NEW Lotus Eletre Review: Absurd Idea Or Game Changer? | 4K
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2023
- Has Lotus lost the plot by making a new electric family car? Alex hops aboard the new Eletre S and Eletre R to see whether they’re true Lotuses and whether they stand up to the competition.
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If you were after an electric EV I'd rather have something interesting like this, it seems like the engineers have really worked to make a desirable car and not just another EV with the personality of a washing machine. Let's face it Lotus is a business and needs sales to be viable in the long term
if this helps achieve that, and secures the future sports cars that will be needed to keep the brand relevant then it's a brilliant thing.
It doesn't need to secure anything under Geely's ownership they're doing fine - they could've kept Lotus doing lightweight cars (MG is doing a convertible roadster) yet they've shown disrespect for the marque and completely sold it out just for a profit margin.
When did machines start having personalities? As a consumer and not a hardcore car guy, I just need my EV to go from A to B. Don't really care about it having a personality or a soul
@@nomoreheroes93 No... Being owned by another company doesn't mean you can have extremely Iow sales and still exist. If Lotus were to sell only lightweight sportscars, sales would be so Iow that Geely would decide to leave them completely. Then what? They'd be gone forever. No company can stay alive without making a profit, it's basic logic.
As a gen z, I think all EVs are interesting and all ICE cars are boring. They are all the same and have been the same for decades
@@TD1237 fully support this. I just learned that Lotus sold 640 cars in all of 2022. I wonder how many of the Lotus die hard fans were actually buying their cars.
It's a discounted Urus. It'll sell like hot cakes
It’s really not. Doesn’t have a v8 so it’s not an alternative. An rsq8 would be a good alternative to a urus, and it’s around the same price as this car.
@@harrisr1018well that flew over your head 🤣 are you even human? All these new SUV models are a LITERAL CASH GRAB 💰💰💰💰💰 They're all designed relatively the same. That front end is shared with multiple vehicles including the Prius and Purosangue. The body is basically a Mazda CX-5 😅 Go look at a Acura MDX then look at a Urus 😭
Porsche is the only manufacturer making good SUV models. It's sad that Mercedes is copying there designs. VW has now decided to copy Porsche too instead of Ford 😅 Granted they own Porsche.
Volvo is more or less doing there own thing, until you look at the Lamborghini Urus headlights 😅
@@harrisr1018VW also copies Chevy
There will be no such discount, dealers will mark it up by 100k
@@eugenux You do realize that electric cars and SUVs have much lower carbon footprints than their ICE counterparts right? And this is only gen one. Furthermore, renewable energy sources will only get more robust which will further widen the gulf. Last I checked, you can’t fuel up your petrol car with sunlight.
The Cayenne and the Macan allow Porche to sell the 911. I hope this does the same for Lotus.
An EV Macan is coming, based on the very unimpressive (IMO) VW ID.7. Long, but cramped, due to bad packaging.
EV Cayenne, I've not heard much about yet. They'll need a new drivetrain that adds efficiency to power, Taycan is solid but not amazing in either those respects in this day and age. The Eletre has more power and more battery capacity. Charging C rate is similar, but it adds miles like a champ.
No thanks, Lotus is now Chinese, I can't imagine being a fan of them now. That's coming from an Asian person myself.
@@DroneStrike1776 Brits designed a lot of it, but it's not the same lotus of old. My dad's Renault Espace weighed half as much as this "SUV" without the U.
@@DroneStrike1776 you typed this comment on a device with components most likely made in China. I don’t like the politics of China either but a good car is a good car, irrespective of where it was built.
@@DroneStrike1776 In contrast to Porsche, Lotus has no plans to make another non EV after the Emira. Given Lotus' history that is straight criminal and just sad
My family lives in China part time and we just put down the first payment for the S version. Test drove it a few weeks ago and the handling felt incredible for an suv this size. My two dailies in the US are a nd Miata and a cx-30. While obviously it won’t handle like the nd it feels more composed than the much smaller cx-30. Another plus is we’re paying 0 taxes on this thing because of ev laws in china. (roughly 115000 usd) Can’t wait for this car to be delivered.
Also interior quality feels like an upgrade compared to the Porsche cayenne
Nice! This SUV looks downright beautiful too. Enjoy the car. :-)
@@rob8710 the interior feels like a zeekr
@@DougC83 Geely knows how to put cars together - great car!
@@bavariancarenthusiast2722 they do, but its too much Geely for my taste.
Geely is going to be the next VW with so many brands under it's umbrella now
Agree with you
Can't agree more
True but still wish they still care about ICE cars. As most of there brands are becoming ev manufacturers.
Saw a couple of these at the British Grand Prix and I have to say they're real head turners! Fair play to Lotus
Like Porsche with the Cayenne Lamborghini with Urus Lotus need this to survive
An absolute triumph from Lotus. Instantly kills the EQS and iX on looks and matches them on luxury. And based on its design, presence and pricing, I can see Range Rover and Urus owners going for it.
Put down the pipe dude.
@@paulm6481 Just my take but I stand by it.
@@AnthonyMunyi they stole the styling from lamborghini but Lotus doesn't have the name plate plus this is made in China
@@almac9203 Nice. It's made by people who actually know how to make well-built vehicles. And, no, idc about your opinions and beliefs. People who actually own China-made cars appreciate the reliability.
@@TD1237 you seem triggered. Don't get your panties in a bunch.
Gamechanger. Look at the quality. You can tell they've got some serious financial backing and they mean business! Go on Lotus!
Is it made in China now?
@@justicons Yes, designed in England, engineered in Sweden and Germany, and built in a brand new state-of-the-art factory in Wuhan.
@@ARKAEA33 The quality of cars produced in China is very good in recent years.
@@justicons Yeah that's true. Super reliable too.
@@justicons Yes its Geely and they are made in Wuhan
I don't mind this if it helps Lotus survive and have money for developing proper sportscars
Lotus has no desire to build proper sports cars. Lotus in now just a brand name for a Chinese EV manufacturer.
@@zarbon700 They've been majority owned by Geely since 2017... Nothing's changed.
@@TD1237 You're delusional. The first new vehicle under Geely's leadership, the Evija, is a dramatic change in Lotus' ethos. Geely's business strategy since acquiring Lotus was to transform it into an EV manufacturer. The Emira is the last internal combustion engine Lotus will make.
@@zarbon700 Relax, buddy. No need to get so worked up about something like this.
Anyway, the Evija absolutely carries Lotus' ethos. It's an ultra light performance-oriented car. The fact that it's an EV is irrelevant, because every single manufacturer is moving in that direction.
Plus, the Emira is an ICE sportscar.
And your second point about them building EV's deviates from your original comment. Originally, you spoke of them not having a desire to build sports cars. And I demonstrated that you're lncorrect. The majority of vehicles produced after being acquired by Geely, are indeed sports cars. If you don't like them, that's fine, but that doesn't change the reality of the situation.
Even Emira is just an evolution on an ancient platform, at about double the weight it started out at.
Don't expect too much Lotusness coming through.
The best looking EV SUV to date! Absolutely stunning
Did you saw the purosangue?
@@Jayroon123 thats not an ev?
Avatr 11
Nio Ec7
The Aston Martin DB-X looks better to my eyes but in a much higher price range
Alex - what a stunning SUV and if I had the money ( plenty of people have) would buy in a heartbeat!
Love your reviews and waiting for the three of you to have an Autotrader backed TV show -
cant wait.
Adaptation is key for growth and success. Well done Lotus !
Looks perfect, stunning car, looks really well thought out, can see this selling very well
Not quite by the masses that she claims though.
@@wingcommanderdaltonwalton67 For the masses amongst those who can afford it, this will sell infinitely better than any past Lotus. In context, she's completely right.
Best part of the video is how happy she was accelerating the 900hp version. Regarding the car she is absolutely right, it’s definitely better choice than bmw and Mercedes offering (full electric). The only 2 things I would change on Lotus is add buttons for climate and slightly redo front bumper to make it little bit more bold
Very good review of looks like might be a very good car. I'm more impressed than I expected I'd be, and would buy it over almost any competitor...
Yes, Lotus has certainly hit it out of the park… they deserve a win with this one!!
#4 preorder in South Florida here. I see nothing but praise for this car which only makes me more excited and confident in my decision. Only question is do I go green, yellow, red, or black. 🧐 Hoping I can see them all in the flesh before I have to put in my final build order. Either way, I can’t wait to pick it up when it launches in the states. 👏🏾
Thank you for the great video. You all do outstanding work.
i'd vote for yellow
Black is wicked
Heyyyy S FL here as well! Hope I get to see urs on the road around here at some point!! Nice choice!!!
I sat in one at Fully Charged Live. Amazing interior to go with the it grows on you exterior design.
I vote for green
If it had a lambo badge more people would buy it. Lotus makes good cars
just what the world needed - yet another super-heavy, super-expensive, luxury (ie, you can't afford it), electric SUV. The world has totally gone off the rails and lost the entire point of what eco actually means.
The front end... looks a bit like the alien in the Predator movie😂😂🐗
I parked next to a prototype one of these at the shops and they are VAST. This makes current SUVs look small, it stuck out way over the allocation. Nice interior though
The masses may want to buy this Lotus but at £100k, the masses will still be buying a Corsa or Yaris. Or have the masses changed recently?
@@morgan98801 Lotus definitely wasn't for the masses, the presenter suggested this one was. It looks like a lovely alternative to an Audi, Porsche, BMW but you're right, it's basically an entry level supercar (or super-SUV) that only a small few will ever even consider looking at. I do like it, for a SUV.
This is not for the masses, the production rate for these will be low. Lotus just needs to price it accordingly to the amount of demand and limited supply. Stop thinking these are for the masses.
Apparently yes, the masses have changed. Just ask Ford who is ending the life of the little Fiesta due to poor sales, as most customers want larger vehicles. Hence the relaunch of it's own Ford Puma as a small SUV rather than a small sports car. But have the masses got 100k+ to drop on a Chinese-built milk float...? That's another question entirely...
Price is irrelevant as long as you can afford the monthly payments and deposit
@@michaelsummerell8618 what milk float had that performance?
I want this car. And Yes, hopefully the success of this will give lotus the money build mad sport cars in the future 👍
I really aren’t into SUV’s in the slightest, but I just saw a yellow example of this in a shopping mall while in Kuala Lumpur. It’s a pretty exciting vehicle to look at in person and it’s not small. If I have the sort of coin to throw at an SUV it looks like fun.
It looks beastly in black, ngl. I hope they sell well, it seems a good quality product and I like lotus.
Hopefully with improving battery tech & lite weight materials they'll be able to build a non suv sports car in the not too distant future
Great review, thank you.
Welcome to Norway! Cool car and video!
I'm old enough to remember that they RECENTLY hyped this up as a 2000 kg cars. The Eletre S is 2720 including driver and a few cameras, so 2600 kg or so. Did they even TRY to add lightness in stead of 600 kg?
Love that yellow colour ☀️
I like the line " time has changed ".
'The masses' might want to buy it but for for that price we won't be able to.
This looks superb, a proper alternative EV.
How high is the recuperation when the brake pedal is pressed? At Prosche approx. 270 kilowatts! Can you tell me?
Most beautiful and stylish SUV to date. Period. Great review, thanks :)
First off, fantastic review Alex!! Second, this thing reminds a lil the Urus, and that's not a bad thing haha. Now they just need some more dealers, at least in the US, to actually compete on the Service and aftercare side of thing. I know it's electric and Service should be at a minimum, but it definitely still needs to be considered. Otherwise, this thing looks like a serious competitor!
simp
Looks good, I'll be waiting to see how the range holds up in the real world.
Hi Alex & Rory, is there a particular model or variant that you would suggest???
Just saw it yesterday, the interior is wow.
You sum it up perfectly, its not a traditional Lotus, but that's not what the overwhelming majority of buyers want. This is the car that the majority (who can afford it that is) want to buy. Bold original styling, all the latest high tech features, and a Lotus badge to impress your friends and neighbours!
Looks good. Great review Alex
Great car, let me nip down to my local Lotus dealer - oh wait there isn't one!
What a gorgeous car. Defo buy that over the competition. Shame lotus have had to go this way but the dna is still there
Great review love
Életre
it does translates something like that (hard to translate without other words, or without a sentence/content) --> "(coming) to life".
élet = life, életre - (coming) to life
Cheers from Hungary
Love your reviews.
I guess it makes sense if you manufactured this new Lotus all the way out in Wuhan China, you'd want to ship it all the way to middle of no where Norway for the road test, although Norway has nothing to do with Lotus or the Eletre specifically
But whats the deal then with the dutch license plates? 7:05
Fantastic video.
Another good English day for a car test
Surprised Lotus have managed to stay in business all this time. You never see new ones on the road. Shame about the price. They might of actually sold some if they started at £50k.
Great video Alex, she's very nice to
Just have regular side mirrors with blind spot monitoring.
Sat in one, super comfortable and premium. Everything Geely touches so far are going on the right path lol. I think this car is gonna do good.
The man knows a thing when he's able to progress from making refrigerators into owning multiple well-known car manufacturers.
5 hours of driving at 70mph. Me that drives to to and from Scotland once a week, a 6:30 drive with no stops 😢
if this mini Urus saves the company (like Cayenne did), so be it
For anyone who didn't buy Tesla X because of its looks, this will absolutely satisfy them. Bring it to Australia please 🙏
Stunning in black! Would have one tomorrow if I could afford it.
Almost every car on the road is black, silver, grey or white.
Boring.
Looks a bit awakard in black. Breaking it up with colours works much better
No
I love the yellow clock display.
It looks stunningly Chinese 🤩🤩🤩
2 things buy me about this car.
1) It’s too cheap for a Lotus
2) You can’t get BCH Quotes from Lotus directly right now
We are trying to get an S and we are willing to pay the money but struggling to find a reputable Leasing company.
Does anybody know if the infotainment system has CZcams Spotify and other apps that Tesla would offer?
“And it’ll even warn you if you leave your kid inside”
I hate that this is a thing 😪
As per usual… Well done Alex
Interesting! Never expected Lotus to make an suv
Following the Porsche model of success and all power to them.
Money from selling suvs needed for their low selling sport car programs
The world gone crazy... too many morons buying SUV's.
Well, it's the Chinese Geely that is giving them all the tech, so... Is it still Lotus?
@@davidberan9612 They've been owned by Geely for over half a decade. So, yeah, it is the same Lotus as it's been for all these past years.
I'll dub this the "Lotus-Cayenne" 😉😉
Really smart move by the parent company. They bought one of the greatest names in motor vehicle history. But they actually put money behind it and produced cars that are up there with the name. It looks amazing, the way that you’d think a car from the 21st century should look like. If I had the money I’d definitely buy one.
Isn’t this the same as the Zeeker or the Volvo ex30? All Geely sub brands?
Thanks for the great video. I have an Elise, I had a 911 and F type before it but they just left me cold and bored. I know I am odd wanting a full on drivers car, it’s not where sales are. You are spot on, this is the only way this British name can survive. Hope some jobs stay in Norfolk.
Very beautiful I must say! The car as well!
LOVE the design. And awesome presentation as always, Alex.
How much involvement did Hethel have in this car, or is it a Geely designed and made car with a lotus badge? Looks great either way, but as a Brit always bittersweet to see our brands bought and given the investment they always needed but for most of that to happen outside the UK (see MG as well).
Side Wings cameras !!! Really??? They are so bad in so many ways , what is wrong with normal classic mirrors?
Ex: if you turn off the car and you coming out, you need to check in the mirror if there are any bicycles, motorbikes, cars etc coming before you open the door.
Cars don’t really fully turn off these days and it’s trivial to have wing “mirrors” stay on for as long as the car is occupied.
Lol it comes with normal side mirrors. It’s up to you if you want the cameras or normal mirrors.
Esse projeto eu interesso muito ! Eu gostei muito desse carro
This car looks absolutely amazing blackened out .
Audi’s Black Editions have a lot to answer for - but not in a good way.
You genuinely need chrome or brighter accents to avoid it looking like a lump of black pudding left on the side of the breakfast plate by a whinging vegetarian….
Great review beautiful car.
The lotus plants are truly iconic with this car and quite judjemental as well really but if the car contain liquid fuel in it then this can be just awesome ❤🇮🇳
Congratulations, Lotus! Welcome to the 21st century. I'd get one, if I had the money.
I cant stomach the split headlights, also that front-end is a mix of BMW and Ferrari, it lacks uniqueness.
Any idea when will it arrive in India ??
Was it actually her driving on the agility course?
I like it. Hope they sell well
Looks like a soccer mom's SUV. Would have preferred something in the line of the Aston martin DBX in Electric form.
A Lotus I could actually get in and out of! Hurrah!
If only I could afford one!
🇬🇧👍🤞🙏🙏🙏🙏
If it could get them back on the GT racing circuit, I'm fine with it. Hell, build a Le Mans Hypercar with Ginetta.
"It even alerts you, if you leave ya kid inside...."😅😅...perfect for those overtanned chelsea wags that are too busy taking selfies of oneself clutching lattes for Instagram. This Car is right up their backalley lol.😛🤙
Its an urus electric
Looks nice but why put a great big sticker on it advertising the company website? Is that going to be a thing now?
It is funny how much this flys in the face of Colin Chapmans “add lightness”. That said just glad the lotus brand lives on.
That motto means nothing if Lotus is bankrupt
@@notagain2856well, not quite, a legacy can live on without anyone being able to modify it, but there are people's livelihoods at risk, and that is more important, since we at least have the history to return to. That experimental period feels quite over now anyway and we need to adjust to move onto different perspectives, maybe brute force for a while, until technology allows for some more creativity, especially with EVs.
Actually the full quote said "Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." - so thats what they have done
looks great
Looks pretty good.
When I have the money I'd definitely buy it.
Lotus' 'special handling corse' - some cones! :-)
5:29 weight saving.😂😂😂 its a 2 tonne electric vehicle..
The looks of a Mazda, the weight of a Land Rover and the humility of a Lamborghini.
A Lotus EV SUV? I’m all for it if it means Lotus lives on to keep making fun cars! Nobody can claim reasonably that SUV’s made Porsche sports cars worse…
100% agreed.
Except it's made in China
@@Blue2024_rs And Porsche SUV’s are made in Eastern Europe. What’s your point?
@@Blue2024_rs As if it's a bad thing when made in China means supreme quality.
@@Blue2024_rs A necessary evil to keep costs down, but also increase product quality. This is a serious amount of car and performance for the price tag.
Most of us need money so we go to work. For car companies the cool cars we love are the money. SUVs are the work. Frankly this is long overdue. Lotus should have had a crossover 10 years ago
Love the front and sides, but the rear aspect styling just doesn’t do out for me.
Hell of a car though, well done Lotus.