Macan-sized mid-size SUV (due in 2024), a Porsche Taycan-sized sleek sedan (2023), and a new sports car co-developed with France’s Alpine (2026).

Underpinning the new Eletre – a name said to mean ‘coming to life’ in certain Eastern European languages – is the British brand’s new Electric Premium Architecture, which incorporates a low-mounted battery pack, and uses aluminium and high-tensile steel to deliver “outstanding handling” and “exceptional dynamics”.

But whereas the original Elise roadster tipped the scales in at just 690kg (kerb), it’s possible the Eletre will weigh more than three times that, given its 100kWh-plus lithium-ion battery pack, and 5103mm-long body – some 123mm longer than a Toyota LandCruiser.

The large battery pack is slated to deliver approximately 600 kilometres of “targeted” WLTP driving range, mated to dual electric motors (one on each axle) good for power outputs “starting at 447kW”.

Lotus is targeting a 0-100km/h time of less than three seconds – making the Eletre one of the quickest-accelerating Lotus models in history – towards an also-targeted top speed of 260km/h.

The EPA chassis under the skin incorporates an 800-volt electrical system, which will allow a 20-minute stint on a 350kW DC fast charger to add up to 400km of range – on par with the best in the industry. 22kW AC home charging is also standard.

The Eletre measures 5103mm long and 1630mm tall, riding on a 3019mm wheelbase, and occupying between 2135mm and 2231mm of space in a parking spot – the former width figure achieved with the available door-mounted side cameras, and the latter with traditional mirrors.

Despite its size and expected mass – an exact figure for which isn’t quoted – the brand says the Eletre drives like a “true Lotus”, through the rigidity of its platform, plus adaptive air suspension, rear-axle steering, and active anti-roll bars.

Simulated torque vectoring (via braking), five-link rear suspension, electric power steering and an adjustable ride height are also available, alongside five drive modes – Range, Tour, Sport, Off-Road and Individual – which control steering weight, suspension, powertrain, and accelerator response.

Designed in the UK – with help from parent company Geely’s studios in China, Germany and Sweden (likely Volvo or Polestar) – the Eletre is said to continue the ‘carved by air’ design language seen on the Evija electric hypercar and Emira petrol sports car.

Lotus highlights the car’s ‘porosity’ – which it terms as “the aerodynamic principle of air flowing through the car as well as under, over and around it” – with air channelled under the front bumper, along the bonnet, through the front wheel arches, and across the rear spoiler.

Matrix LED headlights feature up front, placed above active grille shutters arranged in a triangular pattern – allowing for either more cooling or less drag, as needed – and a mix of carbon fibre and aluminium. The tail lights are comprised entirely of a single LED strip, with scrolling indicators.

Filling the arches are (albeit optional) 23-inch alloy wheels with carbon-fibre inserts, which hide available carbon-ceramic brakes with 10-piston calipers. A power-opening charging flap features, as do retractable door handles.

Available in some markets will be side ‘mirror’ cameras, which use three cameras – one for the rear-view mirror, one used for the 360-degree camera, and one for the active safety tech – to project what’s along the car’a flanks into a display inside the cabin. Conventional mirrors will be available in some markets, however.

Inside, the Eletre is more akin to a Tesla than any Lotus before it, with a Model 3-like 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard that’s able to fold flat when not in use.

A McLaren-style, ultra-slim display acts as the car’s instrument cluster – measuring less than 30mm high, and displaying speed, range, battery percentage and other key details – joined by a similar display on the passenger side (with more functions), and an augmented-reality head-up display.

Other interior design highlights include a ‘blade’ of light stretching across the cabin which can change colour to convey an incoming phone call, changing cabin temperature or vehicle charge status, along with wireless phone charging front and rear, a 9.0-inch rear touchscreen, and a panoramic sunroof.

Available with four or five seats, the Eletre’s pews are trimmed in wool-blend fabric claimed to be 50 per cent lighter than traditional leather. Carbon-fibre offcuts are reprocessed to create the trim inlays, while microfibre is used for key touchpoints.

On the technology front, Lotus says “certain key controls” are mirrored with physical and digital sketches – though the company’s images show he vast majority of climate controls are nestled into the touchscreen. A claimed 95 per cent of touchscreen functions can be accessed within three touches.

A 15-speaker, 1380-watt ‘Premium’ surround sound system from British brand KEF is standard, though buyers can option a more expensive 23-speaker, 2160-watt ‘KEF Reference’ system with 3D surround sound tech.

Of more significance, the Eletre will become the first production car to feature deployable lidar sensors – four in total, emerging from the top of the windscreen, top of the rear glass, and both front wheel arches – enabling fully-autonomous driving, once the software becomes available later on.

In the meantime, the roster of active safety technologies includes autonomous emergency braking (forwards, and in reverse), adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane change assist, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, door opening warning, and an electric parking brake.

Also fitted is 5G connectivity – allowing easy connection to a smartphone companion app – plus over-the-air updates.

Production of the 2023 Lotus Eletre will begin towards the end of this year at a new factory in Wuhan, China. First deliveries in China, the UK and Europe will commence in 2023.

Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed, however a Lotus representative told Drive: “At the moment it is our intention to import the car to Australia, obviously subject to ADR compliance.

“Timing of availability and pricing are unconfirmed at this stage but active discussion is taking place.”

The post 2023 Lotus Eletre revealed as brand’s first SUV, in line for Australia appeared first on Drive.