Driver Magazine - Issue 2 of 3 2025 - Magazine - Page 43
Craig’s thoughts:
When I think of Lotus, I think of sports cars. Sleek designs that aesthetically stand the test of time. Lotus have produced
some of the most beautiful, 8everyday9 cars that are just as good on a summer9s road trip than they are on a race track. To
many people they are temperamental, impractical, but to the purest, they are just incredible.
I9ve always been a petrolhead at heart and a huge fan of Lotus. The thought of EVs being our future doesn9t excite me. And
up until recent years, that is what we were all expecting would be the future.
I have had little experience with electric vehicles. I sat in a Tesla many many years ago but that9s as far as I9ve gone. I have
not avoided them, just never been given the opportunity nor have I wanted it. However, being invited to spend a week
with the brand new Lotus Eletre was really exciting and I felt so grateful.
I liked the fact I wouldn9t be sitting beside someone being judged. I wouldn9t be expected to be all gushy and speak
lovingly of it if I didn9t feel it. I would be on my own, learning how to live with an EV every day. I felt that if anyone was going
to convince me that an EV would be my next purchase, that would be Lotus.
As far as modern cars go, the Eletre is most certainly one of the prettiest. I would put it up there with the Porsche Taycan
and MG Cyberster in my list of beautiful EVs. But most EV9s are pretty. Of course, there9s the odd exception where a design
team has got a few sketches wrong but the majority on our roads now aren9t ugly.
As for my opinions on performance, the facts speak for themselves, just look at them. Put aside your opinions of the
technology, there is no denying that for anyone who loves a car to perform, the Eletre offers you exactly that.
I have nothing really to compare the Eletre to in performance, other than the modern, performance cars that I9m used to
driving. I was really impressed though, the speed and acceleration is something else. It takes a little bit of getting used to,
especially when you like a car9s engine to talk to you. You don9t have that same feeling with an EV, you press go and it
goes, that9s it. I feel like that would be the same with any electric vehicle but being in a Lotus certainly makes you feel good
going on your journey. It9s the brand I9ve currently bought into rather than the car and it9s offerings.
Molly’s thoughts:
The Lotus Eletre is, in my eyes, a beautiful car. It has the look of a four by four but with the shape you would recognise from
a classic Lotus sports car, so what9s not to like?
I jumped at the chance to get behind the wheel of the Lotus Eletre. Having only ever driven one electric car before, it was a
real treat to be able to drive such a powerful one. It did take some getting used to, though.
I didn9t need to be nearly as heavy-footed with the accelerator as I would when driving classics. With a car like this, it most
definitely feels as though it drives itself. It felt extremely futuristic with features such as the regenerative brakes. These are
a brilliant addition, but also sometimes became slightly unnerving as I felt I wasn9t fully in control. You can make this
stronger or lighter, and I would suggest having a play if you get a chance to have a drive in one, as it9s something to get
used to.
The power of the Eletre is most definitely felt when driving. It glides across the roads and made me feel I was in some kind
of spaceship. Its size is extremely large and high, so you feel safe and secure. Even though it does have great power, the
Eletre does bring you back to reality with its speed limit reminders, which will give you a little warning if you exceed the
limit. This is a great addition, as you can enjoy the speed a little too much.
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