If you dial back the pages of automotive history, Colin Chapman is a name which is pivotal to the birth of the quintessential sports car. He was the founder of Lotus and championed the movement of lightweight cars. As a result, Lotus became synonymous with sports cars which put forward driver involvement before everything else. The Elan, Elise and Evora were lightweight driver centric machines with little regard to luxury. Fast forward to 2024 and now Lotus has re-appeared under new ownership and as a luxury electric brand.
Having just been launched in India with Exclusive Motors as its dealer partner, we recently had a chance to drive its Eletre electric SUV and see how this brand has changed, or not! The Eletre is about as far as it gets in terms of the traditional Lotus values of making lightweight cars but to be successful in today’s age, an electric SUV is a must in your portfolio.
This is a ground-up electric car platform and will bring in other products from this architecture. The Eletre for now, is a luxury SUV that also has the soul of a supercar. Clad in a striking green hue, the Eletre R looks drop-dead and is drenched with various details. It is a riot of curves, slashes and myriad lines which ask for your undivided attention.
Everything is form and function though with those large vents channelling air to get as much aero efficiency as possible. It is low-slung and has an aggressive demeanour with its brooding eyes. There is plenty of presence here and it has been styled with the verve of a supercar.
The same story continues the inside with high quality buttons and a cavernous cabin. Peer closer and you see some lovely details scattered all over with gold inserts and metal switchgear. The steering wheel and the uniform information slab at the middle is reminiscent of a fighter jet cockpit. Every luxury amenity has been added here including some sporty seats with massage/heating/cooling while all functions are controlled via a touchscreen.
We drove the all singing dancing Lotus Eletre R with a stratospheric 905 horsepower and as a result it basically teleports itself across vast distances. To call it quick is an understatement. Eletre R basically puts supercars to shame. Acceleration is violent, relentless and has limitless surge. So much power bestowed on an SUV is indeed quite interesting, but Eletre manages to pull it off with its exuberant personality.
This SUV also changes the game is in terms of its crucial contacts with the driver: the steering, suspension, and the dynamic traits. It feels alive as you pilot it across a corner and all of the weight somehow melts away.
The Eletre R is utterly beguiling and brings in a new dimension to the world of electric luxury cars by bringing in much more drama. Electric cars are touted as noiseless machines, but the Eletre R puts soul and emotion into the mix with its driving experience. Sure, it is expensive at INR 3 crores, and the range goes down when driven hard, but as an automotive experience the Eletre R is unlike any other.
