Lotus blinks: the Eletre X gets a petrol generator and 1,200+ km of range

Lotus surrenders to reality. The new Eletre X adds a petrol generator, 1,200+ km of range, and 20-80% charging in 9 minutes. Prices in Spain from €98,990.

Author: Nikita Novikov

10:11 01-06-2026

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The Lotus Eletre is no longer a purely electric SUV. The new Eletre X gets the X Hybrid system with a petrol generator, more than 1,200 km of range, and a starting price in Spain of €98,990 (around $115,800).

Essentially, it is an electric car with a range extender. A 150 kW (204 hp) petrol engine does not drive the wheels directly — it acts as a generator and can produce up to 25 kWh of energy per hour, although under load it can also send torque to the front axle. Propulsion is handled by electric motors on the front and rear axles, so all-wheel drive is preserved. Two versions are offered: the H500 with 549 hp and the H100 with 952 hp. The top variant accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and reaches 210 km/h.

The 70 kWh battery delivers more than 300 km on electric power alone, while the 900 V architecture allows a 20 to 80 percent charge in 9 minutes at up to 550 kW. For a large SUV that is a strong argument: the owner gets the silence and instant response of an EV around town, but on the road no longer depends solely on the charging network.

The pricing reveals the main imbalance. In Spain the Eletre X H500 costs €98,990 ($115,800), and the H100 goes for €122,990 ($143,900). In China, the version at 558,000 yuan (about $80,730) comes loaded with kit: NOA assisted driving, an active 48-volt anti-roll bar, an electrochromic panoramic roof, carbon trim inside, and a UWB key. A four-seat configuration with second-row captain chairs — powered, ventilated, heated, and with massage — is available at extra cost.

That gap explains why the Chinese market has become not just a manufacturing base for Lotus but its main technology proving ground. In Europe, the customer is sold a premium hybrid as insurance against range anxiety; in China, a near-flagship of technology for noticeably less money.

Lotus has not turned its back on electricity. It has simply added a petrol safety net — and that safety net may end up being the decisive argument.