Lotus Eletre deep dive! The tax-saving sports electric SUV review and first drive efficiency test!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ย. 2023
- Detailed walk around and general prod and poke of the new 2023 Lotus Eletre. This is a customer delievred version, not a press or pre production model so how is it?
With more holes than a Swiss cheese it’s something a bit different. A luxury and sporty car yet also SUV practicality!
The fit and finish is brilliant. Some beautiful little touches and some lovely design ideas. The software is acceptable although there is a hint at some Chinese underpinnings under the surface perhaps, once you question some of the menu options.
It drives really nicely. Like a Taycan but raised off the ground! Smooth yet agile. Nice and precise, effortless pull even from this non-“R” version.
Reasonable wind suppression, but if tyre noise but generally all round very refined and luxurious.
Plus I’ll reveal what the owner likes and dislikes compared to his previous car - a Tesla Model Y!
Thanks for watching
Richard Symons
R Symons LTD "RSEV"
EV Specialist based in New Milton, Hampshire on the South Coast near Southampton and Bournemouth
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Great review! As an Eletre owner myself, Richard did a brilliant job of summing up all aspects of the car correctly.
Bit strange for lotus to do one of these the first Tesla was based on a lotus, something like that but updated I would like.
@@brybish The circle of EV's is now come complete
WANT! What a fabulous looking EV and in such a cracking colour to boot, wow!… 💚
Extremely decent of the owner to provide the opportunity for your initial review, thank you sir… 👏🏻
Very kind of him to let you do this review Richard. It looks a wonderful design and inside is superb. Yes it’s expensive but same as EQE EQS and BMW latest offerings. If I had the money I would certainly consider this. Great review and look at this car.
I love the Lotus Eletre - will be on my shopping list for my next car.
Thank you Michael and thank you Richard :)
New to your channel. Very nice review and summary of this model. Was able to update some unknown specs based on your review in our EV database. Added your review to our frontpage. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the fair review! Stunning car!
Great colour, thanks to the owner for letting us see it.
Great review. Looks amazing in green.
Thank you for the video car looks amazing I think the range will improve over time and updates 😊
Thank you Michael! House looks lovely too
Thank you Michael
Thanks for another great video, with especial thanks to Michael.
Nice attempt by Lotus, not convinced they thought it through completely with the cameras and sensors sticking out. Thanks Michael for sharing your car with us. P.S love the colour!
Thanks Michael!
That colour is stunning!
Excellent Vid. Love it.
Lovely Car. ❤ the racing green paint. Can’t wait to see one charging.
Looks nice but it's clear that performance cars are having to move into the luxury segment because any old EV can be a performance car these days.
Lovely car, great price well presented thank you
Saw one today parked in Brisbane, same colour, WoW
thank you Michael
Just seen the car at a show. They had black and yellow ones. Gotta say the green looks the best so far. Wouldn't have though by looking at the website alone. What a great car.
Looks great in that colour
Good review! And the first review I've seen of the Eletre. Thanks to the owner, Michael, for lending the car. The vehicle looks impressive. Not sure I'm brave enough to pull the trigger once this comes to the US - given Lotus's track record on reliability - but we'll see.
Cheers guys
Currently considering one as a business owner. Also, great review and location! I am Christchurch based and twigged your location when I saw the somerford roundabout with kfc 🤣👍🏻
What was Colin Chapman's famous mantra about his cars?
"Simplify and add lightness"
🤔
The ‘Simplify and add lightness’ business model worked from the ‘70’s through to early 2000’s. Since then Lotus have gone bankrupt a few times and been saved many more times.
Not enough people buying those cars, means it’s this or Lotus dies. E.g. did you buy any new lightweight Lotus cars, or you just like to talk about them 🤔
@@SDK2006b you clearly know nothing about Lotus.
@@FFVoyager - I’ve been following Lotus since Senna won his first GP in a Lotus in Portugal 1985, I’ve worked for them at their anniversary events and been a guest member of Lotus at the GFOS a few times. So, I’m fairly familiar. Don’t be so keyboard judgmental !
Colin’s son has mentioned CC would be happy with direction they are going and ‘innovate or die’ springs to mind 😊
@@SDK2006b Right. You can't follow the same philosophy as markets/times change. You have to adapt or die. But you can keep something of the spirit and feel alive as well. This is a big, 4 seater. They're calling it an SUV. Question is, does it have some Lotus feel/heritage to it. I don't know enough about the brand to answer that. And I couldn't care less who owns them or what factory in what location builds them. I'm much more interested in the teams of people that tune the chassis, aspects of design consistent with Lotus, and overall quality of the vehicle.
Chapman also had the mantra ''Put the DeLorean money through Switzerland, then hide it in Panama''.....
I drove an R at a Lotus dealership - I would just say wooooow !!
Stunning car 🤤
Thanks
Thats a route I often take on my motorbike, the road from New Queen pub to Ringwood is a nice fast A road with some nice bends.
Love this car - I would probably swap my BMW iX for one ⚡️👍🏻
Rich and kind car owner 👏👏👏
Ionia 5 does stay on your preferred regen, except for the one pedal setting. I’ve had mine set on regen 3 for two years without ever having to touch it again.
Richard thank you for a a most informative review. I was just wondering how you would compare it with a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
With regard to the _"aero holes"_ in this stunning Lotus Eletre.
The great Colin Chapman _(RIP.)_ said, _"There is nothing lighter than a hole."_
Nice green -color- colour
Definitely cool🎉
Good review as always. What are your thoughts around the recent hikes in EV car insurance ? Mine has gone from £1800 to £4500 before shopping around…..!😮
Thanks to the owner for letting you have a good look and drive 👍🏼 Looks like a lovely vehicle, but at the end of the day if you can afford one that expensive I’m sure you wouldn’t mind the lack of efficiency. Not sure you can compare this to a Model Y though, considering it costs over twice the amount.
Nice
Price aside (but lotus aren't aiming for kia or skoda are they) it seems a very good and solid effort for its first electric suv👍
Nicest this to come out of the Geely group!
Richard should hire a site manager and go full-time ev reviewer!
I saw the Eletre at Fully Charged North and liked a lot of the styling elements, but SUVs are not for me.
Incidentally I was sat behind a black one during the school run this morning. My 14 yo daughter said it was a very stylish car. I had to agree. It looked impressive in black.
Very lambo Urus in design
It's Zeekr001 at design. That's the framework of this car. Lotus modified it. But that's the blueprint of it.
So what’s the predicted depreciation on that my current Taycan has done 30k per year for first two no emissions no emissions except when you think of depreciation
The back end reminds me of an Austin Princess😂
This is as special as an Urus would make you feel special every time you get in and out! Unlike my Tesla 😢
Rich - if it came purely down to the drive, would you take this or the IPace?
Very nice looking car - saw one out and about during the week.
Thanks to the owner for allowing you to do a full review - a proper drive, not just around the block :).
This over iPace for sure, but ipace is a lot cheaper esp on used market!!
They are going to sell absolute hot cakes in the international market.
Richard! You can lower the seat a lot lower than you had and so the driving position does not need to be so high as you said.
Nice to get the last 7 minutes. 😀
Amazing car. Probably one of the only electric cars I would consider buying in USA. For anyone who owns it, what are your thoughts so far on it?
Great advert for MG plastered on the front number plate 😅
Lotus is mostly owned by Geely. BYD was fighting with Tesla for the first place for EV sales to recently both yield the first place to Geely.
The latter has a plethora of brands from low to high end. This one is an example of high end. London Taxi is a brand owned by Geely as well so that explains the touches mentioned by Richard resembling those cars.
It was shown through Volvo EVs that Geely has a long way to reach Tesla efficiency.
For the money I would go for Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, the one with 400 miles range. It is worth mentioning whoever is missing the Tesla efficiency might wait several months to buy a Lucid Gravity. The latter is 3 row superefficient very roomy beast for comparable money.
Nice car and so much more stylish than a Tesla. It's about time Porsche had some competition in the premium EV sector.
What a beautiful car. I think when you hit this level of luxury and refinement, the "EV" aspect of the review changes. Even if its not that efficient, it has battery for days and rapid charges super-quick, so frankly who cares. Looks stunning - esp that paint! I can imagine sitting in it, touching it, the drive quality, every day you are going to 'feel' and enjoy every penny spent. Looks like the owner of this one spec'd it up really smartly.
There are so many design cues in this car that exist in our BMW iX - the front corners, the pillar less double glazed side windows, the black section at back rear quarter that makes roof looks like it is floating, holes in front seats, door open electric buttons, roof that electrically goes between clear and opaque- so many similarities!
That’s because they’re both built in the same Chinese factory
@@TheElmoProject75- the BMW iX is built in Dingolfing, Germany !
@@SDK2006b I stand corrected. I’d misread an article about electric BMWs being made over there.
I on the other hand see a lot of Urus, especially the head-on front looks.
@@TheElmoProject75ix3 is made in China.
Looks stunning but for that kind of money I’d expect much better efficiency.
Very nice of the guy to let you rip around in his brand new 110,000 pound car. As for the review its probably not right to compare the cost of this to a Tesla which is now a mass produced car. One would expect a Lotus to cost more, just like the Porsche does, although I suspect this will be considerably rarer still. Actually quite impressed with the software - when you look at the total balls up VW made of theirs this is a very credible attempt and the graphics look excellent. Efficiency is a bit painful if your figures are anything like real world, but, if you can afford the car you can afford the extra cost. As charging infrastructure improves the pain of leaving the Tesla network should reduce.
?? The Tesla Model X is a similar price in the UK and the steering wheel is on the wrong side!!
Tesla X is not a thing of beauty! Lotus any day, if I could afford. Tesla is to me a mainstream brand. Ford of the EV world. Nothing wrong with that, but at similar only, I would go Porsche, Lotus etc.
@@bryanduncan6178 TBH I don’t really think of the model X as being available. I was comparing it to the model Y. You’d have to be slightly mental to spend that kind of money on a LHD car for the UK.
@@bryanduncan6178that's next to useless in the UK. LHD... Lol
It’s made in China…..
Will it burn well ?.
Nice colour, that’s about it for me..
Nice car but pricey a good second hand option is a Audi etron 50 which you can pick up fir £20k on the second hand market now
Rear 3/4 reminds me of the ev6 (but better)
£170k well spent then! 🤣
Think it was very nice of the owner to allow you to use his car. Think to compare the Tesla Y against this is a little misleading, as price point wise, it’s far closer to the Model X. Given the price of the Lotus, there are some features I’d expect to be standard. It is a lovely car, but at 90k base, not as nice as it could be
The Chinese cars are getting serious, this probably the best of them! I just tested a NIO which was quite expensive and was very disappointed. This one looks much better.
Why are you calling this a Chinese car? I get it is made in China but who actually engineered this car?
@@benjaminsmith2287 Its a Chinese company 100%, its produced in China 100%, The Lotus Eletre was designed at the Geely Design Studio in Coventry and is produced in Wuhan, China.
Well means to me it's a Chinese car and there is nothing wrong about it. How much is the influence of original Lots employees? Before they have been bought by Geely? Hard to tell.
Beautiful car, but we really need these cars to be made more efficient in this day and age.
Only thing missing was (assuming the white tesla camera car shadowed you the whole route) was to give us the tesla economy, not quite apples to apples, but close.
I seem to recall the Tesla did 3.5 mi/kWh… but yes not apples for apples so wasn’t trying to compare!
Looks amazing from the back and side, but from the headlights down it looks naff, to me looks like something has dropped off/missing, too much black I would say, would like to see more of the green bodywork in that area ! But that's just my opinion !
Well done for being so polite😂. 110kwh battery and 250 mile range is an EPIC fail. Makes me so happy to keep my 2019 M3P which will be destroying these for years to come.
That’s like saying - don’t buy a Rolls Royce because a M3P can do the 0-60 run quicker 🤣
This will likely do over 300 miles real world.
@@SDK2006b that is ridiculous. There is very little from the review suggesting anything particularily special about this piece of Chinese built kit. It will not do 300 miles based on the available reviews.
@@colinpalmer9070 -the WLTP figure for the Eletre S is 373 miles, so achieving just over 300 miles real world driving steady is highly likely. Journalists tend to be doing 0-60 tests as part of their range test, which of course will bring down the range.
The BMW iX50 does real world 330 miles with a similar battery size, so I’d except the same here.
It would be highly unusual for the Eletre to only achieve 67% of the WLTP (250 miles vs 373 miles). Most EV’s can achieve above 80% of the WLTP in summer. Yep, in Winter it will be less, same for all other EV’s too.
I see 50% depreciation in year one. Will make the Porsche and Audi EVs look like good investments. Which given recent market data, they most definitely are not!
Re sale wise tesla really do need more options
15:36 😆
The dashboard is honking! The back seats look the business though..
This is somewhat ironic knowing that the person who owns the car is called Michael, I know this is coincidental but the registration MGB. A mark of a once iconic British brand of car, displayed on a Lotus also an iconic British brand but both now owned by the Chinese.
Almost 30k view's in 1 day say's people very interested in Lotus Eletre ❤
Not necessarily. I’m interested in all EV’s and will watch anything.
Check out any Ferrari Purosangue vids....3m views in 8 months for a couple of channels. 99.9% of those viewers were "interested" but could never afford one!
@@ph8077 Ferrari not practical and too expensive to run. I believe Lotus will sell allot Eletre next couple years
Really has double glazing or do you mean acoustic glass?
Ok double layered laminated glass. Ie cars usually just referred to as double glazing
@@RSEV Doesn't the high end Mercs actually have double glazing?
Surprised there so few reviews of this. Seems odd. Great review though.
Lovely car (although not convinced about rear/side profile (like Kia EV6), but front beautiful. But that price!! 😳😳. Ouch.
Nice review, but not getting me out of my Tesla let alone Vivaro for £80K. I agree that customising options would make Tesla a more attractive buy. Not sure about the old boy crossing the solid white lines before the roundabout.
Without huge tax incentives these cars would not be on the road.
If bought privately there’s basically no incentive apart from a ~£500 a year VED saving which I imagine someone buying a car at £90k to £120k isn’t really that bothered about.
Beautiful but absolutely staggerred at the retail price. Id get a Tesla and a 2nd hand lambo toy for the same money
What did you expect it to cost? -> It's a high performance quality SUV. A BMW X5 M is £127k, plus options
Tell you what Lotus has came back with vengeance. These will sell as fast as they can make them.
Looks great but like most new cars at the moment the price seems way too high to me. Not that long ago £100k got you something extremely high end. Personally I think new cars are 30-40% over priced still.
4:35 I'm impressed that they made that pass safety regulations
is it just me or 13:25 is actually not quiet at alllll. like a blender in there
Have to say it looks like a bad cross between an EV 6 and an iPace each of which look better. Car prices are insane but I still can’t believe the cost of this one. Can’t see it selling - premium = Taycan everything else Tesla for charging and tech…if used iPace…
Just a Lotus badge. Will be worth 20p now.
Funny that a Lotus that looks like an MG4 is wearing an old MG registration number.
And both are Chinese 🙄
To my eye it looks like many other cars on the market today - Jag iPace? - nothing special - and I'd rather have two model Ys rather than one of these!
That's like saying I'd rather have two MG4's than a Model Y. There is always a cheaper car !
In terms of size, this Lotus compete's with the Tesla Model X, which you can't buy in RHD form in the UK.
Go and sit in and drive one - I'm sure first hand experience will change your mind !
Comparison against a Tesla more appropriate would be to an Ipace
Without a doubt some of the Chinese owned companies have much better software than the legacy auto
Wow what a beauty. Range not critical because of fast charging.
Deja vu?
Can people tell me if they would consider buying a Tesla Model S Plaid or Lotus Eletre Model R, those that know a little about both vehicles please?
Well in the uk the plaid is only available with the steering wheel on the wrong side… so that’s a no from most!
I had a deposit down on both the Eletre Model R and the Tesla X Plaid, the Tesla wasn’t coming in rhd after been on order for 18months and the Eletre come up to over £150k specced up which I wasn’t prepared to pay for a daily !!
I have looked at the tesla model s and x long range and plaid. And ordered the Eletre. I have owned a tesla before. Yes the range and the charging stations are great but the Eletre is superbe in every way. Build quality amazing better then my current and the new (!) BMW X5, 800V charging capability, the software, the range is very decent. Compared this to a Tesla model X and that build quality in that price tange is a joke and a disgrace really. No Tesla for me anymore.
Funny that the license plate ends with MGB...
It’s a nice car, but is it really worth 2 Model Ys?
It's a luxury Lotus, the price is to be expected. It'll be a rare sight on the roads vs the common Tesla sightings now. Worth it of course depends on how much cash you can blow on a car. Those with the cash probably wouldn't even give the Model Y a look.
@@orangeman3343mate people with money don’t waste money and you be surprised how many of them drive a Tesla, I know I work somewhere full of super rich people
@@hammy316 I know that very well, that some don't, but this car, like many other high(er?) end cars, is for those that do. They'll want the extra luxury and exclusivity and the Lotus brand.
Yes most definately
A guaranteed 250 miles range is good, most other cars like this would be 200 or under. (jaguar, polestar etc)
250 mile range is shockingly bad
Tesla Model X has 360 mile range. 250 miles on the Eletre may seem adequate but you shoudn't regularly charge an EV over 80%, so thats a 200 mile (on a good day).. and if its cold you're looking at 150 miles.
@@DavidBrown-bs7ggit’s absolutely fine to charge to 100%, it’s leaving it there that’s the issue so on a long journey to 100% before hand isn’t gonna do any harm.
The Model X also won’t cover 360 miles either. The Model X Long Range, as tested by Bjorn Nyland, managed just 323 at 56 mph when it was 15°C outside and the roads were dry.
As per the video, it was cold and windy but even then the Eletre should manage about 250 miles. It also takes 300+ kW and had a pretty flat charging curve too.
@@SusieSmart I agree, cars never make manufacturers claimed figures, which also applies to the Lotus. I also agree it’s fine to charge to 100% but as you say you shouldn’t leave it at 100% so for most people they will charge it to 80%