Lotus announces plans for 710kW plug-in hybrid SUV
Words Andrew Sluys | Images Supplied
Despite previously committing to an exclusively electric future, Lotus has now revealed plans to build a slew of plug-in hybrid SUVs.
This information was revealed by Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng during the company’s recent earnings call.
“The introduction of hybrid models offers more choice for luxury vehicle buyers and will help us expand into broader markets, including regions with slower EV adoption, such as Italy and Spain and Saudi Arabia,” Feng said.
Set to be unveiled in January 2026, the first Lotus PHEV will likely be based on the Eletre SUV the brand currently offers.
This first Lotus PHEV will follow the brand’s recent ethos of being performance focused, and packing a hefty 710kW of power. Its 0-100km/h time should reportedly sit around three seconds.
It will also benefit from active air suspension, and a 48-volt suspension stabilising system that will contribute to the SUV’s “hyper handling”.
A 900V charging system should also allow for speeds “very similar to a battery swap”.
Two other PHEV SUVs will also join this Eletre in the future, with the smaller being dubbed the Vision X. It’s worth noting both these other SUVs will be positioned beneath the Eletre in Lotus’ range.
