The 905 HP "Anti Lotus" Surprised Us

ACCELERATION – THE REAPER IS HERE

We clocked a 0–100 km/h run in 3.05 seconds with two people onboard. That’s barely behind Lotus’s 2.95s claim and properly insane for something this size. We said this in our video - people complain that EVs are soulless. Floor this and your soul will exit your body, it's that fast. Then you are the soulless one. That makes the Eletre R the Reaper. It's quite a feeling to know that you can basically dispatch any other car on the road. Even more bizarre to be saying that about a Lotus.

HANDLING – DEFT FOR THE WEIGHT, BUT THE WEIGHT REMAINS

No one expects an Elise-like experience here, but Lotus has thrown everything at the Eletre to bend physics: four-wheel steering, air suspension, active anti-roll bars, torque vectoring. The result is much like the RSQ8 we tested. It's shockingly capable for its weight and size. Fast through corners. Predictable. Easy to place. Braking performance is especially impressive, those massive stoppers can bring this tank to a halt on a dime. But it still feels like 2.6 tons in motion. It never fully disappears. And that's fine. It's an SUV.

RIDE COMFORT – WELL-MANNERED, BUT NOT A MAGIC CARPET

In Tour mode, the ride is smooth and cushy enough for daily duties. Double-glazed windows, air suspension, and decent seats help make this feel like a genuine luxury SUV (although the side bolster leather on our tester was already a bit weathered). That said, some road texture still makes it through. There’s a bit of suspension thump on sharper impacts. And despite the insulation, there’s a touch of road noise on coarse chip seal. Not deal-breaking, just worth noting if you're expecting something else.

It’s not a traditionally “beautiful” car. But it wasn’t meant to be. If they're moving away from the classic Lotus cars, then they need to make an impact visually. And it delivers.

STYLING – STRIKING, NOT SUBTLE, BUT NECESSARY

The Eletre doesn’t blend in. Whether you love it or hate it, you’ll probably remember it. Our test car’s black paint dulled some of the design drama, but you can still spot the hockey-stick headlights, origami creases, and a rear end that looks like it belongs on a spaceship. We liked that the "nostril-like" air vents on the bonnet were similar to the Emira, so at least there's some crossover. It’s not a traditionally “beautiful” car. But it wasn’t meant to be. If they're moving away from the classic Lotus cars, then they need to make an impact visually. And it delivers in person.

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INTERIOR – A GIANT LEAP FOR LOTUS

This might be the most surprising part. The Eletre's cabin is… excellent. Premium materials. Smart layout. Great build quality (except for the aforementioned seat bolsters). Even the lower door cards have semi-soft touch materials. There’s restraint here, too. You don’t get a wall of screens just because it’s trendy. The interface is minimal and user-friendly, with thoughtful physical touchpoints. There’s even a tactile language built into the controls—bevels and textures guide your hands. The central screen has fantastic graphics and is super responsive. Only downside? The KEF audio system doesn’t quite deliver. Lots of visible speakers, but a lack of EQ tuning means the experience falls flat. Here’s hoping Lotus can patch it with a software update.

RANGE & EFFICIENCY – POWER COMES AT A COST

Big weight. Big power. Big demands on the battery. Official range is almost 500 km, but real-world testing—especially if you’re enjoying that 900hp will bring that down. Efficiency isn’t the headline here. You don’t buy an Eletre R to hypermile. You buy it because nothing else this size launches like it does. At least it has impressive fast charging tech to keep you going, assuming you have good access to charging stations.

VERDICT – NOT A LOTUS OF OLD, BUT HOPEFULLY A LOTUS THAT SELLS

Yes, it’s heavy. Yes, it’s electric. Yes, it’s an SUV. But if Lotus needed to build this to fund the sports cars of the future, we’re okay with that. Because as a product, it’s bloody compelling. It’s faster than most things on the road. It looks distinct and intriguing. The interior finally feels premium. And the tech suite is strong, with a few wrinkles to iron out. Just stop expecting it to feel like an Elise. Lamborghini and Ferrari both sell SUVs, so let's give Lotus a pass too.