Lotus Cars Malaysia recently unveiled the all new Lotus Eletre here in Malaysia. The Eletre is Lotus’s 1st all-electric high-performance SUV, which marks the company’s move towards becoming a global performance car brand. The Eletre is built on almost 75 years of sports car design and engineering, but with a new lifestyle-oriented approach.
The Eletre is the first non-sports car and lifestyle electric vehicle from Lotus, and it’s also the most connected model they’ve ever made. The Eletre boasts advanced active aerodynamics technology, delivering excellent ride and handling, precise steering, and an engaging driving experience. The Eletre comes in three variants – Eletre, Eletre S, and Eletre R – and has already received 140 bookings, with only 200 units available for the entire 2023. 
Built on the 800v Electric Premium Architecture, the Eletre has a highly versatile power distribution system. The SUV has a strong structure made of aluminium and high-tensile steel. The battery pack and motors are close to the ground to keep the car stable and give it good performance. The platform can be adjusted to fit different battery sizes, motors, and driving technologies. The Eletre is just the first car to use this architecture – Lotus plans to use it for other electric cars too. 
Among the 3 different Eletre variant available in Malaysia, it will be available in 2 powertrain options. Both powertrain options will come with 2 electric motors that provided the all-wheel-drive capabilities. For the Eletre and Eletre S, the electric motors are hooked up to a one-speed systems and can deliver up to 603 horsepower and go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. They can go up to 258 km/h and have a range of 600 km. 
As for the top of the line Eletre R, it has a dual-speed system that can deliver up to 905 horsepower, and go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.95 seconds. It can go up to 265 km/h and has a range of 490 km. All three variants have a 112 kWh battery and can be charged rapidly using a 350 kW charger, reaching 80% charge in 20 minutes. They also have the ability to accept 22kW AC charging. 
With exceptional dynamics, comfort, and aerodynamics, the Eletre uses the multi-link suspension with air suspension, torque vectoring by braking, and a ‘floating’ split roof spoiler for optimal handling and ride. The SUV’s active front grille, made of interconnecting triangular petals, is designed to reduce drag during driving and feed air into the radiator when cooling is required. The carbon fiber roof spoiler channels airflow down the glass and into the active tailgate spoiler, which automatically deploys at high speeds. 
The Eletre has five standard drive modes, which adjust the steering, powertrain, and accelerator pedal response. The Eletre R also has a Track mode for even higher performance, including active rear-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, and launch control with instant access to the car’s full power. Track mode also includes a fully open active grille and launch control with instant access to the car’s full power. 
The Lotus Eletre has a cab-forward design with a long wheelbase and short overhangs, giving it a high-riding sports car look. Its aerodynamic design includes multiple vents and ducts that allow air to flow through, over, and around the car, reducing resistance and improving efficiency. These design features also contribute to the car’s striking chiselled look, with muscular haunches and a couple-like roofline. 
For the front and rear lights, the ELetre uses LED lights and a unique floating D-pillar engraved with the Eletre wordmark. The car comes with standard exterior features such as Matrix LED headlamps, powered hands-free tailgate, and fixed gloss black aluminum roof. The Eletre S and Eletre R come with additional features such as auto-dimming side mirrors and rear privacy glass. The Eletre rides on Pirelli P-Zero tires with 22-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels and lightweight brake discs with six-piston callipers. The car comes in six exterior colors, with the Eletre R in Solar Yellow as the standard color. 
Inside the Eletre, it features a high-tech design and luxurious interior. The designers have made an effort to use sustainable materials like recycled microfibers and an eco-friendly leather substitute. The car can seat five people comfortably, and if you fold the back seats down, you get a lot of extra space for storage. Additionally, Lotus Malaysia allow customers to choose a 4 seat configuration as an optional Executive Seat Pack. 
There are also lots of convenient storage areas throughout the car, including cup holders and door bins. The car comes with lots of cool features, like a heated steering wheel, USB-C ports, and electrically adjustable seats. The more expensive versions of the car also have some additional features, like illuminated side sills and configurable ambient lighting. 
With this new vehicle, Lotus also introduce a new infotainment system that is designed to be easy to use and works seamlessly. It has a 15.1-inch display with high-quality graphics and touch controls. The system is powered by a new operating system, Lotus Hyper OS, with advanced processing power from two Qualcomm 8155 System-On-Chips. It also features next-generation 3D content using Unreal Engine technology. This infotainment system is also fully customizable and can be updated over-the-air, and it comes with 5G compatibility, allowing for a continuous connection with a smartphone app. Customers can even use the app to lock and unlock the car. 
The Eletre has a unique human-machine interface (HMI) with a blade of light that changes colour to communicate with occupants. It also has a “ribbon of technology” that can display different information, such as vehicle and journey information, music selection, or nearby points of interest. The driver can control most functions with just three touches of the main screen, and voice control is also available. Lotus has partnered with HERE Technologies to deliver integrated navigation services, including EV Routing, EV Range Assistant, and Predictive Routing.
In terms of the in-car entertainment system, the Eletre comes with a high-quality audio system, with the Eletre R featuring a 1,380-watt, 15-speaker KEF Premium setup with surround sound technology, and the Eletre S featuring a 2,160-watt, 23-speaker KEF Reference system with Uni-Q, Uni-Core, and surround sound technology. 
To keep the drive and passengers as safe as possible, the Eletre will come with a whole host of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that can be updated with new features in the future. All variants are available with Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a driver monitoring system, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning / Prevention (LKA+), Blind Spot Detection, Traffic Sign Information (TSI), Front and Rear Park Assist, Visual Park Assist and Lotus Intelligent Dynamic Chassis Control. On top of that, The Eletre also has a special camera called LIDAR to help with self-driving technology. The car can get even better with software updates in the future, as long as local laws allow it. 
The Lotus Eletre is a luxury car available in Peninsular Malaysia. Its prices start at RM578,000 for the standard model, with higher-end models like the Lotus Eletre S and Lotus Eletre R starting at RM648,000 and RM798,000, respectively. All prices are on-the-road and exclude insurance and road tax. The car comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or 150,000 km, while the battery has a warranty of eight years or 200,000 km.
Additionally, customers can personalize their cars with option packs, which include the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, Ceramic Brake Pack, Executive Seat Pack, Comfort Seat Pack, Carbon Fibre Pack, Extended Carbon Fibre Pack, and Interior Carbon Fibre Pack. There are also two Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Packs available: the Parking Pack and Highway Assist Pack.
For more information about the all-new Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV, visit www.lotuscars.com or follow Lotus Cars Malaysia Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels. 
