Lotus Eletre X Hybrid on sale in Europe
New PHEV kicks off at 100,000 euros on the continent; expect it in the UK next year
Credit where it’s due to Lotus, the new Eletre X Hybrid does seem to address a lot of the concerns that have existed around the EV SUV. The introduction of a 2.0-litre combustion engine means a huge increase in range - up to 745 miles - with up to 217 of that possible on electric. The 70kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged at up to 436kW, so it can be rejuiced very speedily. It’s still very fast, with up to 952hp, it weighs up to 120kg less than the EV, and the 550hp variant should be comparable in price to the current 600 EV. The Eletre X Hybrid is certainly interesting, we’ll give it that.
Now European prices have been confirmed; there isn’t a UK RRP yet because it’s not due here until 2027 (with RHD homologation pending), but the EUR price can be a good indication for GBP. In France (each country is slightly different, so let’s go as close as possible), the Eletre X H550 is €97,990 - or £84,600 at current exchange rates. The purely electric Eletre 600 currently starts at £84,990.
That money buys - you guessed it - a 550hp machine. The H550 has the same battery tech as the flagship, so it will still go as far and charge as fast, it just has the intensity turned down a notch. Which, if recent experience of luxury electrified machines is anything to go by, tends to make for a nicer everyday car. And it’s still not exactly slow, with exactly the same 690lb ft for both: 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds is claimed. The H550 weighs 2,550kg against the 952hp version’s 2,615kg, with 20-inch cast alloy against 21-inch forged rims and slightly smaller brakes. There’s also mechanical anti-roll bars for the 550, replaced by a 48v active system in the top of the range plug-in Eletre.
That car is the Eletre X H1000 which, to be frank, does sound quite cool. We’ll let it off being 48hp short. It slashes the 0-62mph sprint time to 3.3 seconds, and can reach 124mph in just 11 seconds. A hybrid M5 claims 10.9 for the same benchmark - what a drag race that’d be. Top speed for the H1000 climbs to 143mph from the H550’s 130. Just as importantly for actual buyers, preliminary WLTP figures for both Eletres put them at less than 50g/km and better than 40mpg. In France the H1000 to cost from €121,990, or £105,300 at the moment. The electric 900 is a £130k prospect, for reference.
As for prospective rivals, it makes sense to line the Eletre 550 up against alternatives rather than the H1000. Even a £140k V8 hybrid Cayenne is only 739hp strong. A 489hp X5 hybrid with the straight six is from £82k in M Sport guise, though can only offer 62 miles of range; a Mercedes GLE 53 Hybrid brings some AMG kudos and 544hp for £95k; the Audi Q8 e-hybrid musters just 394hp, and costs from £86,140. If Lotus can lure a few of those customers into an Eletre, that will surely feel like a job well done.
Expect to hear plenty more about the X Hybrid setup, too, with the technology set to ‘play a key role in Lotus’ Focus 2030 strategy’. As hybrids continue to maintain (if not grow) their popularity, so this sort of range and charging capability from a proprietary system could appeal. Qingfeng Feng, CEO at Lotus Group said: “Eletre X is proof of how cutting-edge technology can serve the driver, a value which is at the heart of the Lotus brand. We feel that we have created something that not only pushes the boundaries of what is possible from a technical standpoint but also enriches their emotional and practical driving experience.” So next year sounds like a big one for Lotus in the UK (as they all kind of do). The early electric Eletres (easy for you to say) will probably be even less than £55k then, too…
Mind you, once the battery goes flat on a long journey, I bet it feels like driving a sack of potatoes.
I wonder what the economy is like when charging from the petrol? i would imagine performance would remain much the same though?
interesting that it weighs a bit less though, presumably 2.0 engine weighs less than big battery?
Mind you, once the battery goes flat on a long journey, I bet it feels like driving a sack of potatoes.
As an aside, is there any hybrid sports car for under £10k at the mo? I do enjoy the benefits of a hybrid warm hatch for under £10k. It would be nicer if it had a different body.
As an aside, is there any hybrid sports car for under £10k at the mo? I do enjoy the benefits of a hybrid warm hatch for under £10k. It would be nicer if it had a different body.
Under £10k? Honda CRX maybe?
As an aside, is there any hybrid sports car for under £10k at the mo? I do enjoy the benefits of a hybrid warm hatch for under £10k. It would be nicer if it had a different body.
Under £10k? Honda CRX maybe?
A small 4x4 is still a fugly lump. I want something nice on my drive.
Honda CRX hybrid? Oh you mean CRZ. Sorry, I should have said PHEV and also meant it had to have some performance. Needs closer to 200 to be interesting. I'd love to see a cheaper PHEV sports car with at least 200bhp, handles nicely and that looks good.
k there, but hopefully it sells well. So this is pure EV from a driving experiance POV, with enough range for 99% of journeys and an onboard charger for those rare trips to the chargerless backwaters. And it weights the same as the regular car which recieved pretty high prase when launched so this could be a bit of a winner.
Im waiting for the early ones to start with a 4 then ill be very interested...
Mind you, once the battery goes flat on a long journey, I bet it feels like driving a sack of potatoes.
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