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 4.5sec 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
00:55 Engineering, Description
02:55 Interior
05:40 Performance, Powertrain
07:20 Ride and Handling
12:00 Conclusion
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[@ipb1966]

“As usual they’re shite” 😂 Couldn’t agree more. Had camera mirrors on a recent courtesy car - solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

[@simono4991]

Completely agree! The motoring press as a whole were slow to call-out the ergonomic vandalism of the industry's move to put everything on a touch screen, so I am glad to see Autocar making their views about camera-mirrors clear from the start.

[@markthoughtswithukrainemas2072]

I 100% agree ==== I watched this for literally 3.5 seconds and switched it off !!!!! anyone that drives a Electric car is basically saying they have given up on life and hate driving

[@IainLambert]

My MG4’s “real mirrors, but also cameras for the low-speed, careful parking situations” solution is so much better than either one.

[@paddymuppy]

​@@markthoughtswithukrainemas2072What don't you revert back to a horse a cart?

[@greggpon7466]

​@@paddymuppyno a cathode ray television. Look Trinitron.

[@howardnoble7289]

Suggest there’s no need for that background music, it’s seriously annoying. H

[@mrmarrow8918]

100% background music annoying but car review brilliant

[@mistertdavies5076]

Made the video seem incredibly amateur including the poor sound from his microphone.

[@dallasdrew2390]

I agree

[@wololo10]

Yes

[@tomhutcheson66]

Agree

[@djwarren5081]

I've always enjoyed your laid back style. This one didn't disappoint.

[@ToreHansen]

Cool car and great video, welcome to Norway!

[@anthonyworley2891]

I think it came through that Matt was a little bit disappointed with this car but it came from it having a Lotus badge being attached to the bonnet not for the car itself. If Geely had put a Volvo badge on the front it changes your mindset and we would be saying wow! Thinking about it should have been a Polestar developed by Lotus and then we all would be Ok with it.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Geely doesn't put badges on these cars. They're engineered by the various brands. The Volvo EX90 is an SPA2 platform that Volvo designs. This car will drive like a Volvo because it uses Volvo's engineering. Lotus, Volvo and the like can choose to reskin another brand if they like but that's not Geely just putting badges on any Geely Group car and saying this is some sort of Geely variant dressed up as a Volvo or Zeekr or Geely Auto or Lotus. Mostly Polestars are based on Volvos because they were Volvo's sports skunk works and the people that run them used to work at Volvo.

[@anthonyworley2891]

@@benjaminsmith2287 Perhaps the way I worded the post was not as clear as I would have liked. I have no problem with Geely and I can assure you I understand the point I think you are making that Lotus would not exist without Geely and no one wish's that but Colin Chapman would not have approved of such a heavy car. At 2 ton for a SUV maybe as he approved of innovation but a Lotus at 2.5 tons plus I think not. If this car saves the Lotus brand we all approve only time will tell.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@anthonyworley2891 I think it can. Cayenne really caught on for Porsche. Lotus will make a smaller SUV as well as a sedan. This is their flagship. All BEVs are way too heavy, except maybe Teslas.

[@_Ben4810]

@@anthonyworley2891 Colin Chapman would absolutely have approved of this car. It takes Lotus upmarket & into new global customer territory, having the car made overseas by a Geely company opens up all the benefits of better Group Lotus cashflow, fixed-cost manufacture, no worries about UK labour, staff & unions, & all those international manufacturing & import loopholes that Chapman & his Swiss/Panamanian bank managers loved so much...! He was a ruthless businessman & this car is everything he always hoped to achieve, but could never quite attain financially in the 70's....

[@since-jx1ix]

Love the throwaway optional cameras instead of mirrors "as they're shite"😂

[@RichardFermion]

Certainly will upset a bunch of enthusiasts but I would rather see Lotus live on than disappear. And maybe we will get new sports car opportunities from the brand because of this.

[@zzhughesd]

Only Positive Way Look At it I’m Looking away owning 2 Exige S’s historically and a cancelled Emira deposit What’s great about a massive flock of fast EVs. All with zero charactor difference all costing insane money I’ll never get it. I’m prob just too old at 46. Polo golf focus fiesta gone in with insane EVs

[@josephjewellers]

only dumb British still think Lotus Alive.........all British car manufacturers died few decades ago

[@tren133]

Also the Lotus Emira is quite a nice car, and it would be highly unlikely that Lotus could afford to build their swansong of a light ICE powered sports car without Geely's money.

[@josephjewellers]

@@tren133 bark and beg like a dog and ask foreigner for help and bailout

[@LarsAgerbk]

that's how you feel now. But how will you feel when you've gotten used to see these EV SUVs all over the place. Will you still feel the same way about Lotus that you do now?

[@Ohwhenwillitrain]

It looks brilliant!

[@kennedyracing7527]

Appreciate the honesty

[@Olibolio1]

Think about what this is competing with. BMW iX, Polestar 3, Mercedes whatever that GS thing’s called. I’d have the Lotus over any of those. Although in fairness I wouldn’t choose anything that big

[@ronniet906]

Always enjoy Matt's reviews, on point, without the bullshit. As an owner of Lotus sportscars over the year, I wish Lotus much success with Eletre sales, giving them the capital to invest in their future range of sportscars. Would have been nice if Lotus insisted on Hydraulic steering in the Eletre, which might have improved steering feedback.

[@DonLee1980]

I would take this over an Urus, or a Cayenne turbo. That is... if I ever got an powerful SUV, which I wouldn't. Tried one out with a friend a couple months ago. holy crap, it can be thrown into corners at speeds that unfathomable.

[@Nickoboss29]

Then you rollover

[@dr.uweschmidt6300]

Thank you, Matt - your remarks are to the point. I drove the Eletre last week, and the part that felt most like a Lotus was the steering: sharp, precise, if anything lacking a little information about the road, decoupled. The rest was a luxurious SUV, with some serious flaws that could not show up under your test circumstances : 1. the LiDAR on the roof, when sticking out, makes one hell of a noise at 90 mph, we first thought the sunroof was opening ( which it can’t). 2. on poor road with uneven tarmac, the air suspension reaches its limits in all modes, jumping from pothole to pothole in a very noise fashion. Very surprising. Lotus should have started with a smaller Macan-like SUV that’s more driving like a Lotus.

[@Bmontepeque11]

I love you for making this review all about talking about your opinions, no dumb 0-60 sprint (Since we already know that it will be amazingly fast, but it's all about how it drives, is it any good? And this was answered 🌚❤️

[@tomindenver1331]

If it keeps the doors open at Hethel, I'll smile and wave to every Eletre owner I pass in my Elise.

[@saneman8147]

Wow, another SUV. How exciting.

[@herme99]

I suppose the question is if it wasn’t badged, would you know what it was by driving it.

[@1183newman]

nope, but i think that goes for any suv.

[@rob8710]

We just preordered this car (s trim) in China a few weeks ago, let’s just say during the test drive the handling was shockingly good for such a big suv. For reference my daily car in the US is a nd mx-5.

[@DouglasJWalker]

I just can get over the over-all looks

[@garyhawkins9246]

If this does for Lotus what the Cayenne did for Porsche, then I can forgive them for making it, but I’ll be expecting a brand new Esprit GT3 capable of taking on the 992 GT3

[@Nickoboss29]

Lotus is already dead

[@timogronroos4642]

Just a little bit larger than coming new C-HR, this would be my dream car.

[@derianparsad5659]

When you get one to test in the UK take it to the roads around Hethel and test it there, ideally with a Lotus exec in the car with you.

[@superkjell]

If sports car enthusiasts had been that sort of people, there would be picketing outside the factory in Hethel. People with "Not my Lotus!" plackards

[@andygtv]

Another throwaway design

[@Saint_Vincent1735]

This is a bit of a scoop. We’ll done Autocar

[@RichbUKDE]

Good to see Lotus doing something to thrive ra5her 5han just survive. Their plant is amazing to tour and j love the staffs enthusiasm. This isn't to my taste style wise...but as I say. What sells to keep them going. One of my favourite auto brands.

[@furryrug5998]

Yip really want Lotus to thrive. Style isn't really to my taste also, you could take badges off and tell me it's another Chinese or French marque and I wouldn't be any wiser - no disrespect to those brands, and they're in an incredibly competitive sector. I really hope their future sports car EV retain more of their original DNA (the Emira is a really pretty car).

[@emj2068]

Sounds like '80s workout music.

[@patrickdgarez86]

A little unreasonable to expect any EV, of this size and weight, to handle like a "Lotus". You did clarify that it was understood that it was an SUV but the review just seemed to have a bitter undertone (I have always and will continue to greatly respect your content). A Taycan is a sedan, with a lower center of gravity, so it is much easier to dial in Porsche characteristics. Even in the ICE world, SUV's don't handle the same way as their sedan/sports car sisters (X5M-M3, Urus-Hurracan, Cayenne-911). In short, no one expects the Electre to handle like an Emira or Evora. Let's also not forget that the Emira still has hydraulic steering. Lotus and Geely have played this resurrection beautifully. Introducing the Evija first (to sell the new design language and mission), then releasing the Emira and now the Electre. It's wonderful to see Lotus back in the game and with such fantastic offerings. They had to evolve. I would have just preferred a clean sheet review rather than a lament about how, it's good but just isn't a "real" Lotus. Who cares if the SUV sits on Volvo architecture (Urus buyers don't care that it's really a Q8) and built in China (The Chinese are the only reason that Lotus is back in the game both financially and technically speaking. Why shouldn't Geely benefit and use their factories?) And...he jumps off of his soap box.

[@bbgt6299]

Super senior review but u keep ur voice in the same level all the time - zero emotions. Not a criticism - just my personal view 😊

[@InspirationSessions]

I understand the tough commercial realities of volume carmakers but will be sad to see Lotuses becoming as common a sight on the roads as BMWs, Mercs etc. I always love to see a zippy little Lotus come past on a country road - they are (or were) rare birds but that will soon change. I don't like the new branding, either. But things change. I appreciated the more circumspect tone of this review to the rather gushing nature of Steve Sutcliffe's Auto Express video.

[@andrewsmactips]

Bean counter at parent company: Those temperature switches have got to go.

[@jasoncatt]

Interesting how much this differed from the other Autocar video.

[@ectolo]

What happened to phones will now happen to car dashboards and centre consoles - all generic, fewer and fewer distinguishing features, just a big screen.

[@smurf9857]

Liked the conclusion with the various cars assessed against their brand values.

[@FirstLast-rh9jw]

Imaginary conclusion.

[@gracefullygraceful9776]

Rear arches needs to be a lot more aggressive. Interior outshines the exterior.

[@djwarren5081]

I don't think that colour does it any favours. In silver or black perhaps?

[@DanFrederiksen]

Strange they didn't give you the 900hp version and that they would give it a volvoesque throttle response. at least have a brisk mode to harken to race days of Lotus. Otherwise sounds like Lotus has leaped into very mature car making and the brand might survive although depends on marketing and price. I'm not sure we have any Lotus dealers in my entire country. Who is the current owner and have paid for all this modern development? same owner as Volvo?

[@ekueku.ekueku8376]

very nice Lamborghini

[@K22MDL]

Check this out against the new Polestar 3 - the Chinese just keep pumping good looking (ish) SUV's and this is one of them - with a Lotus badge nailed to the front of it.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

The "Chinese" didn't do the Polestar 3. They really had little to do with it other than finance it. the Lotus has some Geely SPA base and a bit of Zeekr in it but this is the Lotus English/German engineered car. A car designed for China looks neither like a Scandinavian designed Polestar 3 or a Lotus. They're much more of a specific tech flavor and interior flavor to them than those cars have.

[@K22MDL]

@@benjaminsmith2287 That might be so but the Polestar looks so similar in size and design queues in my opinion and indeed many comments at a recent outing at the EV show in Farnborough, albeit in pre-production guise. Further more, the car will be built in China and possibly the USA.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@K22MDL The Polestarr 3 is a Polestar/Volvo. The Polestar 4 is more based on a Zeekr, the only Polestar that is (so far). The Chinese built is neither here or there, IMO, it's just a factory. Sweden is where Polestar designs and engineers their cars. People should look at Polestar's design video because then you get to see just exactly how they are built. Their engineering is being done in England as well. Volvo/Polestar is directed in Sweden. Lotus England and because of some platform sharing and to save costs, there may be some components sharing like there is at any auto group. VW has plenty of that. But I would argue Geely's brands are even more distinguished from each other than VW owned higher end brands.

[@androo4519]

First review I've seen of this that didn't sound like the script was written by Lotus's Chinese masters. Nice and honest. It's a good car so nobody needs to pretend it's something it isn't. I do wonder if Lotus dealers are up to the task of servicing this car's target audience who will have very different expectations to Elise drivers.

[@TsLeng]

Lotus dealers are used to deal with everything else other than lotuses. They'll be fine.

[@RichardFermion]

They'll be happy to have people in their showrooms. They have sales quotas.

[@nwavette]

I don't understand why it's so slow. I drive an Ioniq 5 with 320 horsepower and it will do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds too. That's like half the power for the same acceleration? Weird.

[@ajwo5984]

It’s also super heavy.

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

Very smart strategy by the Chinese - they bought prestigious "dead" brands in Europe - and years later they bring EV´s towards Europe, it is like they planned it for a long time.....very smart. This seems to be a very good SUV, although the design is ...weird, I need to see on the street which is always different.

[@alanizsak]

A Lotus by name only.

[@PsychedMedia]

This or the BMW iX M60?

[@RobinCapper]

I suppose Lotus need this, but the world doesn't. So much mass to move so little, literally the opposite of what a Lotus should be.

[@franciscoherrera1253]

Colin Chapman rolling in his grave with this car

[@red00eye]

@@franciscoherrera1253 thats such a clever insight, I have never heard that witty comment before.

[@topgunm]

Why would they handicap the throttle response? That's insane. What I love about my Model S Plaid is that it's instant. If I want less pedal sensitivity, I can put it in Chill or Sport (this does limit the power though), but it dosen't take more than 10 minutes of driving to get smooth acceleration.

[@FirstLast-rh9jw]

There's a valid safety point of not having it fire off like a missile with a few millimeters of accidental pedal depression....

[@topgunm]

@@FirstLast-rh9jw never once have I had a brick fall on my foot while driving. If you can't regulate a throttle pedal, you shouldn't have a driver's license in the first place. Lots of people have driven my Plaid. All of them in Plaid mode. Not once have they given too much throttle on accident.

[@mohammadsattar5488]

I'd love to see some real world data on wether accidents have been occurring more since the move to touchscreens for nearly everything in cars especially for things like the HVAC and vents and then the whole cameras for mirrors is absolutely phucking daft

[@kasimirdenhertog3516]

Did China just phone Lotus and say: ‘How about we make you a big SUV to crank up your sales figures?’ And Lotus went: ‘That would be marvelous, thank you!’ Now it arrived in the post and it turns out the Chinese actually did a pretty decent job.

[@_Ben4810]

Lotus are using the Zeekr cars as bases & putting their own re-styled boy panels on them, better interiors & improved ride/handling....This is one large step on from what they did with the Cortinas, Escort Twin Cam, Talbot Lotus Sunbeam & Lotus Carlton....& no-one complained about them.

[@johnnyboy1586]

Better than lotus could have done 😊

[@Nickoboss29]

They're ruining the brand

[@rogerwilson6367]

I have heard that 2 miles/mile is their real world efficiency. If this is so then they are finished befort they start. My MG4 does 4 miles/mile without trying and I could buy 3 for the priceof these.

[@mikesurong7315]

Lamborghini urus lookalike 😅😅

[@maxmustermann9669]

So as with almoust any new car you can write any name on its back because there is no "heritage" transfered through it. Thanks Matt - good review.

[@Cloxxki]

Less than a year ago they promised 2000 kg. Now it's 2720 kg with driver and camera equipment, so around 2600 kg empty. Add "lightness" they used to say at Lotus. What a bunch of liars. They didn't even TRY to make it lighter than similar cars.

[@protagonist9716]

Topgear says S version is 2520kg which is lighter than 2540+kg Tesla X they quote. It seems therefore in big EV this is class leading...

[@FenderUsa]

@@protagonist9716 lol

[@grahamfalcon4825]

Lets hope they sell like hot cake then we can have a proper new Lotus. Something small light fast and fun.

[@StephenGibson]

I love a good screen but car manufacturers need to give us back our buttons. The new DB 12 nails this. If a car, especially an electric car weighs the same as a small moon then they can allow a few extra kg's for the return of the buttons we actually want.

[@patmanrick]

Bjorn checked the weight and it's 2720kg (so 220kg heavier than you suggest - which is more than 25% of an Elise Sprint!). But otherwise this sounds like a great vehicle in its segment.

[@protagonist9716]

Topgear states 2520kg for the S and compares it to 2540+kg for Smaller Tesla X so for the size of this thing, it seems class leading

[@patmanrick]

@@protagonist9716 I mean, Bjorn literally drives the cars onto truck weighing scales, which are required by law to be accurate, and the X comes in at 2300kg approx (I can't remember the exact number) vs 2700kg for the Lotus.

[@msm4445]

⁠the weight depends on the version and the options. The weight suggested is for the basic version with no options (as all car manufacturers do). Then the more you add options, the more the weight gramps, and the car weighted by bjorn was full of options.

[@patmanrick]

@@msm4445 gotcha. Tesla weight includes options though right? As in, on the Tesla everything is standard

[@msm4445]

@@patmanrick well tesla have only the Eletre’s base line options. All the other options, tesla doesn’t have them: 23 inches wheels, antiroll bars, rear wheel stearing, 6 piston brakes and even carbon ceramic brakes, head up display, lidars, matrix lights, massage seats, 2180watt surround system with dolby atmos, intelligent glass roof… and the list goes on. So yes everything is standard on a tesla because Tesla doesn’t have the options in this Eletre.

[@IZ6]

No body else wandering how many Light Bulbs of power has it got? Horse Power...pifff leave it for the Shire my good man.

[@johnfrayne1422]

What’s with the music? 😢

[@K22MDL]

It's for the yooof appeal in-it

[@ScottZ370]

I've thought this was a good looking car previously but there's something offish about this one?! Has something changed

[@kempez]

The thing is we can all get het up at how this 'isn't a Lotus', but it's their Cayenne and if it keeps them making Lotus Sports cars, then it's a good thing.

[@FirstLast-rh9jw]

Why should Lotus have to please the closed mind brigade? They can go and buy a Morgan if they so desire.

[@kempez]

@@FirstLast-rh9jw totally misses the point. Lotus is a commercial company that needs to make money. If this helps them make money to keep them producing sports cars, then I’m all for it. It’s just commercial reality. Porsche started this with Cayenne and I think no less of them for catering to the more mass market, because they still produce exquisite sports cars

[@pip5461]

The Lotus I test drove had one pedal driving...!

[@joedesi99]

I think Lotus missed a trick here. Perhaps they should have kept hydraulic steering to give them a USP no one else has. Great review by the way.

[@Pasthim]

I'm not sure the typical buyer will notice or care less tbh

[@joedesi99]

You’re probably right. But it’s important to try to differentiate yourself from the other battery suvs and I think keeping the hydraulic steering could have tied the suv into what Lotus is about. How cars feel and communicate with you…the driver

[@imBugra]

I put a deposit on this particular car, and no, I wouldn't want a hydrolic steering in it. I'm gonna drive it intercountry roads, I'd be more likely looking for practicality, boot space, and performance. I don't think they tried to sell this car to classic Lotus owners. Even their forums are full of shyte. Thankfully, their engineers had a common sense to build a product with good profitability. You guys can keep driving your cars in the tracks, I ain't gonna pay it hundred grand to keep it in my backyard.

[@MrAlpinab7]

Wow, so many views for a washing machine ! Even the RR Spectre got the views it deserves, about 10k.

[@protagonist9716]

Amazing Chinese Crossover the second quickest in the world 2.9 seconds on R version!

[@zzhughesd]

Is there any positives to Lotus having this over another jelly mould EV sUV.

[@djwarren5081]

Probably profit which can be used to develop future Lotus models.

[@MRVSKIN]

Love the lotus. Of course it’s not going to feel like a lotus sports car because it’s an SUV for heavens sake

[@iKaGe01]

It's a Lambo Urus

[@VaunShiz]

Lotus is a sports car company lol

[@JG-hz5kh]

This sounds like an amazon reviewer decided to do a car review

[@MTreddevil12]

Alcantara cup holder inserts? Well that's just a terrible idea

[@_Ben4810]

I do have major concerns about the security of these cars...In an era of banned Huawei electronics in our telephone infrastructure, ''weather balloons'' overflying the USA & Japan, security revelations from the TikTok CEO testifying before US Congress Committee & even banned home security camera systems, I do wonder where all the live data gathered from the cars multiple cameras, GPS location, wi-fi connection to the driver's mobile phone is going to...? A small server in a Portacabin at Hethel or to Geely HQ who then by Chinese law MUST allow the Chinese State security services full access to this data....

[@GrooveTasticThang]

Makes the KIA EV6 GT and the Jaguar Ipace look like good looking , well designed high quality ‘bargains’

[@HumanButcher150]

Both of them are already good looking and well designed.

[@josephjewellers]

Mainland China driver: I’m driving an imported foreign car from UK UK driver: I’m driving an imported foreign car from China mainland

[@shawndonadieu4084]

imported car from UK? lol UK don't make cars anymore, RangeRover owned by TATA, MG owned my SAIC. Not much left bud

[@andersbjrnsen7203]

Did the man just say that Norwegian roads were UNBELIEVABLY GOOD?!? How bad are British roads for him to think that??

[@michaelmorley6522]

It’s not a Lotus, it is a Chinese SUV leveraging the Lotus brand name it seems. It maybe a good car, certainly priced well. But it is not a Lotus as we knew them.

[@tomcat7525]

Made for elderly Lotus drivers?

[@mej6519]

2 1/2 ton....

[@Cloxxki]

More like 2.6. They said to be working towards a 2000 kg figure less than a year ago. It was never even remotely true, they just wanted people to pre-order it seems, whatever lies it would take.

[@beetleything1864]

EV's are going to wreck the roads and collapse carparks....

[@johnm5131]

after seeing how lotus put the emira together. I would fear owning any Lotus until they get the quality fixed.

[@doubled1978]

‘Lotus’ aren’t building this though. It’s being made in China where the Emira is made by traditional Lotus.

[@ectolo]

"there are almost no components at all shared" also sounds like a marketing bullshit line lol. There's either very few components shared, or none at all.

[@werdnasretep]

Sounds like a lovely car to drive - if you have 100k to spend of course. Who will buy these? The tax payer. The owners will be companies that can write off the cost against tax on profits - and the drivers will pay hugely reduced benefit in kind due to the EV status. Might save Lotus though I guess?

[@964tractorboy]

An entertaining review as always. I'm not sure this would be on my shopping list if I had 100k to throw at an SUV. And when I say "I'm not sure", I'm being polite. The centre-console design looks grim at best. The "fluffy stuff" isn't the answer to all interior questions.

[@cestrian5294]

Swittched off after a few minutes. Why the music in the background? Totally distracting.

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

The key facts: weighs 2.7 tonnes so zero dynamic ability / no towing capacity / massive amounts of CO2 created in order to make it (and transport it from PRC). Does this make any sense other than as a chicken shed?

[@UTube-gs1yf]

Seems to me Jaguar made a better EV 5 years ago. And nobody bought it. That looks a lot like the Kia EV6 from the rear.

[@alunjones2550]

Sadly, these "do-all" screens we now have in cars are a prime example of technology following fashion rather than function. Ergonomics seems to be a forgotten science now.

[@red00eye]

That background music is really irritating.

[@HG504X]

Nobody wants or asked for an Lotus EV. They haven't even got the Evija in production yet.

[@MF-jp5vp]

I didn't realise that Lotus were Chinese.

[@ronin84]

A very strange thing this is.

[@Don-pk2uy]

Don't put music on the video 😢

[@The_Greg_5000]

Well its an electric car , so it will sell like crazy. It doesnt really matter how fast or fun it is, thats not its main purpose. The main purpose of this car is to provide a reliable revenue stream for Lotus that would allow them to develop fun sports cars. I really hope this works out as well as the Cayenne has worked for Porsche.

[@ohyesitsme]

I don;t think Lotus ever had the prestige of Porsche so I can't see the sort of sales that the Porsche will get especially as it is a rebadged Geely

[@PowerslideSWE]

I'm glad Lotus finally has some money to develop cars, this on the other hand doesn't interest me in the slightest, I know these sell, but come on, a 5 seat SUV? Yawn.. Grat review as usual though.

[@pjay3028]

This can only end in tears. Lotus want to make nimble, exciting sports cars. Nimble exciting sports cars don't generate enough profit, so they need to sell lots of expensive SUVs to cross subsidise their sports cars. Those SUVs have to be extra expensive, to create that essential cross subsidy, but they don't offer anything of the Lotus DNA to justify the extra expense. Therefore when buyers choose their SUV, they will inevitably choose a quite expensive Kia or Hyundai, rather than an extra expensive Lotus which offers nothing to actually justify that extra expense. Electric cars will eventually kill any premium manufacturer that doesn't understand this, because they don't deliver the differentiation that ICE always has.

[@tadantoniak7121]

Was gonna buy one until you said the R&D centre is in Germany. FFS.

[@ZeeBri]

NORWICH Nickers Off Ready When I Come Home

[@sebastian.brottman]

Björn drove this car onto a scale, and it was 2720kg. IMO there isn't anything "sport" about a vehicle with that much weight.

[@daverichardson8918]

It was going well until you said it was made in China.

[@tictoc677]

lotus is a coachbuilder at best. toyota camry engines if they are lucky

[@jo05dk]

Colin Chapman is rotating like crazy in his grave. RIP Lotus. I did love thee.

[@jeremyroberts2782]

Hate those big screens in the middle of a dash. Touch screens in cars are just awful idea. Don't need 50% of the features they offer.

[@hunkydrewy]

Heavy electric vehicles cause lot of stress on the road surface. This stress can lead to cracking, potholes, or other forms of pavement damage.

[@mt1104uk]

Heavy cars in general, not just electric. The industry has been trending to huge heavy cars because people think they feel more luxurious and like the high up driving position. The problem comes when the majority are in those, they don't feel as high up any more so the slow creep to get bigger and bigger happens. Having road tax based on vehicle weight would be one way to tackle the problem, but I don't think that's going to happen.

[@rmp5s]

Mmm...built in China...nice.

[@davidhayes4814]

Using an iconic name to sell generic EV SUVs…… Maybe we will get an ARIEL or a CATERHAM 3 tonne EV SUV soon too.

[@funkyfin3023]

It’s got a Lotus badge on it but it displays no traits of a Lotus or their philosophy. It could be any large Chinese SUV EV. Call it the Willy Wonka not a Lotus. Yes it’s needed to fund future Lotus sports cars but call it something else and don’t demean the brand. I’ll be getting the new Macan as I strongly suspect it will drive like a Porsche.

[@_VelociDad]

Going all-electric is a mistake. No Chinese built, overweight “Lotus” for me, sorry. The styling is nice!