The all-electric Lotus Electra R hyper-SUV offers a wild ride. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

How do you make a 2.6-tonne luxury SUV handle like a Lotus, while at the same time giving it as much as 905bhp? It's a conundrum encapsulated by this car, the Lotus Eletre R.

Background

There's never been a mainstream Lotus with more power than the Eletra R. But there's never been a heavier Lotus model either. Which might lead you to doubt the wisdom of giving this top version of the brand's electric SUV as much as 905bhp. But what a confection is in prospect. And you don't have to have it as an SUV. All the same engineering is available in the brand's identically-platformed Emeya fastback GT. But it's the top Eletra that's our focus here.

Driving Experience

Lotus claims the Eletra has been engineered to deliver everything you would expect from the brand, in terms of ride and handling, steering and driver engagement. There's a clever three- in-one electric motor system integrating motor, controller and reducer into one package. And thanks to copious use of carbon fibre and aluminium, this car is light by EV standards too. Just one reason why the company is able to claim that this Eletra R is the world's fastest dual motor production SUV. This model has combined motor output of 905bhp accessed (unusually in an EV) by a dual-speed transmission which allows for faster acceleration. The 62mph sprint is dispatched in just 2.95s en route to 165mph. Plus there's lowered suspension, race-style damper settings and anti-roll control. The 'R' also comes with a 'Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack' (optional on other models) which includes an active anti-roll system, active rear-wheel steering and an extra 'Track' driving mode. The standard drive settings are 'Tour', 'Range', 'Sport', 'Individual' and 'Off Road'. These are controlled via a right hand steering wheel paddle and alter not only throttle response and steering feel but also responses from the Continuous Damping Control adaptive dampers. Suspension feel though, is always on the firm side. The drive modes also alter the ride height of the 2-Chamber air suspension, which lowers itself in 'Sport' and 'Range' (as part of the active aerodynamics) but raises in 'Off Road' (which also offers an even loftier 'Highest' setting). That, along with the standard Hill Descent Control system, might make surprisingly gnarly tracks passable, provided you were brave enough to attempt them in a six-figure luxury Lotus.

Design and Build

So much is different here. Not only the fact that this is an all-electric Lotus SUV but also the fact that this car has five doors, a big boot and, at 5.1-metres in length, is vastly bigger than anything the brand has previously made (almost the same size as a Lamborghini Urus). Yet great lengths have been gone to by Design Chief Ben Payne and his team to give the car a Lotus 'feel', primarily in the way that the compact bonnet, the short overhangs and the cab-forward stance reference the brand's previous mid-engined design layout. There are nods to Lotus cars of the present too, with sharp edges at the front and the glass canopy on top of the body, both referencing the look of the Evija hypercar. Huge 22 or 23-inch wheels help visually 'shrink' the silhouette. And at the rear, there's a full-width ribbon light and a carbonfibre three-stage deployable roof-mounted spoiler. And digital stalks are available as an option to replace the usual door mirrors. Inside, if anything, it's even more extreme and yes, again there is a very Lotus feel thanks to the driver-focused minimalist vibe. The small-diameter steering well with its regen-adjust and drive mode paddles is retro, yet futuristic. And through it, you view a slim info strip (under 30mm tall) which displays key vehicle and journeying info. Anything else you'll need is found on a 15.1-inch landscape-orientated central infotainment screen. A camera on the dash watches where you're looking and adjusts screen brightness automatically - which is useful to stop the little screens at either end of the dash (the ones replacing the door mirrors) becoming distracting. The front seats are super-slim race-style items. For the rear, a three-person bench is standard and rear legroom is impressive. A four-seat layout is optional with individual rear chairs. However, this reduces boot space from the normal 688-litres to 611-litres. Not bad for a Lotus though.

Market and Model

So, what might a luxury electric Lotus SUV like this cost? Well quite a lot in the case of the top R model we're trying here, which at the time of this test in Summer 2024 was pitched at a cool £120,000. That's £10,000 less than the equivalent Lotus Emeya R (a fastback GT) and reasonably competitive against obvious competitors like the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S, the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV 53 4MATIC+, the Audi SQ8 Fastback e-tron and the (left hand drive-only) Tesla Model X Plaid. Equipment-wise on the Eletre R, the key inclusion is the 'Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack' which costs well over £6,000 on the two other models in the range and includes an active anti-roll system and active rear-wheel steering. The R gets an uprated Eletre 675 motor with 2-speed transmission and an extra 'Track' mode. And is set apart by a 'Carbon Fibre Pack', which adds that material to the front spoiler, the lower rear diffuser and the side sills. Other standard equipment includes 22-inch wheels, an augmented reality Head-up display and five drive modes that alter the car's steering, powertrain and suspension parameters. Plus there's a clever 'Electric Reverse Mirror Display' package which replaces conventional door mirrors and uses three cameras; one replacing the usual internal rear view mirror, one to contribute to a 360-degree surround view of the car and one as part of intelligent driving technologies. As for media connectivity, there's a 15.1-inch OLED touchscreen in the centre of the dash that's fitted with Lotus's latest Hyper OS operating system for the driver and passengers, pre-prepared for over-the-air updates. A dedicated smartphone app, wireless 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring and 5G data compatibility are also included. As is a 1,380-watt 15-speaker KEF stereo. LiDAR sensors have been placed around the bodywork which (with the right options boxes ticked) will allow able the car to offer level four self-driving capability as soon this is allowed by legislation. 'Highway System Pack' and 'Parking Pack' options are available to widen the suite of driver assets.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the driving range figure earlier - 304 miles for the Eletra R (it's 373 miles for the other two variants). This Lotus model's 'Electric Premium Architecture' 800-volt platform supports the latest ultra-rapid chargers that are springing up all over Europe: many rival premium brand EVs are still stuck on the old 400-volt system with their architecture. The 112kWh battery supports charging speeds of up to 420kW, which should enable you at a conventional rapid charger to replenish the battery from 10-80% in 20 minutes. The charging port has been placed on the front wing, which means electricity coming through to the car will be as close as possible to where it's needed, which cuts down on unnecessary internal cabling and the extra weight that would bring. A five year warranty is standard in the UK. Lotus offers roadside assistance across Europe for five years after vehicle purchase.

Summary

Whether Lotus founder Colin Chapman would have liked this uber-heavy uber-rapid hyper-SUV is irrelevant. He'd have liked the way that cars like this Eletra future-proof the company he founded back in 1948. And make possible other lighter sports car designs that in future might be more 'Lotus-like'. For the present, this Eletre R is quite a feat of engineering - and needs all of it to keep its 905bhp related to tarmac territory. You might disapprove of it, yet want one at the same time. At last here, an emotion that's recognisably Lotus.

Body Glass

Rear wiper

Heated washer jets

Rear privacy glass

One touch windows with anti-pinch

Brakes

Hill descent control

Electronic parking brake

Hill start assist

Auto hold function

Torque vectoring brake

Traction control system (TCS)

Electronic brake assist (EBA)

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Adjustable regenerative braking

Autonomous emergency braking system (AEB)

Braking override system

Electrical brake pad wear control

Emergency braking rapid flashing

Chassis/Suspension

Active air suspension

Multi-link front and rear suspension

Lotus Intelligent Dynamic chassis control

Communication

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Bluetooth

Wireless phone charger with NFC

Lotus App (core package)

5G telematics

Wireless internet hotspot

Driver Aids

Adaptive cruise control

Rear park assist

Front park assist

Lane keep assist

Continuous damping control

Traffic sign recognition

Rear cross traffic alert

Front cross traffic assist

Rear collision warning

Blind spot detection

5 drive modes (range, tour, sport, individual, off-road)

Electric 2 modes power assisted steering

Visual park assist

Driver Convenience

Power tailgate with hands free open

Keyless entry and exit

Heads up display (with semi AR)

RNC (Road Noise Cancellation)

Driver Information

Satellite Navigation

BLIS (Blind spot information system)

Driver monitoring system

e-Call (emergency call)

12.6" digital driver display

Driving Mirrors

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Electric/heated/folding door mirrors with memory

Entertainment

DAB+ radio

Front and rear USB-C ports

15.1" HD OLED centre screen

12.6" digital passenger display

8" Rear TFT screen for 5-seat layout

KEF reference audio (2160W, 23 speakers, 3D system)

Exterior Body Features

Frameless Doors

Front air dam

Illuminated door handles

Metal load space scuff plates

Rear side wing doors

Electric charging cover

Lotus Active Aero - front grill, floating split roof spoiler, Lidar system

Flush door handles

Exterior Lights

Dusk sensor

Puddle lights

LED daytime running lights

LED fog lights

LED high beam

Automatic lights

Matrix LED headlights

LED 3rd brake light

LED reverse light

Welcome home lighting

LED side lights

Welcome and goodbye sequences

Rear LED light strip

ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) Function

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Automatic air recirculate

4 zone climate control

Heat pump

Air quality system

Hoods

Aluminium hood

Interior Features

Parcel shelf

Heated multi function steering wheel

Electrically adjustable steering column (4 way) with memory

Electrically adjustable front and rear air vents

Illuminated side sills

2 cup holders in front centre console

3 cup holders in rear centre console

Glove box with electric lock

Second row hanging hook

Side hooks in boot

Under boot floor storage

Interior Lights

Configurable ambient lighting

Touch sensitive light switch

Packs

Lotus Pilot pack - Eletre

Safety

Warning triangle

3 rear seatbelts

Front side airbags

Passenger airbag deactivate switch

Door open warning

Full size driver and passenger airbags

Curtain Airbag

3 point front seat belts

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

TPMS (Tyre pressure monitoring system)

Anti rolling protection

Front motorised pretensioner retractor

Height adjustable front seat belts (4 levels)

Driver far side airbag

Driver and passenger pretensioner with adaptive load limiter

Escape switch in boot

Life Detection and Care (LDC)

Rear outer seatbelts with progressive load limiter

Safety vests

Second row middle seat safety belt

Seats

Heated front seats

Front head restraints

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Rear ISOFIX

40/20/40 split folding rear seat

Single front passenger seat

Electric adjustment of rear seat angle

12-way electric adjustable front seat with lumbar support, 2-way extension cushion, memory and driver greeting function

Security

Locking wheel nuts

Electric steering column lock

Keyless Start

Soft door close

Thatcham category 1 alarm

Towing

Front tow hook

Transmission

Four wheel drive

Vanity Mirrors

Illuminated vanity mirror

Vehicle Charging

Type 2 mode 3 charging cable

22 kWh AC on board charger

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 420

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 720

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 348

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 22

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 96

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 50

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 20

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 420

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Usable Battery Capacity: 108

Charging Port Location: Left Side Front

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 373

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 600

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Capacity in kWh: 112

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 200000

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Emissions - ICE

HC: N

Particles: N

HC+NOx: N

NOx: N

CO: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

Standard Euro Emissions: N

CO2 (g/km): 0

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Cylinder Layout: N

Cylinders: N

Engine Code: N

Number of Valves: N

CC: 1

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

General

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

Generation Mark: 1

Coin Series: S

Coin Description: 450kW 112kWh

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Badge Engine CC: 0

Badge Power: 611

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50E

Based On ID: N

Special Order: 0

Special Edition: 0

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

Performance

Top Speed: 160

0 to 62 mph (secs): 4.5

Engine Torque - NM: 710

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 523

Engine Power - BHP: 611

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): No

Engine Torque - MKG: 72.4

Engine Power - KW: 450

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 22" ALLOY

Wheel Style: 10 SPOKE

Alloys?: No

Tyre Size Rear: 315/35 R22

Tyre Size Front: 275/40 R22

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Wheelbase: 3019

Width (including mirrors): 2231

Height: 1636

Width: 2019

Length: 5103

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 2540

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 688

No. of Seats: 5

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1532

Brakes

Brake calipers in grey

19" cast iron brake discs

Lightweight brake discs with 6 piston calipers in green

Lightweight brake discs with 6 piston calipers in red

Driver Convenience

Homelink

Exterior Body Features

Glass roof

Electrically folding heated side rear view cameras with right and left dashboard E-mirror display, featuring blind spot display and viewpoint settings

Special metallic paint

Special pearlescent paint

Gloss Black Lotus lettering

Pearlescent paint

Intelligent glass roof

Yellow and black Lotus rear badge

Interior Features

Additional alternative colour nappa leather upholstery

Microfibre and carbon steering wheel

Alternative colour nappa leather upholstery

Additional premium colour nappa leather upholstery

Premium colour nappa leather upholstery

Sports pedals

Packs

Comfort Seat Pack - Eletre

Semi-Aniline nappa leather pack - Eletre

Premium colour Semi-Aniline nappa leather pack - Eletre

Additional premium colour Semi-Aniline nappa leather pack - Eletre

Interior Carbon Pack - Eletre

Carbon Pack - Eletre

Extended Carbon Pack - Eletre

Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack - Eletre

Highway Assist Pack - Eletre

Parking Pack - Eletre

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Stellar black

Pearl - Galloway green

Paint - Solid

Solid - Kaimu grey

Paint - Special

Tri-coat metallic - Natron red

Tri-coat Pearl - Blossom grey

Tri-coat Pearl - Solar yellow

Safety

Seat belts in tri-colour black

Seat belts in tri-colour cloud

Towing

Electric towbar

Trim - Leather

Semi-Aniline nappa leather pack - Magnetite black

Premium colour Semi-Aniline nappa leather pack - Jasper grey

Premium colour nappa leather - Malachite green

Additional premium colour nappa leather - Jasper grey

Additional premium colour nappa leather - Gold

Additional alternative colour nappa leather - Ruby

Alternative colour nappa leather - Quartz silver

Additional premium colour Semi-Aniline nappa leather pack - Gold

Nappa leather - Magnetite black

Wheels

Pirelli P-Zero corsa tyres

Michelin pilot sport EV tyres

Wheels - Alloy

22" 10-spoke silver diamond turned forged alloy wheels

20" 5-spoke grey diamond turned cast alloy wheels

22" 10-spoke gloss black forged alloy wheels

22" 5-spoke grey diamond turned alloy wheels

22" 5-spoke gloss black forged alloy wheels

23" multi-spoke silver diamond turned alloy wheels

23" multi-spoke grey diamond turned alloy wheels

23" multi-spoke gloss black alloy wheels