Lotus Eletre is coming to New Zealand

Lotus has today unveiled global pricing and specification of its first-ever SUV, the Eletre, with the model also being confirmed for New Zealand.

You’ll probably be familiar with the British brand from the likes of its internal combustion powered Elise and Exige sports cars. But since it was taken over by Geely in 2017, the company has made the shift to electric powertrains with the Eletre now joining the Evija hypercar.

Penned as a ‘Hyper-SUV’, the Eletre is new territory for Lotus as this is the first time it has made an SUV and only its second EV.

Rest assured, Lotus says it retains much of the soul, power and driving characteristics of its past performance cars.

A choice of three

The Eletre will arrive in three different editions including the Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R, with the choice of two powertrains.

Both the Eletre and Eletre S feature the single-speed 450kW and 710Nm powertrain that can achieve a maximum range of 600km. The two can hit 100km/h from a standstill in 4.5 seconds.

The flagship Eletre R sits at the top of the pile with the dual-speed 675kW and 985Nm system that can achieve a range of up to 490km. It takes the R 2.95 seconds to perform a 0 to 100km/h sprint.

Each model will feature a 112kWh battery that takes 20 minutes to recharge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent via a 350kW charger.

Interior and exterior customisability

Each model will come with a choice of six unique interiors complete with ‘environmentally friendly’ leather alternative materials.

As standard, there are five drive modes, active air suspension, torque vectoring, matrix LED headlights, active front grille and 22-inch 10-spoke forged wheels.

Optional 20-inch and 23-inch wheels are also available among five different wheel designs. Six different brake caliper and exterior colours are also available.

An enhanced specification option comes with privacy glass, an active rear spoiler, illuminated side sills, soft door close and auto-dimming side mirrors.

The Electre R includes the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, Carbon Fibre Pack, gloss black wheels, sports motor sound, stainless steel sports pedals, black badging and high-performance tyres.

On-board technology

A completely new cabin awaits which features the brand’s Hyper OS based on Unreal Engine technology to run its 15.1-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Also included is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as wireless charging for smartphones.

The Eletre is kitted out with enough speakers to host a small concert courtesy of Dolby Atmos and KEF Audio which features a 1380-watt, 15-speaker system.

All models will come with five seats as standard unless you opt for the four-seat Executive Seat Pack. The front seats are 12-way adjustable while dual-zone climate control is among the SUV’s creature comforts.

LIDAR technology will make an appearance for the first time in a production car on the Eletre which supports autonomous driving. Integrated over-the-air software update capability ensures the system will be fully ready when individual market regulations allow for the more advanced levels of autonomous driving.

Pricing and availability

In the United Kingdom, the Eletre will be priced from £89,500 which is approximately $NZ180,000 based on the current exchange rate.

The Lotus Eletre will arrive in New Zealand from 2024 onwards with pricing and specification set to be revealed closer to the model’s release.