The 2025 line-up for both Eletre and Emeya now runs on a clearer naming convention, ‘600’ and ‘900’, which handily reflect their power output in metric horsepower. For the nostalgic, the beloved trim names of GT SE and SPORT SE also make a triumphant return, resurrected from the Lotus hall of fame and stitched into these modern electric silhouettes.

The Eletre 600 and Emeya 600 variants deliver 612 bhp through a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup, paired with a 112 kWh battery. Both cars are fitted with active air suspension, KEF premium audio systems, and Lotuswear Performance Fabric interiors in two tasteful themes: Quartz and Jasper.

Prefer something even spicier? The 900 variants are your ticket. With 918 bhp and a 2-speed transmission, the Eletre 900 SPORT and Emeya 900 SPORT demolish 0-100 km/h in 2.78 seconds. That’s hypercar territory, except here it’s wrapped in the practicality of an SUV or GT sedan.

The new range is structured around predefined trim levels, each one kitted out with crowd-favourite features. The GT SEs bring in touches of opulence like intelligent glass roofs, illuminated side sills and KEF’s flagship 23-speaker Reference audio system. SPORT SE trims lean harder into performance, with dynamic handling packs, active aero elements, and even massaging ventilated seats for those moments between apexes.

And if you’re the sort who likes everything just so, Lotus hasn’t forgotten you either. Optional packages, vibrant new colours like Zenith and Akoya White, and Lotuswear’s signature tactile interiors ensure that every Eletre and Emeya can still be uniquely yours.

And what of range? Up to 610 km on the WLTP cycle means you can chase the horizon for hours without range anxiety. And when you do need a top-up, the Emeya’s 800V hyper-charging system lets you juice up from 10–80% in a mere 14 minutes.

It’s easy to forget in the sea of performance specs, but these are still Lotus cars. That means road feel, sharp steering, and aerodynamics honed not just for efficiency, but for engagement. The principle of ‘porosity’, allowing air to flow through, over, and under the car, is evident in every crease and contour. You’ll find this DNA across both models, inherited from the flagship Evija and the celebrated Emira.

Whether you fancy yourself a cross-country grand tourer or just want to know your SUV can outrun a Ferrari, Lotus now has an electric chariot tailored for you. The Emeya 600 starts from S$391,700*, while the range-topping Eletre 900 SPORT commands a princely S$688,700*.

*Indicative pricing excludes COE and insurance. Prices are subject to change.

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When the Lotus Eletre first rocked up to the scene, it shocked motoring press worldwide. Controversial would be the word to describe the whole ordeal, mainly because ‘this’ is pretty much what the world thinks a Lotus shouldn’t be; a tech-laden lumbering electric SUV.

Mind you, this was never pitched as a game-changer; it simply exists as the Lotus of SUVs. But, the badge only tells half of the story here.

Despite the onslaught of virtual pitchforks and colourful comments, if you dig past the “hastily edited on template backgrounds” Colin Chapman quotes, there appears to be quite a bit of interest in Lotus heading in a new direction. 

But, have the lightweight sportscar folks managed to pull it off?

Striking

The Eletre is quite a sizeable SUV, and Lotus has made no attempt to hide this fact. It doesn’t need to.

At more than 5 metres long, it even stands toe to toe with some of the big dogs from other manufacturers, and its road presence is further amplified by its aggressive facade.

As with most performance EVs, aerodynamics is key to unlock more range and performance. This translates to a variety of intakes and air channels on the Eletre. Nothing is just for show, and that results in a low drag coefficient of just 0.26. Pretty impressive for a large SUV.

Being an SUV doesn’t bother the Eletre much it seems, as the sharply tapered windscreen results in a height just shy of 1.7 metres.

Keen observers would notice the pair of cut-out turrets on the roof. These house the myriad of sensors and components for the car’s LIDAR systems.

There are 34 – yes, 34 – sensors on the Eletre in total. Four deployable LIDAR, six radar, seven cameras and 12 ultrasonics. Lotus is gunning for level 4 autonomy here (though there’s no legal framework for it just yet), and they aren’t shy about showing off their tech.

The rear end is equally striking thanks to carbon fibre roof blades and a rear lightbar that can illuminate in four colours depending on vehicle function (turning, unlocking, battery charge status, and braking).

You do grab a lot of attention while piloting the Eletre, and pedestrians will crane their heads just to catch a glimpse of this gliding by.

Future-focused

The interior is another major step for Lotus, because the Eletre embraces technology in a big way.

Drivers get fed information through a 12.6-inch display strip behind the hexagonal steering wheel plus a large head-up display. This is how you design clear and legible driving information – I hope some Silicon Valley automaker is taking notes. 

4-sectioned paddle shifters behind the wheel deal with brake regeneration and driving modes, minimising the need to dive into complicated menus just to get into Sport. 

The centre is dominated by a large 15.1-inch OLED central touchscreen with pretty graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are currently unavailable (rumoured to be added in future OTA updates), but the Eletre has enough native tech to keep you satisfied in the meantime.

There’s wireless charging and a compact button menu for quick-function items, and even your front passenger gets a touchscreen strip of their own. Depending on who’s your co-pilot, that may or may not be beneficial. 

Lotus has gone to town with the cabin, crafting as many surfaces as possible with sustainable materials. The clothy bits are derived from Re-Fibre made from waste fabric, and they feel nice.

Customers can also spec optional UltraFabric seats made from polyurethane, carbon-neutral Alcantara and Econyl carpets made from 100 per cent post-consumer waste. Better than that, unlike Lotus-es of the past, it all conforms together properly. It’s a really nice place to sit.

You can spec a rear bench, but this demo car has the four-seater box ticked – plenty of space and utility for all occupants (heating, ventilated and massage for all folks on board), plus a decently sized 688-litre boot.

A 46-litre frunk is also available, though I suspect it would mostly be used for jumper or charging cables.

Nimble

There’s a lot to uncover about the Eletre, but the best thing about it is that it feels nimble on its feet. Engineers have designed the sizeable 112kWh battery to have cells arranged directly in the structural case rather than in separate modules. More densely packed, less volume.

Thanks to an 800-volt system, it can charge at up to a peak of 350kW. Plug in a decently-fast DC charger and you’ll be back on the road in a couple of minutes. 

Weirdly, the Eletre has a 22kW AC charger as standard, but most folks do not currently have the means to tap that kind of power in their own homes.

Lotus claims 600km on a full charge, but I saw a maximum of 475km on the display during my test. Not too shabby, considering the car’s cooling systems have to work overtime to keep everything nice and temperate in our climate.

Everything else about the car is neatly organised to optimise weight distribution. The Eletre even comes with aluminium multi-link twin-chambered air suspension, changing up the car’s characteristics in different modes (Tour, Range, Sport, Off-road, Individual).

All of this wizardry allows the Eletre to be confident in its own skin, working with its own weight efficiently and minimising the bulkiness one associates with heavy SUVs.

Its heft definitely needs some attention, but good steering feel and body control mean you can pick a line and stick to it through a corner. Push too hard, and it predictably understeers, but it can compose itself again easily.

Brake feel is strong and consistent, though there is a little awknessness during the transition between regen and actual braking. This is all fine and well in Tour. But, I would love to see more assertiveness in Sport. Perhaps that is reserved for the specs-numbing R variant.

Even on those flashy rims, ride quality is composed throughout, albeit a little firm.

As far as Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is concerned, the cruise control and highway assist work pretty well.

However, speed limit and lane-keep assist warnings are aplenty, and you need to switch them off every time you start up the car. Intrusive ADAS is not an Eletre-specific problem, but I feel it can be made more intuitive to turn off when required.

Honestly, the Eletre is probably the best-handling electric SUV in this segment currently available today, and the specs of the S is more than sufficient for anyone looking to buy one.

450 kW (603 bhp) and 710 Nm is on tap, giving you the grunt to complete the century sprint in just 4.5 seconds. Frankly, folks who spring for the R are probably doing it just for bragging rights.

New-age

It’s hard not to spill some prejudice into any conversation about Lotus, since it is known for its light and nimble sports cars.

But, as we’ve come to see in other manufacturers, a company today cannot thrive by niche alone, and Lotus needed to expand its portfolio or it would die. In today’s context, that means making an SUV that’s unpopular with the purists, but something that is commercially saleable.

Folks can say all they want about the Eletre, but despite all of the opposition, it still has some Lotus DNA in there. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good start to a new branch line.

Technical Specifications

Lotus Eletre S 

Engine: Dual AC Synchronous Electric Motors
Power: 450 kW (603 bhp)
Torque: 710 Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 4.5 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 258 km/h
Battery Capacity: 112 kWh
Drive Range: 600 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 4.7 km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$568,000 without COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Lotus Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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Yet here we are with the all-electric Eletre SUV. Well, hyper-SUV, actually, as Lotus calls it.

As an ex-Lotus owner, I know full well what a Lotus car represents and embodies, and the Eletre is everything opposite of that, and I’m not even talking about the fact that it’s an EV.

For one, it’s heavy. At 2.5 tonnes, this is the heaviest car the company has ever made. So much for Colin Chapman’s ‘add lightness’ mantra; they’ve just added heaviness with this one. It’s also the largest car the factory at Hethel has ever produced. Forget the nimble, compact, mid-engined, track-ready two-seater sports cars Lotus used to make; this is a full-sized five-seater SUV with a boot!

But would I buy one? Hell yeah, and here’s why.

With the Eletre, I will never have to relive the days of an aircon that doesn’t work, a roof that leaks and a side sill so vast that you need an overhead bridge to cross over to get into your seat. I’m also getting old, and I love SUVs. Aimed at a new (and old) generation of Lotus customers seeking a practical, versatile and spacious family-focused electric hyper-SUV, it promises to be the most advanced Lotus ever.

From the first impressions at the launch along Scotts Road, the future looks bright – at least in this shade of green (sorry). The Eletre aims to blend comfort, performance and ‘cutting-edge luxury design’ with sustainable materials, says Lotus, and from the images, I’m sure you can agree that they have gotten it right. The overall fit and finish are high-level stuff, and everything from the materials and design exudes the makings of a modern luxury sports car.

It’s feature-packed, too. The Eletre’s comprehensive standard specification includes active air suspension, continuous damping control, torque vectoring, Lotus Intelligent Dynamic Chassis Control, 22-inch 10-spoke forged wheels in silver with a diamond-turned finish (20-inch five-spoke in European markets), Matrix LED headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control, Visual Park Assist, four-zone climate control, 12-way electric-adjust front seats, head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 1,380W 15-speaker KEF Premium Audio system. Now you can take a breath.

Two trims will be made available: the Eletre S, the model focused on luxury, and the flagship Eletre R, the one that is all about performance. The R benefits from the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, comprising Intelligent Active Roll Control and Active Rear Steering, a Carbon Pack, Pirelli P Zero performance tyres, and a gloss black finish for the wheels. There’s also a sixth ‘Track’ Drive Mode for the R. Sounds fast, eh?

How fast? Well, Lotus claims that the Eletre S, with 603 bhp, can accelerate from 0-100km/h in only 4.5 seconds and go on to a maximum speed of 258km/h, with the ability to achieve a combined range of up to 600km. The top dog R boasts an incredible 905 bhp and 985 Nm and will cover the benchmark sprint in under 3 seconds.

But let’s get to the real juicy bits. No, not the outright performance or how fast the car can charge (it’s 10-80 per cent in only 20 minutes with rapid charging and up to 120 km of range in just five minutes, by the way). Let’s instead talk about what the company has done to make sure that this 2.5-tonne SUV can handle like an actual Lotus.

Of course, we can only give you a genuine verdict once we drive it, but these features should prove they are serious about keeping to their DNA.

The basic stuff is already promising – multi-link suspension systems in the front and rear with components made from lightweight aluminium and additional tech such as active anti-roll control, torque vectoring by braking, and active rear-wheel steering. Adjustable dual-chamber air springs, fitted as standard across the Eletre range, enable independent control of ride height and stiffness. The active air suspension also provides speed-dependent lowering of the car by up to 25mm to reduce drag and lower the centre of gravity. Conversely, it’ll provide more comfort in its higher setting on the highway.

The electronically-controlled damping system – CDC – continuously measures the loads coming into the suspension at a rate of 1,000 times per second and adapts the damping rate 500 times per second for improved body control without any harshness. The SUV is also the first Lotus to use electromechanical power steering, tuned to deliver a purer, connected feel and feedback. At only 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, the steering promises to be sports car quick as well.

The active rear-wheel-steering system is another Lotus first and aims to make the Eletre even more agile, along with Intelligent Active Roll Control (IARC). These two features are part of the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack fitted as standard to the Eletre R and optional on the Eletre S.

There are other tasty bits like Lotus’ partnership with Pirelli; the Italian company provided a range of high-performance 22 and 23-inch P Zero and ultra-high-performance 22-inch P Zero Corsa tyres specifically for the Eletre. Other established brand names are Brembo and AP Racing, who have co-developed the SUV’s braking system and offer everything from the standard six-piston front callipers and two-piece Brembo discs to the optional carbon ceramic braking system available on the Eletre R with AP Racing’s 10-piston ‘Radi-Cal’ callipers and Brembo carbon ceramic discs.

The Eletre is the first of many electric Lotuses (we could never agree on the plural of Lotus); it’s built on the all-new Electric Premium Architecture (EPA), a flexible and modular platform bespoke to Lotus. It will be at the core of a range of new premium lifestyle performance EVs, which will be developed over the next few years. Plans to launch further models, including a sports sedan (Type 133), another SUV (Type 134), and more are in the pipeline.

We can argue till the cows come home if EVs are the proper sustainable solution, but if there is one brand that shows (albeit a little late) that the EV era is here to stay for a while, it’s Lotus. Let’s hope they can make these ‘soulless’ machines fun to drive. My hope is in the engineers at Hethel.

Photo Credits: Lotus Singapore

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