British sports car brand Lotus Cars forays into India

Hyderabad:

Lotus Cars, the iconic British manufacturer of high-performance sports cars, is set to make its mark on the Indian automotive landscape as it enters the market for the first time. With a legacy dating back to 1948 and a relentless commitment to engineering excellence, Lotus has switched gears and repositioned the brand with a focus on new product categories.

By utilising all the knowledge and experience gained from decades of building class leading cars, Lotus has now evolved into a truly global technology brand. With this new direction, Lotus Cars have launched a lineup of Lifestyle EV models focusing on technology and outright performance.

The debut of Lotus in India represents not only the arrival of an automotive brand but the dawn of a new era in the country's luxury and sports car segment. Lotus India is poised to redefine the essence of driving, promising an experience that is as exhilarating as it is opulent.

Amidst the brand’s official introduction to India, Lotus has unveiled the prices and specifications for one of the most eagerly anticipated models in its history – Eletre R, All Electric Hyper-SUV. Being the first of a new breed of pure electric SUVs, Eletre takes the core principles and Lotus DNA from almost 75 years of sports car design and engineering, evolving them into a desirable all-new lifestyle car for the next generation of Lotus customers.

Later in 2024, Lotus will bring The Emira into the market, their latest and final internal combustion sports car. The Emira is a continuation of a long history of mid-engine highly acclaimed sports car that Lotus became most famous for in the last decades. Taking from its predecessors, Emira carries over all the driving dynamics and capabilities expected from a Lotus and adds to them a layer of refinement and performance technology. Coming in two choices of engines, customers can choose a 2L Turbocharged 4 cylinder producing 360hp or a 6 cylinder supercharged option putting out 400hp.

Satya Bagla, Managing Director, Exclusive Motors India said- "We are excited to bring Lotus cars to India, where we envision a future dedicated to serving our customers with the best-in-class brands. With extensive expertise in delivering bespoke experiences to our customers, our dedication lies in fostering excellence and enthusiasm throughout every journey, igniting the path forward with Lotus's unparalleled spirit. Our cars are a fusion of cutting-edge technology and automotive artistry, offering a driving experience like no other."

Three different versions of the car are available – Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R – with the choice of two powertrains. Eletre and Eletre S feature the 450 kW / 603 hp single-speed version, with a maximum range of 600 km (373 miles). The Eletre R comes with the flagship 675 kW / 905 hp dual-speed system and a maximum range of 490 km (304 miles). Torque figures are 710 and 985 Nm respectively, delivering a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) performance of either 4.5 or 2.95 seconds. The 112 kWh battery for both versions has a charging time (10-80 per cent) of just 20 minutes using a rapid charger.

As part of the Tech story, Lotus announced more details of its advanced ‘digital cockpit’ cabin on the Eletre, including the name of the Operating System – Lotus Hyper OS. Lotus is using ‘Unreal Engine’ technology from the gaming industry, allowing the Lotus User Experience / User Interface (UX/UI) team to create next-generation real-time 3D content and experiences. The Eletre boasts state-of-the-art processing power which includes two Qualcomm 8155 System-On-Chips.

Lotus Hyper OS provides a seamless interactive experience that offers best-in-class performance in terms of visual effects and interactive feedback, putting the user – driver or passenger – in complete control.

A next-generation Digital Head Unit from global mobility tech company ECARX will debut on the Eletre. It reconfigures the user’s in-car experience by providing fully customisable displays, hosted on an advanced Driver Information Module (DIM), and ultra-slim floating one-billion-colour OLED touchscreen for more realistic graphics and a more futuristic visual effect.

The platform includes ECARX’s first dual-chip system to enable server-level computing power for rapid processing and smooth rendering. The resulting immersive multi-screen user experience can be continuously improved during the lifetime of the car via future Over-The-Air (OTA) updates.

Lotus also has a collaboration with Dolby, creator of the renowned immersive audio experience Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos is a new way to enjoy music that takes listening to new heights through unparalleled depth, precision, and clarity. Together, Dolby Atmos and the Eletre’s KEF speaker system combine to elevate music listening to new levels. Driver and passengers will feel like they’re sitting in the middle of the recording studio alongside the artist. The Eletre is the world’s first car to combine Dolby Atmos and KEF Audio.

The standard spec includes five drive modes, active air suspension, torque vectoring, matrix LED headlights, active front grille and 22-inch 10-spoke forged wheels.

The premium cabin takes Lotus interiors to an all-new level of desirability. As standard the Eletre comes with wireless smartphone charging, 12-way electrically adjustable front seats, four-zone automatic climate control and many other features. The ‘intelligent cockpit’ infotainment system, which includes Apple CarPlay / Android Auto and a 1,380-watt, 15-speaker KEF Premium Audio, is operated via a centrally mounted 15.1-inch full High-Definition OLED centre screen. All versions of the Eletre feature five seats as standard, with a four-seat version available as part of the Executive Seat Pack.

Also standard is the deployable LIDAR technology, a world-first in a production car which supports end-to-end autonomous driving (AD) technology. Integrated OTA software update capability ensures the system will be fully ready when individual market regulations allow for the more advanced levels of AD.

The Eletre rides on 22-inch wheels as standard, though 20-inch and 23-inch are available. There are five different wheel designs and six colours of brake caliper. At launch there are six exterior colours to choose from – natron red, galloway green, stellar black, kaimu grey, blossom grey and solar yellow. More will follow later.

Six unique interiors are available, all offering premium high-grade materials and detail choices. Sustainability has been at the heart of the development. For example, the Eletre is available with a state-of-the-art alternative to leather that is environmentally friendly, odour-free, and lasts longer than genuine leather. In addition, a new man-made fibre has been used in the carpets and boot liner. It is 100 per cent recycled and 100 per cent recyclable, and there is no waste in the production process.

The enhanced specification includes numerous additional features such as active rear spoiler, configurable ambient lighting, illuminated side sills, soft door close, auto-dimming side mirrors and an air quality system. It also includes a 2,160-watt, 23-speaker KEF Reference Audio.

The standard specification of the Eletre R also includes Lotus dynamic handling pack, carbon fibre pack, gloss black wheels, stainless steel sports pedals, black badging and high-performance tyres.

All Eletre customers have further opportunities to customise and personalise their car to their requirements using option packs. The optional part includes the lotus dynamic handling pack, ceramic brake pack, executive seat pack, comfort seat pack, carbon fibre pack, extended carbon fibre pack and interior carbon fibre pack. Many options from the packs are also available individually. Two Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Packs are also available – the Parking Pack and a Highway Assist Pack.