It will be following the Evija or Emira.
If you consider the 2006 high-riding APX concept, the idea of a Lotus SUV seems old. The Aluminum Performance Crossover was not made into production. Although the APX was originally going to be powered by a supercharged V6 motor, its spiritual successor will only be powered by an electric drivetrain. The first road-going model on stilts from Norfolk has been named Eletre, ahead of tomorrow’s unveiling.
Eletre, contrary to rumors that it would be given the Lambda name, keeps the tradition of names beginning with “E” alive. This will be a first for Lotus, and the first Lotus car to be built outside of China. It will be assembled in a new Wuhan plant built by Lotus’ parent company Geely. It will also be the first regular production electric vehicle since the Evija hypercar was limited to 130 units.
Eletre will also unveil a unique electric platform designed for “lifestyle” vehicles. The exterior and interior design of the SUV have been revealed in patent images. However, we recommend waiting for official images to get any opinion. The Type 135, as it is internally called, will be approximately the same size as a Porsche Cayenne.
Lotus claims that the platform was designed for vehicles with wheelbases between 2889 and 3100 millimeters (113.7 inches to 122 inches) based on what we know. Large battery packs with up to 120 kWh are available, and 800V technology will allow for fast charging. The Eletre will be all-wheel drive. This means it will pack dual electric motors.
This Lotus will be the most powerful production Lotus ever built. Expect 600-700 horsepower. The Evija already weighs in at 3,700 pounds (1.680 kg), so don’t be surprised if the Eletre weighs as much as two Elise sportscars.
In the next two-years, the SUV will be accompanied by a four door coupe and a smaller crossover. The Emira will serve as Lotus’ last ICE-powered vehicle. All three of them will be electric. A new sports car, co-developed by Alpine, will be released in 2026.