Your definitive guide to the Lotus Eletre

The Lotus Eletre - your definitive guide

While the Porsche Taycan has to be the most attractive, and popular, performance EV to date, the outcome in 2023 will be far more uncertain for the German brand. The all-electric car market, and van market, is becoming healthily competitive and this is bringing around innovations in range, charging speeds, and acceleration / top speeds. As our unique data demonstrates below, the “Fastest Electric Cars for 2023” is now a true mix of brands and car options, with Tesla, Polestar, Mercedes, Audi and now Lotus appearing within this elite list:

The addition of Lotus to the electric segment was a surprise for many of us, with this British sports car manufacturer known more for petrol performance cars like the Elise, Esprit and Elan. They don’t exactly suggest lithium-ion batteries and charging cables; they are  more of a weekend or track day experience. But Lotus arrived to the EV market in 2020 with the notion of a concept electric SUV which they suggested would be the leading SUV / “coupe-like” car to buy or lease in the near-future.

And while the initial designs, and subsequent manufactured demo product, did seem to propagate a legitimate Lamborghini Urus rival, for the more educated “e” drivers out there, we understand that vehicle aesthetics and style are only so important. With an electric automotive, the most important aspect is the battery, and the corresponding tech. Regardless of the style, interior design or external “wow factor” if this delivers an insufficient range or charging experience, then you would be a frustrated customer.

While Tesla may not emulate the traditional, yet popular, approach from Audi, BMW and Mercedes, the American BEV powerhouse outsold all of the aforementioned manufacturers in the UK during 2022 - with 35,551 Model Y and 19,071 Model 3 registered! Part of this does prove that investment in facets like charging infrastructure, customer experience and more specific EV tools are as equally important.

Is the Lotus Eletre the next generation of luxury and performance EVs?

The good news for Lotus leasing customers is that the Eletre has been designed at the Geely HQ in the UK but production of the vehicle, and the battery, will take place by Geely in China. While the name may not be all that recognisable, this group are responsible for great brands like Polestar, Volvo and the London Taxi Company (LEVC).

Economies of scale and battery quality is key to the product succeeding and ensuring customer confidence. None more so for the Lotus Eletre with prices from:

•  Eletre - £89,500; 
•  Eletre S - £104,500; and
•  Eletre R - £120,000 

And the prices above are for a standard option, and don’t take into the immeasurable variety of options which you can add to your Luxury EV . Not unlike most prestige options in the combustion world - Land Rover, Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari - customisation and bespoke creations are key. And this is where the Lotus excels, with the ability to create an almost infinite amount of exterior, interior and equipment solutions. For luxury leasing customers, this is integral to a product becoming popular.

The main model, and most likely to feature in the EV Awards for 2023, will be the Eletre R, which at £120,000+ more than meets the definition of luxury and performance vehicle. Choose your colour from a list which includes - Natorn Red, Galloway Green, Stellar Black, Kaimu Grey, Blossom Grey and Solar Yellow. Enjoy the standard 22” alloys in Grey, Gloss Black or Silver OR upgrade to the 23” options for around £3,000 - £3,500.

The standard lightweight brake discs allow various colour options but you can upgrade to £12,000 carbon ceramic options too. For the more aggressive driver, add the Extended Carbon Pack for £9000, which ensures a carbon finish on the front lip, lower rear diffuser, bonnet panels, wheel liners and rear bumper panels.

For the interior, the standard Magnetite or Quartz can be enjoyed or for £3,450, upgrade to the Ruby or Jasper. Need more comfort? Elect for the Comfort Seat Pack at £2,000 (for power adjustable front seats, lumbar support, memory seats, front massage seats and front/rear ventilated seat). Want more? Just push to the Executive Seat pack for £5,000 which adds even more configuration to the front and rear seats plus rear 9” TFT screen displays.

For those with an exterior Carbon Pack, match it to the interior with a £3,600 interior upgrade. In terms of “additional equipment” consider the Intelligent Glass Roof at £1,750, the £1,000 Parking Pack (for auto parking space detection) to the £1,450 Highway Pack (for autonomous driving once LEGALLY available in the UK).

But to become the best electric car of 2023, you need more than the sleekness and style; you need substance. If the Eletre R does deliver what the statistics suggest, then we could be witnessing the next level of EV tech for automotives in the UK.

The performance model will have a 107 kWh usable battery which will deliver 675kW (or 905hp), 0 - 62 times of 2.9 seconds and top speeds of 162 mph. Combined real ranges are 240 miles in cold weather and 310 miles in warmer weather (on a full charge).

In terms of charging times / capabilities - the standard 22 kW AC max allows a 0 - 100% session in around just over 5 hours and 45 minutes with the 350 kW DC rapid charge enabling 20 minute 10 - 80% times. This has a Vehicle Fuel Equivalent of 106 mpg. With a 611L cargo volume, this has a robust storage facility. No data on towing is available but this car will be able to tow - an electric towbar can be fitted for £1,100 by the manufacturer.

So what are the Pros of the Lotus Eletre EV? 

• Will be one of the quickest EVs to lease in 2023 with 0 - 62 times of 2.9 seconds;
•  This is the best EV for charging with the 22kW AC and 350 kW DC being market leading fastcharge abilities in the UK;
• Looks amazing - likely to appeal to the Lamborghini Urus fans; and 
•  Ability to create a truly unique motor. 

So what are the Cons of the Lotus Eletre EV? 

•  This is an expensive option at £90,000+ - expect leasing deals at £1000 - £2000 per month;
•  The interior is a little low-key and may not appeal to those drivers looking for something a little more aggressive;
•  This is a new product and represents a big investment considering there is no historic electric Lotus to compare with; and
•  The UK’s charging network has limited 250kW+ DC charging facilities as at 2023 (expect far more by 2025).