There has been a lot of discussion about the new Eletre from Lotus. Some good, some bad. Our resident Lotus fan and owner, David Tillyer, has weighed in on the debate.

I can hear the muffled cries of Lotus purists the world over. “How can they launch something so heavy?” “An SUV can never be a real Lotus.” “Colin Chapman will be turning in his grave,” and so on. Those who are upset probably aren’t the target market for this vehicle, but more importantly, this is just the sort of car that Lotus needs to take it from low-volume and no profits to a genuine worldwide brand.

Lotus Eletre at London launch

For context, I am a Lotus purist. I currently own a featherweight Elise and have owned several other Lotus cars over the years. I’ve driven at least 50 different models from the company’s back catalogue and consider myself somewhat of an anorak on the subject of sports cars from Hethel. Do I hate the idea of the Eletre? Not one bit.

Lotus Eletre at London launch

The reason is very simple. These cars sell well. They make a profit. Profit leads to expansion and, if you use Porsche as a benchmark, far more exciting sports cars than ever before. There will never be another Elise. It was lightning in a bottle and sold fairly well, but a car like that would never meet modern legislation. But the good news is, Lotus made quite a few, and none were bad. If you need an Elise in your life, buy a used one. 

Lotus Eletre at London launch

The future of Lotus is in electrification. The Emira will be its last sports car to burn fossil fuels, and the next generation of sports cars will all be battery-powered. But to help promote that future, you need a volume seller. This is something Lotus has never had. The path has already been forged by Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and, soon, Ferrari. The Eletre stands apart from that crowd due to its propulsion and relative value, but it also stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them. The market for fast, flashy SUVs is huge, and if Lotus can tap into that, then it would be foolish not to.

Lotus Eletre at London launch

It is no secret that Colin Chapman, god of lightness, loved his Range Rover. He reportedly had plans to build a saloon and something akin to an SUV, so who knows what we would have seen from Lotus had he not passed away when he did. But most of all, he was a businessman. I’m sure he’d view this latest venture as less of a dilution of the brand and more of a new chapter in the Norfolk car maker’s history. 

So to the purists out there, don’t dismay. The Eletre is a positive sign of a promising bright future for Lotus. It will open up Lotus to far more markets than ever before as its first genuinely global production car. Even if this car is not for you, let the wizards from Weissach show you that a Lotus for the family means the Lotus for the weekend will only get better. 

An SUV from Lotus? Say hello to the Eletre!