The new Lotus Eletre hyper-SUV has won GQ magazine’s Car Of The Year award, earning the prestigious ‘SUV Of The Year’ title. Voted annually by GQ’s panel of automotive, lifestyle and design experts, the awards recognize vehicles from various categories that “inspire, captivate, have automotive integrity and drive the pulse”.

As the first SUV and first production EV in Lotus’ 75-year history, the Eletre ushers in an exciting and powerful new chapter for the business and the brand. Its rookie status has not proved to be a hindrance in a field full of competitors, as the Eletre faces stiff competition from many of the world’s leading SUV manufacturers.

Summarizing the traits of the Eletre winner, the GQ judges concluded: “The premium electric SUV sector is filling up faster than you can say ‘anti-recession’ with all the big automotive beasts vying for attention, but none has caught our eye like Lotus.” .”

Ben Payne, Creative Director of Lotus, said: “From the initial discussions about what the Eletre should be, our vision was to deliver a unique and highly desirable car that would show the world what the Lotus EV could look like in the future. . As an SUV, it will bring a new audience to the brand: lifestyle customers. To be recognized for that by GQ, a world-renowned lifestyle publication, is a great honour.”

The new all-electric SUV will be launched later this year, with thousands of customers worldwide already depositing their hands on the car. Three different versions are available: Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R, with two powertrain options.

Both the Eletre and Eletre S feature a 603hp (450kw) single-speed unit that develops 710Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds and a maximum range of 373 miles. The flagship Eletre R is equipped with a 905 hp (675 kw) dual speed setting that produces 985 Nm from 0-62 mph in just 2.95 seconds, making it the world’s fastest pure electric dual-motor SUV. The maximum range for this performance-oriented variant is 304 miles, while the 112kWh battery found in all versions can be charged (10%-80%) in just 20 minutes with a fast charger.

Inside, Eletre’s premium cabin sets new comfort standards for Lotus interiors. The Eletre comes with 12-way power-adjustable front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless phone charging and more. Its state-of-the-art ‘digital cockpit’ showcases server-grade computing power, enabling a billion-color OLED touchscreen to display next-generation Lotus Hyper OS for next-generation real-time 3D content.

Immersion is enhanced with a premium 15-speaker KEF audio system. Customers can upgrade to the KEF Reference, a 2160-watt 23-speaker system with Uni-Q and 3D surround sound technology. KEF Reference also introduces Uni-Core, a pioneering new approach to loudspeaker and subwoofer design, and Eletre marks its automotive debut.

Eletre also comes with the renowned Dolby Atmos immersive audio experience, a new way to experience music that takes listening to new heights through unparalleled depth, precision and clarity. Together, the KEF Dolby Atmos and Eletre speaker systems combine to take music listening to new levels. The driver and passengers will feel like they are sitting in the middle of a recording studio next to the artist. The Eletre is the first car in the world to combine Dolby Atmos and KEF Audio.

In the UK, the Eletre is priced at £89,500, and standard specs include five drive modes, active air suspension, torque vectoring, matrix LED headlamps, active front grille and 10-spoke 22-inch forged wheels. .