The new electric Lotus arrives in France, with its XXL autonomy to overshadow the Tesla Model X

More than a year after its revelation, the Lotus Eletre is finally arriving on the French market. The electric SUV, the first model of its kind for the manufacturer, has a high price, starting at 97,890 euros and is available in several versions.

The Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora are ancient history, while the brand is in the process of switching to all-electric, in accordance with the directive of the European Union. This is how it unveiled its first model of its kind in March 2022, but also its very first SUV, which is none other than the Eletre, which we were able to discover in real life a few months ago.

An arrival in France

But its launch was delayed, while the manufacturer had waited until the end of last year to reveal all the technical information about it. At that time, the electric SUV had not yet announced its marketing date in France. It is now done, since it is now available to order from usas well as in the United Kingdom.

On its site, the manufacturer details the prices of this newcomer, which displays a salty price. In fact, it is necessary to count at least €97,890 to afford a copy of this Eletre, which is therefore not eligible for the ecological bonus of 5,000 euros. This price gives you the right to the standard version, which still has an impressive technical sheet.

And for good reason, this one claims a power of 595 horsepower and 710 Nm of torque while the 0 to 100 km/h is achieved in 4.5 seconds. The SUV has a 112 kWh battery which allows it to display a range of 600 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle. Charging takes place at a maximum power of 350 kW and requires only 20 minutes to go from 10 to 80% thanks to the 800 volt architecture.

Be careful with consumption, announced from 21.4 kWh / 100 km taking into account the losses linked to recharging. By way of comparison, Tesla announces respectively 19.1 and 20.8 kWh / 100 km for the Tesla Model X Grande Autonomie and Model X Plaid with 625 and 585 km of autonomy. The consumption of the Lotus is therefore relatively contained for a machine of this size.

This version comes standard with active air suspension, adaptive cruise control, Matrix LED lights as well as the 22-inch rims and torque vectoring. The SUV is also equipped with a LiDAR sensor allowing it to eventually offer level 3 autonomous driving. USB-C sockets are also part of the equipment, as are the heat pump and the29-inch head-up display in augmented reality.

Two ultra-sporty versions

To tell the truth, this entry-level variant only has the name, because its endowment is intended to be ultra-complete. And for good reason, it also includes 15.1 inch OLED screen as well as a 12.6-inch handset. Many driving aids are also included, including adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking assistance and the driver monitoring detection system, included in the Lotus Pilot package. But to tell the truth, it is impossible to cite everything as there are so many facilities.

Customers looking for a little more luxury can opt for the S version, which boasts identical power and range. On the other hand, it comes standard with additional elements such as Soft Close doors, tinted windows, illuminated door sills as well as the active rear spoiler and the air quality management system. Equipment that is expensive, with a price displayed from 123,090 euros.

Finally, with the tidy sum of 153,090 euros, customers will be able to opt for the Lotus Eletre R, capping the range. This variant has two electric motors for a total output of 893 horsepower and 1,335 Nm of torque, for a 0 to 100 km/h achieved in 2.95 seconds. Logically, the autonomy then drops to 490 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle, while this variation gives pride of place to sportiness. This includes the Pirelli P Zero tires supplied as standard, as well as active roll control and rear-wheel steering.

The electric SUV also has a two-speed gearbox like the Porsche Taycan as well as all-wheel drive and track mode. There is also the option of optional carbon-ceramic brakes with 10-piston AP Racing calipers at the front. The order book is already open, but we do not yet know the date of the first deliveries.

As a reminder, Lotus was bought by the Chinese group Geely (Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart, Zeekr, etc.). This Lotus Eletre is therefore made in China.