@@1991pony I absolutely loathe what is happening to automotive industry right now... not only we got increasingly detached and worse feeling cars and manual transmissions killed off in every single super car brand and then spreading lower across sports car segments, it's so bad that R35 GT-R which was already an excessive computer on wheels in 2007 is considered "analogue" just because everything else have gotten so awful and bland. Seeing Lotus make something like this is just ridiculous insult to injury...
I bought my first Lotus Esprit (the S4s, which is the Sport 300 for the U.S. market) in 1996, new, from Boardwalk Lotus in California. And have bought several other Lotus models new, from various Lotus dealers, since then. Once they stop making non-electric cars in 2027, I will never buy another Lotus. If they intended to eliminate interest in Lotus among the legacy customer base, they have done so. Very sad times.
@purwantiallan5089 I've heard that, and you're probably right. It's the elimination of a massive customer population who will increase demand for Ferrari, etc. Toyota has a hybrid that charges its own battery, it does not need to be connected to any charger, not even a wall plug. That is a legitimate model for cars. Here in the U.S., Hertz (one of the largest car rental companies) got rid of all their electric cars because no one would rent them, choosing gasoline cars instead. And U.S. car dealers cannot sell electric vehicles either. Maybe car buyers in the UK are different? Not sure.
Yeah, but in the end it is a Chinese car, once it breaks you just scrap the whole thing and buy another one, nothing in those cars is meant to be replaced or refurbished. BTW you are an internet legend!!! It’s so cool seeing you here
@@conner5631 It would be very uncomfortable if the slider got stuck on “transparent” and you were driving though Arizona in July. I doubt the Air Conditioning could win that.
@@kamsunleong6648 People can dislike a thing without being envious of it, man. When the Lotus mantra has been 'simplify, then add lightness' for decades and decades, and then this comes out, completely devoid of that Lotus philosophy, it's going to get a bad reaction.
Nruh. If the Chinese did not come in and change their Chapman philosophy, they would have joined their founder in the grave. It's a business and it needs to make money. Period.
@@aemnipotent8514 i beleive you may need to re-read this comment... Doug is a wonderful presenter, I think we can all agree, WE lOVE HIM. That being said, his comment is a double positive. "You can see through it" and "or weather its totally clear" are the same thing. lol
He's gone and forgotten. The auto industry has moved on. Without the Chinese money, the brand would have followed its founder to the grave. So be realistically not dream of the by gone days.
@@ssnjr1299 No but you clearly know nothing about Chapman if you think he wouldn't approve of this car. Colin Chapman was always about making money, go and research his involvement with DeLorean.
@@gamesguy ad hominem. The argument that you’re not allowed to be upset at a non suv company for making an suv because the company you purchased from makes suvs is dumb.
It was either this or dying. They didnt half-assed is, seems like a legit, well thought out vehicle. If it helps them to continue making their usual sports cars, more power to them.
Wrong. Volvo and Polestar use the SPA2 platform created by Volvo and share very little if anything with this Lotus for their similar size EX90 and Polestar 3. Just because these brands are owned by Geely doesn't mean Geely has anything to do with the creation of them. Volvo uses the SEA platform for one car only and that's the EX30 and Polestar uses it for one car which is the Polestar 4. the rest of them use Volvo platforms. As for Zeekr, it shares some things withi Zeekr but when you take a platform and people in Conventry tune and modify it to the degree they have with this car, it takes on a totally different feel. And btw, all of the VW Group's cars are built on a VW Group platform including the Bentayga Urus, ATron and Cayenne. That doesn't make them drive or even feel the same.
Maybe they fixed it, but when Harry‘s garage reviewed it in the UK recently he found out it didn’t have a battery heater, which is a pretty major omission, and it meant that the range was reduced when the temperature dropped.
Lotus isn't developing an advanced ADAS system. The plan is to use Volvo's upcoming Level 3 "Ride Pilot" system if Volvo is able to launch in the EX90 as planned.
I can tell you for sure that if you live in let's say the U.K. with a very rainy weather or in the South of Spain which in summer is hot as hell, those flimsy looking flaps with whatever it is the mechanism which moves them, as you say would disintegrate within seconds. They won't buy it in Alaska or Oregon LOL
There are two USB-C ports in the back, on the front edge of the middle seat bottom in the 5-seater. In doubt, perhaps read the manual... It takes seconds to find it online.
As much as I hate it, I can't say it doesn't make sense in today's market. But it certainly hurts seeing yet another performance brand go down this path.
I agree but Porsche started it with the Macan which outsells all Porsche models combined and it ain't even close. After that you saw the Urus that outsell all other Lamobos and its not going to stop. I do not think we will ever see Hyper car brands do this lol
My exact thought. I assume most buyers won’t even know was a Lotus is/was. But it seems like they nailed what most buyers are looking for, for around half the cost.
The only thing that’s good about the car. But considering it’s Made In China 🇨🇳… the paint will fall apart after 15 months just like everything else the Chinese make. 😂😂
@@jasonknight5863 , you realize that most of the stuff you buy is made in China, right? China is just as capable of manufacturing quality products as they are cheap dollar store crap.
Really odd possible case of parts sharing here: I believe that center armrest is almost the exact part, style on the sides, the pull out cup holder and everything, that my Volvo v90 has....
There's a lot to like in this car, but if you watch the Harry's Garage review you'll see that the actual range is way shorter than what Lotus claims. It's its main weakness, specially considering the high price.
In short....the Chinese didn't buy the Lotus company; they bought the Lotus brand and transferred it to their own company to slap it on their Chinese cars.
Yes, this is the complete opposite of the Lotus we love. But much like how the Cayenne saved Porsche, Lotus needs a car more people will buy and live with.
@@edwardvalivonis23 the original cayenne and boxster most definitely saved porsche from bankruptcy. they even went to toyota to figure out how to streamline their production process as they were essentially bleeding money in the early to mid 90s. this is also why they lent their engineering skills to audi and mercedes for the rs2 and 500e.
@@Only_Ameen04with so many manufacturers announcing they're rethinking their EV strategy and re-investing in ICE, it's possible Lotus will pivot and retain ICE for a while longer. Potentially the Emira will get built for a while if that's where the global winds are blowing, despite the original comment that they'd discontinue the Emira when Lotus releases an electric sports car. With the AMG deal in place for the Emira, and AMG themselves stating that they're looking at reintroducing V8s into the lineup, it's possible Lotus could make V6 and V8 SUVs with powerplants from AMG. If anything I'm surprised the Emira got an AMG 4 cylinder rather than Volvo's.
I think it's like the original Cayenne, people think that Lotus is sold out. But you need an SUV if you want to keep making the sporty lightweight coupes that most people love and want, those projects will need a more financially secure brand.
That's an apt comparison. The Cayenne may have caught flack for Porsche 'selling-out' but what I'll never understand is how it never took heat for being just another badge car. Even in this video, Doug slams the Urus for sole reason of just being an Audi, while calling the Cayenne good. The Urus is an much an VAG parts bin, as the the Cayenne. That Porsche badge really does infect peoples brains I guess.
It really isn’t a mystery why the two-door sports car is dying. I think most people figure if I’m going to pay big bucks for a car it has better be able to load up my kids and gear. Even for upper middle class affluent people the idea of buying a car that’s just a toy and nothing else seems silly these days. If you think about it, this $100,000 Lotus costs the same as buying a reasonably equipped RAV4 Prime and two door sports coupe like a BMW M2. But why do that when you can get a performance SUV that does double duty?
This is not any SUV. SUV means sports utility vehicle for people living a sporting life that take the car offroad. This is a tall vehicle with a coupified shape that isn't even that tall. It's a crossover at best. Most of the vehicles called SUVs are crossovers. or they're very tall wagons or 4-door hatches.
@@95mushroomdont know, maybe they he thinks the Urus should have been more special than Porsche, that would make sense. As far as gen 1 Touareg, its a great car and the Cayenne in higher trims was something different enough to be unique at the time, among any brand.
@@RichardJones-et5we The market is still there for lightweight and focused experience sports cars. Brands just realized greed is more convenient than passion and lower roi.
I believe this sets a new record for Doug checking the mirrors to make sure his possible speeding transgressions went unnoticed by the local constabulary…….
I'm surprised didn't mention the styling except for 5 seconds towards the end, this is a seriously good looking SUV, especially from the side profile which was videos a few times here! I think the styling will really help propel the cars sales, at least I hope so!
@@faheemabbas3965Exactly. They can’t sell outside China with their own tofu-dreg brands so they have to hide that fact behind an iconic badge. Welcome to the new future of Lotus and MG. Hopefully Aston Martin doesn’t follow suit.
I dont understand why everyone hates it so much. Its just an effort to keep the brand alive. If this sells well we can at least expect more cars like the Emira.
@@gemaskerdebeuker8511 I guess I'm still holding out for a pivot on the complete electrification of automobiles, given the issues and limitations of battery-powered cars - or at least some stopping point where there is a delineation between battery and ICE-powered vehicles - like right now when people have a choice that isn't "motivated" by governments and that does not end up completely phasing out the internal combustion engine. Then again, I kept buying record albums even after my local record store converted all their vinyl inventory to CD's - lol
@@gemaskerdebeuker8511 Right. And European transportation is nothing at all like ours. Much kite reliant on public transport, in large part because they don’t need longer range vehicles like we do in this bast country. Im still holding out hope for the duration of the ICE. I mean, just look how much mileage carmakers can squeeze out of basically the same contraption that’s been powering vehicles for over a century! I do plan to keep one or even two “2 time” vehicles and have told my son to do it unless or until gasoline just isn’t readily available any more. What a stodgy old coot Ive become 😆
Great content, I drove the Eletre S and R models in Thailand. I found the controls over complicated, but what kills this vehicle for me was it's the limited range.
I was waiting for someone to review this and I'm glad it was Doug. I feel that it's still a "Lotus" based on it's power, responsiveness, and agility for what it is.
There’s more attention to detail in this car than I thought there’d be. My biggest gripe is the infotainment system being used to point the air vents, but that’s about it.
I think most of you making comments did ever try this car seriously. It handles better than any ev in the market, it is impressively top quality finishing in any details. I perfectly understand this is not a lotus in the proper heritage but it is for sure the best suv in its class beating for sure Cayenne,Urus Q8 ( all the same chassis ) and taking the spot to Ferrari Purosangue with 1/4 of the price. But changes are never been accepted easily . I drive BMW IX , and Ferrari daily by the way. That’s way I am so impressed by Eletre.
All those cars you mentioned have brand cachet with the general public. Lotus does not. Enthusiast like Lotus and this is the most un-Lotus vehicle possible.
I saw one of these in person last weekend at McLaren Philadelphia and stood in front of it trying to pronounce the name like Doug did on the drive…out loud…like a crazy person.
@@p.informatico1320 It's a Chinese electric car. Designed by lotus? Look at it. It's a Chinese electric car. If lotus paid for any of the design process it's not visible in the end product... which looks like a Chinese electric car. (to clarify: the design is fine- just has naught to do with lotus.)
The more I see of it online & the more I see it driving on the streets, the more I like it. It’s a big car that creates a ‘wow’ effect in many ways (wow like it’s big/clumsy/cool/fast..) Anyway, of this can make money for Lotus so that they still can make sportscars in the future, this is a good car to do that with.
I think these sports car manufacturers are getting it wrong by building swoopy/sporty SUVs. I'd love to see these companies (Ferarri, Lotus, Lambo, etc) come out with an LM002 type of SUV, something big and made for off road, makes a statement like a Land Rover or an Escalade but with more exotic styling and has a supercar engine in it. I can keep dreaming, but I think something like that would be way more appealing than just another swoopy SUV.
To everyone saying that this isn't a quintessential Lotus... you are correct. But it's not like this means they'll stop producing their conventional lightweight sportcars, this means that those projects will have more budget to improve. And it's only a tiny minority that have bought, or even sat in a Lotus ever before. 2023 they sold below 7 thousand cars worldwide (which is their yearly selling record in their entire existance), and made a £600 million loss. Without this Lotus might be gone
I had an Eletre R. We were very impressed with it, particularly how it handles for a BEV SUV. We weren't so impressed though that most of the cars functions were not opperational on delivery(may be fixed now with over air updates). Unfortunately it had a brake down within the first 500 miles of delivery. Given its a new to market car we expected teathing issues, but we ultimately returned the car to Lotus due to their appalling customer service.
Aaaaand there is that Chinese high quality. They can hide it behind seemingly very good initial build quality but eventually the issues will leak through them and the longevity of the car (or lack thereof) becomes clear.
@@2AMinLosAngeles Fair enough but British brands are subject to liability should a product of poor build quality or poor design prove dangerous or fatal whether in the US or the EU. And if they try to deny or hide it, it can prove disastrous for the brands reputation should it cause an uproar. Good luck holding the Chinese accountable for anything. At best they may be forced to fix their products but they certainly won't pay damages to their customers when their companies are state-owned and above Chinese law and even WTO law at times. Welcome to the new world we chose to live in.
Lotus used the black badge in 1968 when racing driver Jim Clark was killed. It's made reappearances since then. Either this is to commemorate the death of the simple and light Lotus ethos or it just looks cooler than the yellow and green.
Aren't the charge ports for the back seat on the actual back seats themselves? I think Lotus did this to avoid having cables tangling up with legs but lots of people missed this feature
@@bwofficial1776 various national industries throughout the world have developed and learned from others. That's called learning, not stealing. Stupid anti-China rhetoric.
There was a day when Porsche began selling SUV’s and sedans. This enabled the company to be profitable and bring sublime cars like the GT3 to market. It’s easy to be skeptical of a Lotus SUV, especially an electric one (especially one that is Chinese built.) I do this car will die or live based on its own merits and pricing structure. My wish is for it to succeed and for Lotus to remember it’s past well enough to build a lightweight (electric) sports car in the future, perhaps developed and built in Great Britain.
Doug, I believe that someone's already asked this question, or stated this point: Wouldn't it be better if, instead of filming your face for 5 minutes straight - from 25:44 to 30:41 - you film the cabin view using a camera positioned slighlty behind of the front seats, like in the middle? It would give us an interesting view of the car when moving. Your video is complete, being this the only part I miss when watching it.
According to lotus it does have 4 USB c ports in the interior. 2 front and 2 in the back. They may be in the rear armrest. There is also an option with an upgraded rear armrest that has cup holders like the front and a screen.
13 minutes into this and it feels like there should a semester class on how to use all of these controls. This is far too complicated, and I would be very concerned with long term durability. The automated triangular vents up front probably wouldn't survive a parking impact or any kind of road debris.
@@ShionjisamaLMAO do you hear yourself with that comment? Chinese people with money aren’t buying home grown brands. I know this for a fact. This is why brands like BMW, Mercedes, and even Teslas are popular there. And the rest that can’t afford the iconic brands are stuck buying the BYDs, SAICs, and Geelys.🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for the laugh. I needed that.
i was lucky enough to test drive this on sunday and it is a COOL car in my opinion. i liked it.. other than the annoying chimes i couldnt figure out how to turn off..
They are owned by ZGH, Geely Holding. This isn't Geely Auto. Like VW Group, it's part of the group but they have their own teams of people that create their cars in the Lotus tradition while sensibly cutting cost by using some group components. Yet some components and especially suspension tuning is unique to Lotus.
The Cayenne has an EV version, well a PHEV, a 2.0 petrol + 50-70km EV range. And its made in China like this thing here. A family member has one, and I recently drove it 2000 km, first 700-800 did 5.8L/100, which is impressive, then the juice in the battery ran out and the rest of the trip did about 8.1L/100. Compare that to an Audi A6, I usually use for long trips, 10.5L/100, or A8L 12-15L/100 (it has a great sound in Sport mode, and I floor it a bit more often, and getting 15+L/100 on most trips)
How efficient is the Eletre in your sunny climate? They get about 2.1 miles/kWh in 12oC UK weather. (which is about 13.5mpg equivalent, with the range being 230-240)
Honestly as long as they keep making ICE performance sports cars i support this. Itll keep the brand afloat and open up their market to more people while still allowing them to put out great cars for the real lotus enthusiasts
Then you’ve already waived goodbye to Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Bentley, and even Aston Martin. Companies have to make money, and SUVs are the way. It’s the consumer market, not the automakers. Judge their sport cars… by their sports cars. I prefer the Evora GT to the Emira, but I’m in the minority. Wait lists for Emira confirm that.
@@stephenhester7354 Unlike Ferrari, Porsche, Lamboghini. Lotus said that they only making ev from now so yeah it's pretty much dead and Emira probably their last sports car before they got bought out.
@@Only_Ameen04 And all their EVs will be built in China. So basically, Geely bought Lotus just for the badge so they can sell their own cars behind the badge because nobody in their right mind would spend six figures on a Geely. Forget about paying six figures for a hand-crafted British work of art. You are now paying that for a Chinese appliance.
"Complicate, then add heaviness" -Lotus, probably
Colin Chapman is spinning in his grave like a whirling dervish.
@@1991pony I absolutely loathe what is happening to automotive industry right now... not only we got increasingly detached and worse feeling cars and manual transmissions killed off in every single super car brand and then spreading lower across sports car segments, it's so bad that R35 GT-R which was already an excessive computer on wheels in 2007 is considered "analogue" just because everything else have gotten so awful and bland. Seeing Lotus make something like this is just ridiculous insult to injury...
came to say exactly this
This thing is a mess.
from lotus to lie-to-us
Doug is the type of guy who brings a ruler to bed to see how long he sleeps.
This has to be the best one I’ve seen in awhile 😂😂😂
You win
Internet champion for the next duration of an attention span.
😂😂😂
This is the best yet!! 👑
As a car, I dont hate it.... As a lotus; I despise it.
The feeling is mutual with the ford mustang mach-e. They had no business calling it a mustang....could have just called it the mach-e.
I bought my first Lotus Esprit (the S4s, which is the Sport 300 for the U.S. market) in 1996, new, from Boardwalk Lotus in California. And have bought several other Lotus models new, from various Lotus dealers, since then. Once they stop making non-electric cars in 2027, I will never buy another Lotus. If they intended to eliminate interest in Lotus among the legacy customer base, they have done so. Very sad times.
@@Greg_Chasetrue. I think all British car makers will be fully EV as early as 2026.
@purwantiallan5089 I've heard that, and you're probably right.
It's the elimination of a massive customer population who will increase demand for Ferrari, etc.
Toyota has a hybrid that charges its own battery, it does not need to be connected to any charger, not even a wall plug. That is a legitimate model for cars.
Here in the U.S., Hertz (one of the largest car rental companies) got rid of all their electric cars because no one would rent them, choosing gasoline cars instead.
And U.S. car dealers cannot sell electric vehicles either.
Maybe car buyers in the UK are different? Not sure.
@@djjukeboxhero6491The feeling is mutual? You mean you despise the car and the car hates you back?
That sun roof looks like it costs $75,000 to replace.
Yeah, but in the end it is a Chinese car, once it breaks you just scrap the whole thing and buy another one, nothing in those cars is meant to be replaced or refurbished.
BTW you are an internet legend!!! It’s so cool seeing you here
At least with a slider you can change “in an instant weather you can see through it or weather it’s totally clear” 🤨🤣
I almost didn’t catch it lol
For me it maybe cost $100.000 to replace those parts.
@@conner5631 It would be very uncomfortable if the slider got stuck on “transparent” and you were driving though Arizona in July. I doubt the Air Conditioning could win that.
It's perfect when you're not trying to see that chocolate rain 🎶
Bloatus
🤣🤣🤣
🏆
Yup. Can't afford one either. So let's scoff at it. Makes us feel better.
@@kamsunleong6648 People can dislike a thing without being envious of it, man. When the Lotus mantra has been 'simplify, then add lightness' for decades and decades, and then this comes out, completely devoid of that Lotus philosophy, it's going to get a bad reaction.
Nruh. If the Chinese did not come in and change their Chapman philosophy, they would have joined their founder in the grave. It's a business and it needs to make money. Period.
Doug the kind of guy who says, Make yourself at home and then proceeds to tell you what you can and can't use or touch.
😂
That's a bit like asking somebody "How's it goin'." and they actually tell you. It's just an expression.
Doug has been making crappy videos lately. Nobody cares about electric cars.
just shaking my head "NO" at the unveiling of nearly every feature on this ugly toaster
He does strike me as a particularly fussy host
6:33 "You can change in an instant whether you can see thru it, or whether its totally clear."
Ah, so it does nothing 😂😂
Somehow it has no effect on it.
Are you slow?
@@aemnipotent8514 i beleive you may need to re-read this comment...
Doug is a wonderful presenter, I think we can all agree, WE lOVE HIM.
That being said, his comment is a double positive. "You can see through it" and "or weather its totally clear" are the same thing. lol
My first thought when i saw the thumbnail , "so when did the Chinese buy Lotus ?".
That wirring sound is Colin Chapman spinning in his grave..
He's gone and forgotten. The auto industry has moved on. Without the Chinese money, the brand would have followed its founder to the grave. So be realistically not dream of the by gone days.
@@kamsunleong6648 are you a geely employee?
@@ssnjr1299 No but you clearly know nothing about Chapman if you think he wouldn't approve of this car. Colin Chapman was always about making money, go and research his involvement with DeLorean.
@@sidesauce you forgot to switch your account
@@ssnjr1299 Huh?
From British to Chinese like MG
its heartbreaking
Chyna! are buying everything up
they were already malaysian and american before that so....
Colin Chapman is spinning in his grave.
Everything about this screams Chinese.
Random Chinese Company "hey can we use your name, you don't have to do anything though."
That random Chinese company sold 1.68 million vehicles in 2023.
@@reedueduWho cares? People nowadays act like having sales figures are the only thing that matters.
@@santileonsteinberg1441 It does matter if you are trying to have a profitable business to survive.
@@santileonsteinberg1441 It's definitely not the only thing that matters, but it matters enough in this context.
@@santileonsteinberg1441He means the word "random" is a bit misplaced if taken seriously.
Sweet. Lotus makes appliances now.
In CHINA no less.
And what brand do you drive that doesn't have a SUV? McLaren?
@@gamesguydumb argument
@@moneyshifters dumb poster
@@gamesguy ad hominem. The argument that you’re not allowed to be upset at a non suv company for making an suv because the company you purchased from makes suvs is dumb.
God, I hope the age of the SUV will come to an end soon.
It's not unfortunately. Pretty soon we'll all be driving CyberSUVs
why would it? people have families to move around. nobody is doing that in a two seater sports car. get over it bro
I doubt it. I would argue its the new standard shape of the typical automobile.
@@juanzingarello4005 It's like the old model T. You could get any color you want as long as it's black.
So you've never heard of an MPV or Estate car? Both more practical than an SUV.
So there is indeed family alternatives.
It was either this or dying. They didnt half-assed is, seems like a legit, well thought out vehicle. If it helps them to continue making their usual sports cars, more power to them.
Well said. I'm still keen for an Elise at some point but mobs like lotus need to endure for that to be realistic.
Exactly
Finally someone with good vibes
I agree
You’re very naive if you think they will continue to make their trademark sports cars after this
This is a Volvo, a polestar, a lotus and a zeekr, they are all the same Geetly platform underneath.
Wrong. Volvo and Polestar use the SPA2 platform created by Volvo and share very little if anything with this Lotus for their similar size EX90 and Polestar 3. Just because these brands are owned by Geely doesn't mean Geely has anything to do with the creation of them. Volvo uses the SEA platform for one car only and that's the EX30 and Polestar uses it for one car which is the Polestar 4. the rest of them use Volvo platforms.
As for Zeekr, it shares some things withi Zeekr but when you take a platform and people in Conventry tune and modify it to the degree they have with this car, it takes on a totally different feel. And btw, all of the VW Group's cars are built on a VW Group platform including the Bentayga Urus, ATron and Cayenne. That doesn't make them drive or even feel the same.
@@benjaminsmith2287Cool story bro.
@@Future-Classic-Comicsdumb comment bro.
@@Future-Classic-Comics so misinformation is okay now since you're worried about "the poor widdle guys moment"?
@@filmgunproductions4448 Yep misinformation from Ben offends me absolutely correct.
Maybe they fixed it, but when Harry‘s garage reviewed it in the UK recently he found out it didn’t have a battery heater, which is a pretty major omission, and it meant that the range was reduced when the temperature dropped.
Preconditioning of the battery for charging or a heat pump?
It did very well in Norway winter charging test 6months ago. So if it can handle Norwegian winter it should manage well in the UK :)
4:10 futureproof means: it was so buggy we had to turn it off. Will fix it in future.. maybe
"In the meantime, you still pay for the hardware without knowing how good it will actually be"
Lotus isn't developing an advanced ADAS system. The plan is to use Volvo's upcoming Level 3 "Ride Pilot" system if Volvo is able to launch in the EX90 as planned.
And by the time they figure it out, the car will be obsolete
Include on the car all the hardware for feature that isn't yet developed or legally permitted. It's a bold strategy Cotton.
They will fix it never lol
those front triangle flaps look like they would disintegrate within seconds of being driven in any bad weather whatsoever
Or by getting hit by a rock or road debris. Even if they survive, being British and Chinese, those flaps aren't going to remain operational long.
I can tell you for sure that if you live in let's say the U.K. with a very rainy weather or in the South of Spain which in summer is hot as hell, those flimsy looking flaps with whatever it is the mechanism which moves them, as you say would disintegrate within seconds. They won't buy it in Alaska or Oregon LOL
@@bwofficial1776chances to survive usually is very low.
Plenty of cars use thin plastic radiator shutters and they do fine.
There are two USB-C ports in the back, on the front edge of the middle seat bottom in the 5-seater. In doubt, perhaps read the manual... It takes seconds to find it online.
Get out of the left lane
@@jameshuggins7320 huh?
Plus two more in the rear central armrest. Same manual.
@@jmiller1010 That's for the 4-seater config
Historically and across multiple vehicles, Doug has a tough time RTFM
That ain't a Lotus
That's a fancy BYD
It kept the brand alive. Without the Chinese money and their adapting to market needs, they would have joined their founder in the grave.
@@kamsunleong6648facts
@@kamsunleong6648CCP party member here
@@kamsunleong6648 I would be ok with that. It's not like I can get parts anyway.
@@kamsunleong6648 they would be better off.
As much as I hate it, I can't say it doesn't make sense in today's market. But it certainly hurts seeing yet another performance brand go down this path.
I agree but Porsche started it with the Macan which outsells all Porsche models combined and it ain't even close. After that you saw the Urus that outsell all other Lamobos and its not going to stop. I do not think we will ever see Hyper car brands do this lol
My exact thought. I assume most buyers won’t even know was a Lotus is/was. But it seems like they nailed what most buyers are looking for, for around half the cost.
Lotus was nearly bankrupt, nobody bought a Lotus. They made some smart moves with this revamp and Chinese money. Isht happens for a reason
They should've built an SUV a decade ago, they'd be swimming in money by now instead of being nearly dead.
@@jackinralph1 except lotus isnt big as porsche and they're going full EV while Porsche still keeps an ICE 911. pretty sad
I love that pearlescent color.
The only thing that’s good about the car. But considering it’s Made In China 🇨🇳… the paint will fall apart after 15 months just like everything else the Chinese make. 😂😂
@@jasonknight5863 ‘The only thing good about the car’? It plows through any suv you put it up against 🤣🤣
@@jasonknight5863 , you realize that most of the stuff you buy is made in China, right? China is just as capable of manufacturing quality products as they are cheap dollar store crap.
@@jasonknight5863Just think of B.Y.D
@@jasonknight5863, my iPhone didn't fall apart after 15 months.
Really odd possible case of parts sharing here: I believe that center armrest is almost the exact part, style on the sides, the pull out cup holder and everything, that my Volvo v90 has....
Geely owns Volvo, Lotus, and Polestar and this car rides on a common platform.
@@bwofficial1776 I understand but still of all the parts this one is funny to me haha. Especially given how much feels actually special in this car .
Lotus using parts bin bits for the interior is the most Lotus thing about this barge.
There's a lot to like in this car, but if you watch the Harry's Garage review you'll see that the actual range is way shorter than what Lotus claims. It's its main weakness, specially considering the high price.
The rear passenger usb charging sockets are on the under/ on the front edge of the middle seat
"I looked high and low" = I took a glance and gave up
To be fair that would probably be the level of efforts given by most users
@@KillaninjaFC they are in a crazy place. If ur kids wants to charge you can’t use them easily
I hate it, it’s against all of lotus’s rules
i agree so much but we've tragically seen porsche, lambo and ferrari do the same thing. mclaren is next up. it unfortunately has to be done.
You do not go to lotus for an suv.
@@muhidnaveed2617 If they end up nailing the eventual electric lotus supercar, no harm done really. has anyone here actually bought a lotus?
Well, Lotus is owned by the Chinese company Geely. And we all know how well the chinese follow rules.
because its just chinese ev with british package
Doug: Praises the car's handling, and how its even better than teslas
Also Doug: Gives the exact same score to a tesla in that same category
In short....the Chinese didn't buy the Lotus company; they bought the Lotus brand and transferred it to their own company to slap it on their Chinese cars.
Yes, this is the complete opposite of the Lotus we love.
But much like how the Cayenne saved Porsche, Lotus needs a car more people will buy and live with.
Too bad Lotus said that went all electric so we won't be seeing any new Emira then
Cayenne saved Porsche? Oh please. 911 is outselling every porsche
@@edwardvalivonis23 oh no the cayenne definitely saved Porsche, look it up. ( I don’t think that’s the case with lotus tho)
@@edwardvalivonis23 the original cayenne and boxster most definitely saved porsche from bankruptcy. they even went to toyota to figure out how to streamline their production process as they were essentially bleeding money in the early to mid 90s. this is also why they lent their engineering skills to audi and mercedes for the rs2 and 500e.
@@Only_Ameen04with so many manufacturers announcing they're rethinking their EV strategy and re-investing in ICE, it's possible Lotus will pivot and retain ICE for a while longer.
Potentially the Emira will get built for a while if that's where the global winds are blowing, despite the original comment that they'd discontinue the Emira when Lotus releases an electric sports car.
With the AMG deal in place for the Emira, and AMG themselves stating that they're looking at reintroducing V8s into the lineup, it's possible Lotus could make V6 and V8 SUVs with powerplants from AMG.
If anything I'm surprised the Emira got an AMG 4 cylinder rather than Volvo's.
POP UP, UP AND DOWN LIDARRRRR
POP UP, UP AND DOWN LIDAR UHH
POP UP, UP AND DOWN LIDAR UHH
🍩
It’s a Chinese EV with Lotus badge.
REEEEEEEE CHINA!?! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Thank you
Just like the US dollar. Which is Chinese money with some American dudes
not quiet, it has been designed in the U.K. and the engineers are German, it is just manufactered in China.
not quiet, it has been designed in the U.K. and the engineers are German, it is just manufactered in China.
Doug’s hand gestures while describing the LIDAR / self-driving stuff. EXCELLENT.
Ahhh, a British electric car. May the spirit of Lucas stay far, far away.
Chinese and British, like asking an Irishman to be your personal chef
nothing british about this
Ahh combined Chinese and British techniques and technology…. What possibly could go wrong after 15 months of living with that electric Golf Cart …
If you think Range Rovers are serious problems… Lotus says …hey Hold my Beer 🍺 Rover.
Feels chinese to me
Car: Eletre
Doug: Eletra
Buick: Electra
Carmen:
He's actually correct with this one, sort of like Porsche
According to Lotus the name comes from hungarian, and it pronounced like aletre:
first 'é': a as in ale
the others 'e's: as in felt
Elytra? Can I make it go faster with rockets?
This ain’t lotus anymore, this is a Chinese car with lotus badge
Is it just me or was sound cutting in and out at the beginning?
I think it's like the original Cayenne, people think that Lotus is sold out. But you need an SUV if you want to keep making the sporty lightweight coupes that most people love and want, those projects will need a more financially secure brand.
That's an apt comparison. The Cayenne may have caught flack for Porsche 'selling-out' but what I'll never understand is how it never took heat for being just another badge car. Even in this video, Doug slams the Urus for sole reason of just being an Audi, while calling the Cayenne good. The Urus is an much an VAG parts bin, as the the Cayenne. That Porsche badge really does infect peoples brains I guess.
It really isn’t a mystery why the two-door sports car is dying. I think most people figure if I’m going to pay big bucks for a car it has better be able to load up my kids and gear. Even for upper middle class affluent people the idea of buying a car that’s just a toy and nothing else seems silly these days.
If you think about it, this $100,000 Lotus costs the same as buying a reasonably equipped RAV4 Prime and two door sports coupe like a BMW M2. But why do that when you can get a performance SUV that does double duty?
This is not any SUV. SUV means sports utility vehicle for people living a sporting life that take the car offroad. This is a tall vehicle with a coupified shape that isn't even that tall. It's a crossover at best. Most of the vehicles called SUVs are crossovers. or they're very tall wagons or 4-door hatches.
@@benjaminsmith2287 To be fair, most SUVs havent been SUVs since the term was coined.
@@95mushroomdont know, maybe they he thinks the Urus should have been more special than Porsche, that would make sense.
As far as gen 1 Touareg, its a great car and the Cayenne in higher trims was something different enough to be unique at the time, among any brand.
20:49 That depends on what colour you choose to get. The yellow logo is also available still.
Just saw a yellow one parked on the street in Latvia 🇱🇻 thought it was a Urus at first.. didn’t even know lotus made an SUV! Thanks for the vid
In Italy, Lotus are advertising this as a fleet car.
I mean, i think it’s doomed already 😅
Sad to see what lotus has became
You mean what the market has become...
@@RichardJones-et5we The market is still there for lightweight and focused experience sports cars. Brands just realized greed is more convenient than passion and lower roi.
Colin died in 1982.
@@davenz000 And he's rolling in his grave with vehicles like this.
It’s a Chinese EV sold in the US.
Something the US government didn’t want.
Clearly the cupholders are like that for aerodynamic reasons.
Seriously, the dumbest cupholders ever.
I believe this sets a new record for Doug checking the mirrors to make sure his possible speeding transgressions went unnoticed by the local constabulary…….
That cup holder design seems great until your coffee spills and you have to figure out how to clean it out.
I'm surprised didn't mention the styling except for 5 seconds towards the end, this is a seriously good looking SUV, especially from the side profile which was videos a few times here! I think the styling will really help propel the cars sales, at least I hope so!
That's like having the least amount of a disease. Yeah, it's the least amount of disease, but you still have a disease.
This is anything but a lotus
Because it actually isn't a Lotus. It's a Geely.
It’s a Chinese EV being sold in the US. That’s what it is.
@@faheemabbas3965Exactly. They can’t sell outside China with their own tofu-dreg brands so they have to hide that fact behind an iconic badge. Welcome to the new future of Lotus and MG. Hopefully Aston Martin doesn’t follow suit.
@@alpenjodel24 It isn't... It's designed by Lotus, so it's a Lotus.
There is no actual Lotus anymore just like MG, Jaguar and in some way Rolls Royce and Bently
Thanks for keeping us up to date on vehicles like this one.
Doug compliments the handling of this Lotus versus the "floaty" Teslas.
Gives both the Lotus and the Tesl Model X Plaid 5.
the roof LIDAR makes you look like a taxi
Yeah, with proper lighting you'd be ready to pick up a fare.
I dont understand why everyone hates it so much. Its just an effort to keep the brand alive. If this sells well we can at least expect more cars like the Emira.
No. They have sated that Emira is their last gas-powered car 😢
@@BobC59 yes but im talking about sportscars. Electrification is a given
@@gemaskerdebeuker8511 I guess I'm still holding out for a pivot on the complete electrification of automobiles, given the issues and limitations of battery-powered cars - or at least some stopping point where there is a delineation between battery and ICE-powered vehicles - like right now when people have a choice that isn't "motivated" by governments and that does not end up completely phasing out the internal combustion engine. Then again, I kept buying record albums even after my local record store converted all their vinyl inventory to CD's - lol
@@BobC59 yeah the power grids are also not up to the job yet. But European legislation is set to get rid of ICE. Sadly..
@@gemaskerdebeuker8511 Right. And European transportation is nothing at all like ours. Much kite reliant on public transport, in large part because they don’t need longer range vehicles like we do in this bast country. Im still holding out hope for the duration of the ICE. I mean, just look how much mileage carmakers can squeeze out of basically the same contraption that’s been powering vehicles for over a century! I do plan to keep one or even two “2 time” vehicles and have told my son to do it unless or until gasoline just isn’t readily available any more. What a stodgy old coot Ive become 😆
dougs little acceleration giggles always give me life.
I just saw it on the road in yellow and it looks absolutely stunning! Gorgeous car in person.
Did they benchmark the camry trd for the interior?
People will have a hard time digesting that lotus has made an electric suv but the thing .. they made the best one!
Great content, I drove the Eletre S and R models in Thailand. I found the controls over complicated, but what kills this vehicle for me was it's the limited range.
I was waiting for someone to review this and I'm glad it was Doug. I feel that it's still a "Lotus" based on it's power, responsiveness, and agility for what it is.
I need to check this one off my Lotus bucket list
My English is a little rusty, you mean ‘don’t add to bucket list’ right?
Doug, the kind of guy whose channel has transitioned into reviewing quirks and features on touch screens
Underrated comment
There’s more attention to detail in this car than I thought there’d be. My biggest gripe is the infotainment system being used to point the air vents, but that’s about it.
I love how Doug couldn't decide whether viewers of this video would be interested in an electric SUV or a Lotus, so he put both in the C&B ad.
I think most of you making comments did ever try this car seriously. It handles better than any ev in the market, it is impressively top quality finishing in any details. I perfectly understand this is not a lotus in the proper heritage but it is for sure the best suv in its class beating for sure Cayenne,Urus Q8 ( all the same chassis ) and taking the spot to Ferrari Purosangue with 1/4 of the price. But changes are never been accepted easily .
I drive BMW IX , and Ferrari daily by the way. That’s way I am so impressed by Eletre.
All those cars you mentioned have brand cachet with the general public. Lotus does not. Enthusiast like Lotus and this is the most un-Lotus vehicle possible.
I saw my first one in the wild today, parked at the Bluewater mall in Kent... green and by Brit standards, MASSIVE!
I saw one of these in person last weekend at McLaren Philadelphia and stood in front of it trying to pronounce the name like Doug did on the drive…out loud…like a crazy person.
saw a nice white one recently and it rocketed away at the lights onto a slip road. very nice looking
Ok so a Geely with a lotus the lotus badge is good!😂
"That is such a sexy badge on your EV potato." Might be the new opening line for car lovers.
a lotus in badge only
It was designed by Lotus... so no.
@@p.informatico1320 It's a Chinese electric car. Designed by lotus? Look at it. It's a Chinese electric car. If lotus paid for any of the design process it's not visible in the end product... which looks like a Chinese electric car. (to clarify: the design is fine- just has naught to do with lotus.)
The more I see of it online & the more I see it driving on the streets, the more I like it. It’s a big car that creates a ‘wow’ effect in many ways (wow like it’s big/clumsy/cool/fast..) Anyway, of this can make money for Lotus so that they still can make sportscars in the future, this is a good car to do that with.
I think these sports car manufacturers are getting it wrong by building swoopy/sporty SUVs. I'd love to see these companies (Ferarri, Lotus, Lambo, etc) come out with an LM002 type of SUV, something big and made for off road, makes a statement like a Land Rover or an Escalade but with more exotic styling and has a supercar engine in it. I can keep dreaming, but I think something like that would be way more appealing than just another swoopy SUV.
To everyone saying that this isn't a quintessential Lotus... you are correct. But it's not like this means they'll stop producing their conventional lightweight sportcars, this means that those projects will have more budget to improve. And it's only a tiny minority that have bought, or even sat in a Lotus ever before. 2023 they sold below 7 thousand cars worldwide (which is their yearly selling record in their entire existance), and made a £600 million loss. Without this Lotus might be gone
Sounds good, but that's not how corporations think. They've found a way to make more profit. They're not going to now throw that profit away.
I had an Eletre R. We were very impressed with it, particularly how it handles for a BEV SUV.
We weren't so impressed though that most of the cars functions were not opperational on delivery(may be fixed now with over air updates).
Unfortunately it had a brake down within the first 500 miles of delivery.
Given its a new to market car we expected teathing issues, but we ultimately returned the car to Lotus due to their appalling customer service.
Aaaaand there is that Chinese high quality. They can hide it behind seemingly very good initial build quality but eventually the issues will leak through them and the longevity of the car (or lack thereof) becomes clear.
@@juanzingarello4005 not saying you're wrong, but compared to typical british build quality...
@@2AMinLosAngeles Fair enough but British brands are subject to liability should a product of poor build quality or poor design prove dangerous or fatal whether in the US or the EU. And if they try to deny or hide it, it can prove disastrous for the brands reputation should it cause an uproar. Good luck holding the Chinese accountable for anything. At best they may be forced to fix their products but they certainly won't pay damages to their customers when their companies are state-owned and above Chinese law and even WTO law at times. Welcome to the new world we chose to live in.
Lotus used the black badge in 1968 when racing driver Jim Clark was killed. It's made reappearances since then. Either this is to commemorate the death of the simple and light Lotus ethos or it just looks cooler than the yellow and green.
Aren't the charge ports for the back seat on the actual back seats themselves? I think Lotus did this to avoid having cables tangling up with legs but lots of people missed this feature
Basically a Geely underneath the skin, it shows how advanced China has become in the automotive industry.
Only because they stole everything they could get their hands on.
The Geely SEA platform was cheifly engineered by Kent Ove Bovellan, an ex-Saab Swedish engineer.
@@bwofficial1776how did China steal things other countries don’t even have, oh wait that’s called invention
BYD makes extremely competitive cars. I don’t know as much about Geely but have heard it’s similar.
@@bwofficial1776 various national industries throughout the world have developed and learned from others. That's called learning, not stealing. Stupid anti-China rhetoric.
There was a day when Porsche began selling SUV’s and sedans. This enabled the company to be profitable and bring sublime cars like the GT3 to market. It’s easy to be skeptical of a Lotus SUV, especially an electric one (especially one that is Chinese built.) I do this car will die or live based on its own merits and pricing structure. My wish is for it to succeed and for Lotus to remember it’s past well enough to build a lightweight (electric) sports car in the future, perhaps developed and built in Great Britain.
Well said.
Great point! This is the way Lotus can survive to make more great sports cars. By the way, it was really developed for the Chinese market primarily…
Great point! This is the way Lotus can survive to make more great sports cars. By the way, it was really developed for the Chinese market primarily…
Doug, I believe that someone's already asked this question, or stated this point: Wouldn't it be better if, instead of filming your face for 5 minutes straight - from 25:44 to 30:41 - you film the cabin view using a camera positioned slighlty behind of the front seats, like in the middle? It would give us an interesting view of the car when moving. Your video is complete, being this the only part I miss when watching it.
I can't be the only person who saw the thumbnail and wondered why Doug was reviewing the Mach-E again.
Doug, your conversions of pounds and inches to kg and cm are much appreciated. Thank you!
According to lotus it does have 4 USB c ports in the interior. 2 front and 2 in the back. They may be in the rear armrest. There is also an option with an upgraded rear armrest that has cup holders like the front and a screen.
thats not a lotus. Thats a damn Daisy.
It sure is a... thing.
Chinese Lotus SUV. Imagine buying this.
it's gonna be EV SUV of the year so I don't know what you're yapping about
@@vfwh17 You're delusional
@@vfwh17it’s not, shut up
Now if China will buy up Lucas electrics, this car will be irresistible.
@@vfwh17 ... of the year means nothing.
In the comparisons, Doug forgot the Audi RS Q8, Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, Jaguar F-Pace SVR, and Mercedes AMG GLS63.
13 minutes into this and it feels like there should a semester class on how to use all of these controls. This is far too complicated, and I would be very concerned with long term durability. The automated triangular vents up front probably wouldn't survive a parking impact or any kind of road debris.
Agree. Way too much tech and over designing that serves no purpose. The cruise control buttons look flimsy. The rear lights are novel.
Looks like a Toyota Crown
Colin Chapman is rolling in his grave.
10:43 what a quality hahaha
I've seen a couple of these now in real life and I love the design. Best looking SUV on the market right now.
$145K for a Chinese SUV..... what a time to be alive.
most Chinese cars are indeed more expensive than brands like bmw audi etc... in China there is a saying that if you are poor, go buy a bmw...
@@ShionjisamaLMAO do you hear yourself with that comment? Chinese people with money aren’t buying home grown brands. I know this for a fact. This is why brands like BMW, Mercedes, and even Teslas are popular there. And the rest that can’t afford the iconic brands are stuck buying the BYDs, SAICs, and Geelys.🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for the laugh. I needed that.
A fake Lotus.
🤓”a fake lotus”
Naaah
Yup
least insufferable brand loyalist:
Rotus Eretre
i was lucky enough to test drive this on sunday and it is a COOL car in my opinion. i liked it.. other than the annoying chimes i couldnt figure out how to turn off..
This seems like a smart gamble considering the ev market is exploding. Worth a shot
The color is SO good
Lotus is owned by Geely, a Chinese multinational company,
They are owned by ZGH, Geely Holding. This isn't Geely Auto. Like VW Group, it's part of the group but they have their own teams of people that create their cars in the Lotus tradition while sensibly cutting cost by using some group components. Yet some components and especially suspension tuning is unique to Lotus.
@@benjaminsmith2287 I will not buy a Chinese car until Democracy and human rights are back at Hong Kong and China main land ,
Those cup holders are just like the Volkswagen Phaeton, extremely underrated vehicle imo
The Cayenne has an EV version, well a PHEV, a 2.0 petrol + 50-70km EV range. And its made in China like this thing here. A family member has one, and I recently drove it 2000 km, first 700-800 did 5.8L/100, which is impressive, then the juice in the battery ran out and the rest of the trip did about 8.1L/100. Compare that to an Audi A6, I usually use for long trips, 10.5L/100, or A8L 12-15L/100 (it has a great sound in Sport mode, and I floor it a bit more often, and getting 15+L/100 on most trips)
the car that turns Colin Chapman into the undertaker
Doug the kind of guy to listen to "Unknown station name" while he drives.
How efficient is the Eletre in your sunny climate? They get about 2.1 miles/kWh in 12oC UK weather. (which is about 13.5mpg equivalent, with the range being 230-240)
Honestly as long as they keep making ICE performance sports cars i support this. Itll keep the brand afloat and open up their market to more people while still allowing them to put out great cars for the real lotus enthusiasts
This is what Lotus has become huh? Waving goodbye to Lotus as it was
Then you’ve already waived goodbye to Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Bentley, and even Aston Martin. Companies have to make money, and SUVs are the way. It’s the consumer market, not the automakers. Judge their sport cars… by their sports cars. I prefer the Evora GT to the Emira, but I’m in the minority. Wait lists for Emira confirm that.
@@stephenhester7354 Unlike Ferrari, Porsche, Lamboghini. Lotus said that they only making ev from now so yeah it's pretty much dead and Emira probably their last sports car before they got bought out.
Lotus died in 1982 when Chapman carked it.
@@Only_Ameen04 And all their EVs will be built in China. So basically, Geely bought Lotus just for the badge so they can sell their own cars behind the badge because nobody in their right mind would spend six figures on a Geely. Forget about paying six figures for a hand-crafted British work of art. You are now paying that for a Chinese appliance.