Lotus has unveiled the plug-in hybrid model of its Eletre SUV, which can arrive in Europe on the finish of this 12 months.
The automobile is important in that it marks the Geely-brand’s return to combustion engines as an influence supply after initially promising to go all electrical.
Launched as we speak in China, the PHEV is positioned as a stand-alone mannequin and given a brand new identify: For Me.
The powertrain {couples} a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with a synchronous motor on every axle for a mixed energy output of 939bhp, good for a claimed acceleration time of three.3 seconds to 62mph. That beats the utmost 892bhp determine for the electric-only Eletre R.
Lotus is pitching the automobile towards luxurious rivals, with Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng referencing each the Lamborghini Urus and even the Ferrari Purosangue on the launch occasion. The Urus is now solely out there as a plug-in hybrid with 789bhp.
The automobile is fitted with a 70kWh battery (smaller than the EVs 108kWh pack) that gives an electric-only vary of 220 miles in line with China’s CLTC take a look at cycle, which is extra beneficiant than the WLTP normal utilized in Europe. Mixed vary is 880 miles, Lotus claims.
The battery incorporates ‘6C’ quick charging that allows the automobile to be recharged from 30% to 80% in eight minutes.
Further expertise contains what Lotus calls 6D Digital Dynamic Chassis with an adaptive 48-volt anti-roll bar that the corporate says helps cease the “boat-like” really feel of some SUVs.
The Eletre PHEV weighs between 2575kg and 2625kg, relying on the chosen trim and optionally available extras, roughly aligning with the prevailing pure-electric model.
The ‘X-hybrid’ expertise is just like that on sister model Zeekr’s 9X luxurious SUV, which employs as much as three electrical motors for a mixed 1381bhp, suggesting additional upgrades may very well be had.
The For Me is more likely to be renamed for its European launch scheduled for the tip of the 12 months. The design is actually unchanged from that of the Eletre EV.
Lotus’s pivot to plug-in hybrid opens up the model to a swathe of rich prospects who to date have been reluctant to modify to full electrical. In addition to the Lamborghini Urus, the For Me will go up towards the non-electrified 717bhp Aston Martin DBX and the 748bhp BMW XM.
Lotus has stated it is usually planning a plug-in hybrid model of the Emira sports activities automobile as a part of a facelift timed to adjust to the Euro 7 emissions regulation change in 2027 for present fashions.
Lotus had beforehand dedicated to promoting solely EVs by 2028, however gross sales of the Eletre and Emeya have been considerably slower than first anticipated, forcing the corporate to regulate course.
CEO Feng Qingfeng stated the launch of hybrids would assist Lotus’s gross sales in areas with slower uptake of EVs, corresponding to Italy and Saudi Arabia.
The PHEVs are additionally anticipated to spice up Lotus’ profitability; the corporate recorded an working lack of $357 million for the primary 9 months of 2025.
