Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this technologically advanced vehicle.
What Is the Lotus Eletre?
According to Lotus’s press release, the company touts the Eletre as “The world’s first electric hyper-SUV.” This may seem like an exaggeration, but there really isn’t anything quite like the Eletre right now. In terms of high-performance SUVs, the twin-turbocharged V8 Lamborghini Urus is very similar, especially in its gorgeous yellow paint. However, the Lamborghini Urus still runs on gasoline, whereas the Eletre will be more green with its all-electric powertrain.
The Lotus Eletre also introduces lots of technology that often isn’t seen in production-ready vehicles. Here are some of the most impressive technology inside the Lotus Eletre.
Mindblowing Technology Inside the Lotus Eletre
Are you ready to be blown away? Here’s our list of the most impressive features of this production-ready, all-electric hyper-SUV.
1. The Active Front Grill
An important part of maintaining peak performance is being able to cool the engine, or in this case, the electric motors, efficiently. At the front of the vehicle, the Lotus Eletre features an active front grill. The grill stays closed when the car is at rest or needs to reduce drag and opens to bring air into the radiator to cool the brakes, batteries, and electric motors.
We’ve actually seen something similar with CyberPowerPC’s breathing Kinetic series case, which was also designed to help with cooling.
One of the complaints about other high-performance all-electric vehicles in the past, such as the Tesla Model S, is that the vehicle would eventually lose performance due to the electric motors overheating on the racetrack. This inspired automakers, such as Porsche, to improve cooling in its all-electric performance sedan, the Taycan.
2. Performance and Charging
The Eletre can’t be a hyper-SUV without the specifications to back it up. The Lotus Eletre makes over 600 horsepower, good for rocketing the car to 60mph in under 3 seconds. The Lotus also has a 100+ kWh battery pack, giving the Eletre a max range of 373 miles.
Lotus has stated that a charger outputting 350kW will add 248 miles in 20 minutes. Though impressive, this is only for chargers that output this high amount. Electrify America has these ultra-fast chargers available in the United States, but most of its chargers output around 150kW. Lotus has not yet stated the charge time for non-ultra-fast chargers.
3. Advanced Self-Driving Technology
To compete with EVs nowadays, you not only need to bring fast charging, incredible performance, and range to the table, but also reliable and cool self-driving features.
Surrounding the Eletre are LiDAR sensors and various cameras that bring “end-to-end autonomous driving technology” to the driver. The LiDAR sensors pop out the side of the vehicle when in use, then retract when not needed; it’s an incredibly futuristic-looking feature.
Lotus has stated that it has future-proofed the hardware to bring over-the-air updates for additional features. There are six levels of self-driving; although the Eletre has the technology for level 4 self-driving, auto manufacturers are limited to level 2 automation due to legal disputes.
All this self-driving technology will give the car adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, lane keep aid, emergency braking, and more.
Another feature not seen on many production-ready vehicles is that its side-view mirrors aren’t mirrors at all; Lotus replaced them with cameras, with the image viewable inside the vehicle.
Lotus calls it the Electric Reverse Mirror Display (ERMD) with a rear view and a 360-degree view to aid with parking. Lotus states that “Eletre is fitted with standard mirrors in markets where local regulations do not allow ERMD.”
4. Interior Driver Technology
The first thing you notice inside the Lotus Eletre is the ambient lighting in the footwell and all around the dashboard. Once in the driver’s seat, you’ll see what Lotus calls the “ribbon of technology” consisting of a small screen in front of you, a large 15-inch infotainment screen in the center, and another thin screen on the passenger side.
The screen in front of the driver shows key information such as the current speed, battery percentage, range, and infotainment details such as music and incoming calls.
The OLED infotainment screen in the center is beautiful with thin bezels and a responsive touchscreen. It can also retract to give the driver easier access to the front portion of the center console; it may also just retract to look as cool as possible.
5. Aerodynamics & Exterior Details
No hypercar is complete without impressive aerodynamics throughout the bodywork. The Eletre has openings near the headlights that bring air up through the hood and over the SUV, helping it cut through air efficiently. It also has openings on the sides that move air through the wheel arch.
The active front grill also helps to move air around the bodywork. All these aerodynamics don’t simply allow the Eletre to perform at its best but also help it look incredible.
The Lotus is as big as a BMW X7 but will have the performance and looks of a supercar. It’s beautiful at every angle, with a sloping roofline leading right to its split rear wing, pushing air down to the active spoiler.
A special touch at the rear of the Eletre is its lightbar that stretches end-to-end. It looks terrific and has a unique feature; the lightbar doubles as a battery indicator that helps you see how charged the vehicle is while plugged in.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Lotus?
As carbon emission regulations get stricter throughout the world, auto manufacturers have needed to get creative with their powertrains. This means opting for smaller, more efficient, but still naturally-aspirated engines, or going hybrid or fully electric in its supercars. Though this may sadden some purists, this does not take away from how special these vehicles are.
Lotus jumping into the SUV world shows that it’s ready to take on the all-electric vehicle market. The Eletre could also be the first of many all-electric vehicles it produces, with the Eletre appearing as the flagship model for the company. Nevertheless, all-electric vehicles are the future, and charging times, performance, and incredible design will only improve over time.
