Can Lotus’ mighty flagship SUV stay as much as the hype? We check out the Lotus Eletre R for dimension

What’s it wish to stay with Lotus’s hyper-SUV, the Eletre R? We spent a fortnight behind the wheel of this monumental electrical efficiency automotive to discover the present state-of-the-art. When the Lotus Eletre was first revealed, it marked a large deviation from the established Lotus template; huge, heavy, 4 doorways, 5 seats and pure electrical energy. Step one in a radical overhaul of the British model, because of new possession and funding from Hangzhou-based Geely Auto Group, the Lotus Eletre has now been joined by the excellent Lotus Emeya sporting saloon.

We first skilled the Eletre within the winding, stunning and low-speed-limit roads of Norway. Our time with the flagship ‘R’ mannequin was restricted to a few runs up and down a disused runway, the place the automotive’s spectacular sub three-second 0-62 mph dash may very well be demonstrated, if not the 165mph prime pace. That is all all the way down to the 905hp (675kW) energy output of the Eletre R, over double what you will discover within the base mannequin.

In the true world of threading by means of heavy visitors, looking for appropriate parking areas and coping with on a regular basis points like charging, is that this large efficiency bump well worth the further value and – most crucially – the hefty hit that it locations on the Eletre’s vary. In inventory kind, the Eletre theoretically maxes out at 373 miles, though after all your individual private mileage might range.

We’d counsel knocking round 10-15 per cent off any manufacturer-quoted vary to get a extra correct image of what you possibly can obtain, then take off one other 20 per cent to compensate for any lingering vary nervousness (nobody enjoys the expertise of driving an EV when the vary has dropped to lower than 40 miles).

This nonetheless makes the usual Eletre a assured 250-plus mile automotive, which is fairly good by modern requirements. It additionally means the Eletre R, with a quoted 280-mile vary, will get you 200 miles on a very good day, and significantly much less should you’ve taken benefit of the efficiency.

On this respect, the Eletre vs Eletre R is emblematic of the problems surrounding efficiency EVs. Sure, the efficiency is world-class, comfortably exceeding something the ICE period was capable of supply. These dashing dash occasions and sparking overtaking acceleration are all of the extra spectacular when mixed with spacious, luxuriously appointed environment. The ‘however’ is appreciable, as a result of the Eletre’s bulk is a direct results of the necessity to haul the quantity of batteries required for the required stability of efficiency and vary.

On the plus aspect, its means Lotus has designed not simply its biggest-ever automotive, but in addition its most snug and sensible, by a really lengthy chalk. The Eletre’s inside, with its minimal however by no means complicated interface, its partaking supplies and surfaces that convey luxurious however not extreme bling, and its spacious really feel with a glass roof and loads of legroom, is genuinely probably the greatest in school. It’s to date faraway from the darkish and cramped cockpits of Lotuses previous, it’s little marvel that former champions of the model are confused by this Wuhan-built new arrival.

In 2020, pre-EV, pre-Geely Lotus offered below 1,400 vehicles. Final 12 months, the arrival of the Eletre noticed gross sales soar to six,790 vehicles, essentially the most it has ever delivered in a single 12 months in three-quarters of a century. The long-term purpose is promote 150,000 vehicles a 12 months by decade’s finish, and 2024 is already on monitor to promote round 25,000 vehicles, because of the arrival of the Emeya and the huge uptick in new clients in markets just like the US and China. We not often delve into the figures, nevertheless it’s price noting that this growth may be very, very costly; the corporate’s internet loss in 2023 was £594m.

Rebuilding a model from scratch is tough, however not as laborious as making a automotive model from scratch. In Lotus, Geely has IP and model fairness in spades, even when the top outcomes don’t share a lot historic DNA with the vehicles that made the Lotus title. However sports activities vehicles will at all times stay a distinct segment curiosity and until you’re Porsche (which bankrolls the 911 with a brace of SUVs in any case), promoting tens of hundreds of two-seaters will at all times be a pipe dream, not to mention a worthwhile marketing strategy.

Dwelling with the Lotus Eletre R

Again to the Eletre R. As an enormous, distinctive and visually very totally different form of vehicle, the Eletre R attracts a number of consideration and delivers an awesome driving expertise. Lotus was at all times famend for its talent with automotive dynamics, and the high-riding Eletre rides and steers extraordinarily nicely given its weight and size. Is it simple to stay with? Completely.

With area in each cabin and baggage compartments, good visibility, a full suite of driver help techniques and a very good sound system, the Lotus Eletre R was nice to drive, even across the metropolis. Downsides? That vary/efficiency stability is at all times in the back of one’s thoughts. All issues thought-about, the R’s worth hike feels such as you’re paying extra to get barely much less. One other phrase of warning – ought to the pebble-like key fob run out of battery, your Eletre transforms into a big, heavy brick. Do not ask us how we all know.

Lotus has garnered a Pink Dot design award for the Eletre, deservedly so (alongside one for the Emeya). Two and a half years after the Eletre was revealed to the world, it nonetheless appears to be like innovative, setting a excessive bar for brand spanking new EV design. Though Lotus 2.0 has an extended method to go earlier than it will get a correct foothold within the shifting sands of the automotive market, it is laborious to fault the product given the present state of EV tech.

Lotus Eletre R, from £120,000, LotusCars.com, @LotusCars