Lotus Eletre

Lotus Eletre at a glance

A Lotus SUV built in Wuhan

The Eletre broke two rules of the brand at once. It was the first Lotus SUV and the first Lotus built in China, assembled by Wuhan Lotus Technology in Hubei province. The project dates back to 2016 under then-CEO Jean-Marc Gales, with the internal codename Lambda and the design code Type 132. Its name comes from a Hungarian word meaning roughly "coming to life", and the design was created at the Lotus Tech Creative Centre in the West Midlands under Ben Payne.

That shift is part of the larger story told in the history of the Lotus car company, which runs from kit cars in Hornsey to electric cars from Wuhan. The contrast with the Lotus Emira, the last petrol sports car built in Hethel, is stark: the Eletre is 5,103 mm (200.9 in) long, 1,630 mm tall and weighs at least 2,565 kg (5,655 lb). A retractable lidar sensor sits in the roof for the driver-assistance systems.

Electric versions: from S and R to 600 and 900

At launch in Europe the electric Eletre came as Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R. In April 2025 Lotus renamed the range after its outputs: the 600 versions have 450 kW (612 PS) and the 900 versions 675 kW (918 PS), and trims are now called GT, GT SE, Sport SE, Sport and Sport Carbon.

Both electric versions use two motors and a 112 kWh battery with 109 kWh usable. The 900 adds a two-speed gearbox on the rear motor. ADAC lists WLTP consumption of 22.5 kWh/100 km for the Eletre 600 and 28.3 kWh/100 km for the 900 Sport Carbon, which explains the 120 km range gap between them. ADAC gives 3.0 seconds to 100 km/h for the 900; Lotus quotes 2.95 seconds.

The Eletre X plug-in hybrid

In March 2026 Lotus unveiled the Eletre X, a plug-in hybrid version that keeps the body of the electric car. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 205 kW (279 PS) mainly drives a 150 kW generator and can also drive the front wheels at higher speeds. The battery holds 70 kWh, the fuel tank 52 litres (13.7 US gal), and the system runs at 900 volts.

Lotus quotes more than 1,200 km of combined WLTP range with a full battery and tank. DC charging reaches up to 436 kW, and ADAC lists 10 to 80 percent in 9 minutes. Orders opened in Europe in June 2026, ADAC lists the H550 from October 2026, and first UK deliveries are expected in early 2027. In China the hybrid is sold as the Lotus For Me.

Charging, space and towing

The electric Eletre charges at up to 350 kW DC, and ADAC lists about 20 minutes from 10 to 80 percent at a 350 kW charger. AC charging runs at up to 22 kW, which ADAC says fills the battery in 348 minutes. Wikipedia's infobox mentions 430 kW, but the main text and ADAC both give 350 kW for the electric car.

The boot holds 688 litres (24.3 cu ft) and 1,532 litres (54.1 cu ft) with the rear seats folded, plus a 46-litre front compartment. All versions may tow 2,250 kg (4,960 lb) braked. The EU kerb weight runs from 2,565 kg for the 600 to 2,745 kg for the 900 Sport Carbon.

Sales, safety and the BMW iX M70

The Eletre has sold slowly. Wikipedia records 2,929 cars in China in 2023, 1,025 in 2024 and 1,333 in 2025. No Euro NCAP rating is listed for the Eletre in ADAC's catalogue.

A natural electric rival is the top version of the BMW iX. The iX M70 xDrive has 485 kW (659 PS), a 108.9 kWh usable battery, 600 km WLTP and 195 kW DC charging, and ADAC lists it at EUR 126,500 in 2025. The Eletre 600 is EUR 26,510 cheaper on paper, charges faster at up to 350 kW and has a larger 688-litre boot, while the BMW is 138 mm shorter and goes 30 km further on the WLTP cycle.

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