With 939 hp and gasoline engine, the new Eletre X marks a strategic change for the British brand after sales of electric vehicles were lower than expected
Lotus has announced the expansion of its SUV lineup with the launch of the Eletre X, an unprecedented plug-in hybrid variant of the model. The novelty, which initially debuts in the Chinese market and arrives in Europe in the second half of 2026, represents a strategic shift for the traditional British manufacturer, which had promised to become an exclusively electric brand by 2028.
Unlike the battery-powered versions, the Eletre X combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with two electric powertrains, one on each axle. The set delivers a combined power of 939 hp, surpassing the 892 hp of the top-of-the-line electric version, the Eletre R. According to data from the automaker, the SUV is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 275 km/h.
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Autonomy is one of the central points of the new configuration. Equipped with a 70 kWh battery, the model reaches up to 354 km in purely electric mode, reaching an expressive 1,416 km of total range in the Chinese CLTC cycle. The fast charging system allows you to recover from 30% to 80% of the charge in just eight minutes. Despite the high weight, which ranges between 2,575 kg and 2,625 kg, the SUV uses 48 V adaptive anti-roll bars to preserve sporty dynamic behavior.
The retreat in the total electrification strategy, under the control of the Chinese group Geely, comes after sales below initial projections for the Eletre and Emeya models. According to CEO Feng Qingfeng, the introduction of plug-in hybrids aims to broaden brand acceptance in markets where charging infrastructure is still limited, such as Italy and Saudi Arabia. The move puts Lotus on a direct collision course with established names in the super-SUV segment, such as Lamborghini Urus and Ferrari Purosangue.
