The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Lotus Eletre has been confirmed for Europe and the UK, considerably elevating the probabilities of it being provided in Australia.
The plug-in hybrid SUV made its debut on the finish of 2025 in China the place it’s marketed because the Lotus For Me. Fortunately for Europe the corporate has determined to stay with its custom of ‘E’ names, merely branding the PHEV because the Eletre X.
It’s unclear if the Eletre X will likely be offered in Australia, with a spokesperson for the native distributor unable to substantiate native availability as discussions with headquarters stay on-going.
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Deliveries to European and UK clients are anticipated to begin within the fourth quarter of 2026. Lotus is preserving ultimate European specs below wraps till the automobile’s EU launch in June.
Judging from European experiences, the Eletre X’s technical specs gained’t differ an excessive amount of from the Chinese language-market For Me.
Whereas the Eletre For Me appears to be like virtually indistinguishable from the EV model, the plug-in hybrid is claimed to trip on a unique platform altogether, which in accordance with Prime Gear is shared with the Zeekr 9X.
The Eletre For Me has everlasting magnet synchronous motor for each the entrance and rear axle, whereas below the bonnet a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine joins the social gathering.
Whole system output is 700kW and 935Nm, and Lotus claims the Eletre PHEV can scoot from 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds. By comparability, range-topping variations of the Eletre EV have a 675kW dual-motor all-wheel drive system that may deliver up the century in 2.95s.
The PHEV drivetrain has three driving modes: pure electrical; sequence hybrid, the place the petrol engine works to energy a 150kW generator to recharge the battery pack; and parallel hybrid with the petrol engine straight related to entrance wheels. Parallel hybrid mode is simply engaged throughout excessive pace freeway driving.
Because the Eletre For Me usually operates as a variety extender EV, it’s fitted with a larger-than-usual 70kWh battery pack. Underneath the lenient CLTC testing normal, the Eletre For Me is claimed to have a pure EV vary of 420km.
Will probably be fascinating to see if X/For Me are in a position to give Eletre gross sales a lift. Final 12 months simply 9 Eletres have been offered in Australia, putting it lifeless final within the Higher Massive SUV over $120k class, and nicely behind the likes of the Lamborghini Urus (154), BMW XM (95), Aston Martin DBX (58), and Ferrari Purosangue (56).
Lotus has lengthy desired branching out from its core sports activities vehicles, very like Porsche did within the early 2000s, however the British sports activities automobile maker wasn’t in a position to make good on these goals till Geely purchased a majority stake within the firm in 2017.
With the Chinese language automaker’s assist it developed the Emeya sedan and Eletre SUV, each of that are produced in Wuhan, China. The Emira sports activities automobile continues to be produced within the Hethel, UK.
