Launched: Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV – 3 Variants, Up to 905 HP, From RM578K

Lotus Cars Malaysia, sole franchise holder for the Lotus brand in Malaysia, has officially launched the all-new Lotus Eletre – the brand’s first-ever all-electric SUV. Also known as the world’s first ‘hyper-SUV’, the Eletre is available in three variants – Eletre, Eletre S, and Eletre R – with all of them striking the perfect balance between practicality and sheer performance.

On the performance front, all the Eletre variants are powered by a dual-motor setup with variable total system output, giving the EV an all-wheel-drive (AWD) drivetrain configuration. For both the Eletre and Eletre S models, the dual-motor setup delivers up to 603 HP and 710 NM, propelling this 2,490 KG SUV from nought to 100 KM/H in 4.5 seconds.

Thanks to this setup, both models are capable of reaching a V-max of 258 KM/H, making them on par with any other dedicated sportscars out there.

As for the range-topping Eletre R model, the same dual-motor setup receives a higher state-of-tune, making them capable of delivering a total system output of 905 HP and 985 NM – making it one of the most powerful SUVs in the market. This translates to a 0-100 KM/H sprint time of only 2.95 seconds, while en route to its V-max of 265 KM/H.

Underpinning the brand’s proprietary Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) 800-volt EV architecture, the Eletre comes standard across the board with a 112-kWh battery pack. This pack supplies up to 600 KM of maximum travel range for the two baseline specs, while only providing 490 KM of range for the range-topping Eletre R variant.

Juicing up this sizable battery pack is a 350 kW-rated DC fast charging, which only takes 20 minutes to fill the Eletre up from 10% to 80%. Additionally, there’s also the AC charging feature at a slower 22 kW rate, which is ideal for overnight charging via home wallbox charger.

Like any other Lotus cars, the Eletre has a special focus on the handling aspect, in spite of being a rather heavy vehicle. Primed on all four corners of the car is a multi-link damper system with active air suspension, providing a perfect balance of sheer handling performance and comfort for daily usage. This setup is supplemented by dual-mode electric power assisted steering, as well as continuous damping control feature.

Visually, the Eletre posits itself as a very sporty SUV that sits rather low to the ground, primed with slanting roofline. At the front, the Eletre comes with a dual-cluster LED headlights design, where the top lights are for the DRLs, while the actual LED matrix headlights sit lower at the front bumper. 

There’s also a sizable opening at the lower part of the bumper, with active flaps that open up to provide ample cooling for both the front motor and brake. When cruising, the flaps are all closed to provide the Eletre with extra travel range of up to 15 KM.

On the side, one can immediately notice the sporty and slanting roofline of the Eletre sports. And like many other EVS, it also comes with switch flushed door handles that only pop out when the car is unlocked, providing better aerodynamics which later translates to better EV range.

Notably, this sporty SUV rides on an equally-sporty set of 22-inch wheels, featuring unique five-spoke design and two-tone finish. Said wheels are wrapped in by Pirelli P Zero performance tyres, for good measure.

At the rear part, the Eletre sports an all-LED taillight bar that spans across the car’s length. There’s also a rear winglet that sits above the Eletre’s rakish rear roofline, finished in gloss black to match the dual-tone roofline. Some familiar SUV traits like pronounced underbody cladding and bottom skid plate are all featured on this hyper-SUV EV.

On board, the Eletre cabin oozes luxury, featuring Magnetite interior theme for the two base models, where the top-specced R variant gets a swankier Quartz interior theme. Primed on its front dash is a massive 15.1-inch OLED infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity supported, as well as built-in sat-nav system.

Drivers, on the other hand, will get a sizable driver’s display measured at 12.6-inch, plus an extra head-up display (HUD) with semi AR (Augmented Reality) functionality. Elsewhere on the tech front, the Eletre cabin comes standard with a dedicated 12.6-inch display for the passenger USB-C ports, wireless charging pad, as well as KEF 15–speaker audio system for the Eletre and Eletre R, while the S model gets the fancier KEF 23-speaker Reference Audio system with 3D system.

All five seats of the Eletre are wrapped with premium leather material, with the two front ones primed with a 12-way power adjustment function and heating feature as well. The rear seats, on the other hand, are power-adjustable and foldable, which further expands the Eletre’s 688-litre cargo space up to 1,200-litre.

On the safety front, the Eletre is brimmed with a bevy of ADAS features, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Park Assist system, and many more.

The 2023 Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV is now open for booking via Lotus Car Malaysia. Price starts from RM578,000 for the baseline Eletre variant, RM648,000 for the mid-spec Eletre S variant, and RM798,000 for the range-topping Eletre R. All prices listed are on-the-road pricing sans insurance, which includes a five-year or 150,000 KM vehicle warranty, plus an extra eight-year or 200,000 KM battery warranty.

Customers can also opt for a slew of add-ons, including the Extended Carbon Pack, multiple wheel design and size options, and many more, for extra costs.

So folks, what are your thoughts on Lotus’s first-ever SUV? Keen to see this go against the likes of performance SUVs like the Aston Martin DBX or Lamborghini Urus? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…