The Lotus Eletre R will have 905PS!

Let’s get the headlines out of the way then. The Eletre range will be split into three versions, the standard Eletre, the Eletre S and the Eletre R. Pricing in the UK starts at £89,500, rising to £104,500 for the Eletre S and £120,000 for the flagship Eletre R.

The Eletre and Eletre S pack 603PS (450kW) which can cover the maximum 373-mile quoted range, while the Eletre R jumps to a two-speed powertrain and that scarcely-believable 905PS figure, though range drops to just over 300 miles. The 603PS powertrain should get the Eletre to 62mph in 4.5 seconds, on the way to a 160mph top speed, while the Eletre R manages a 2.95-second 0-62mph sprint on the way to a 165mph top speed.

On the inside, the move from Eletre to Eletre S adds a few features, including privacy glass and ambient lighting. Sustainable leather and carpet alternatives are available in the interior spec, for which Lotus says there are six unique configurations. Lotus has also made a big deal of its collaboration with KEF Audio and Dolby Atmos and, as such, the Eletre S gets an upgraded 2,160-watt 23-speaker audio system. That’s a boost from the 15-speaker system in the ‘standard’ Eletre.

That’s not to say you’re getting steelies and rubber bumpers on the entry-level car, with the intelligent cockpit infotainment system, which includes the crisp folding 15.1-inch OLED centre screen, a feature on all Eletres. Server-level computing power will allow the Eletre to stay up-to-date software-wise for the entire life of the car, with Over The Air remote updates as standard.

The Eletre’s active air suspension system is already a known quantity and will be standard across all models, with five driving modes controlling it and other dynamic characteristics. The Eletre S gets active aero thrown in. The Eletre R gets the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack and high-performance tyres, with an exclusive sixth ‘Track’ driving mode that lowers the ride height, and runs more performance-oriented settings for the dampers and anti-roll control. It also fully opens the active grille for maximum air-flow and cooling for full use of the car’s monster power.

Aesthetic touches to mark out the R include black badging, the Carbon Pack, sports pedals and gloss black wheels – all an option on ‘lesser’ cars too. Also optional are carbon ceramic brakes, as are ADAS systems including the Parking Pack and Highway Assist Pack. Remember the deployable LIDAR technology that comes built-in too, ready for end-to-end autonomous driving.

With regard to what it’s like to drive manually, however, Director of Attributes and Product Integrity Gavan Kershaw has had plenty to say to those skeptical of a Lotus SUV: “the Eletre drives exactly as a Lotus should… for me, anyone who’s questioned doing a Lotus SUV, forget it. It is a true Lotus.” Fighting talk.

The car’s currently undergoing development at the Lotus Tech Innovation Centre in Raunheim, Germany, with cars expected to be on driveways in the first half of next year. Here’s hoping the supply chain issues that have dogged the Emira – which are now said to be resolved – don’t get in the way of the real cash cow.