FIRST DRIVE Lotus Eletre | No-nonsense review of new electric Lotus | Autocar

The Lotus Eletre is the first of a new breed of Lotuses - it’s an electric SUV built in China. This is our first drive review of the new car. There are three versions of the Eletre. A base Eletre and this Eletre S, which both have 603bhp, and then 905bhp Eletre R. This S model would lose out in a drag race against the fastest rivals, but it can still do 0-62mph in and has a 160mph top speed. Underneath there’s a 109kWh battery, two electric motors, and it can be charged at up to 350kW. On the WLTP combined cycle, the Eletre S has a range of 373 miles. It has air-springs as standard, with 48v active anti-roll bars and active rear-steer as options, and fitted to our test car, along with 22in alloy wheels. There’s electric power steering, a first for Lotus, too. At 2520kg this is a Lotus like no other. But what’s it like? Join Matt Prior as we discover just how capable the Eletre is, and whether it fees like a Lotus at all. TIMELINE 00:00 Introduction