You gotta love it when a quiet Hyper-SUV like the new Lotus Eletre R drag races a hardcore V8 SUV like the Lambo Urus Performante down the quarter mile. While EVs can take ICE vehicles on with no problem in terms of acceleration, the roaring sound of a V8, V10, or even V12 sure makes a compelling case to never completely get rid of them. Driving isn't all about hitting 60 mph in 0.1 seconds. It's about the feel of the ride. It's about the journey.
Today's journey takes us to rainy England to meet our tarmac SUV warriors. First, at least from the exterior, we have the meh-looking Lotus Eletre R. Two electric motors deliver power to all its wheels, producing an eye-opening 905 hp or 675 kW with 726 lb-ft or 985 Nm of torque.
It has a 2-speed transmission and a 112 kWh battery pack with an estimated range of 254 to 280 miles or 409 to 450 kilometers. It's quite heavy, weighing in at 5,820 lbs. or 2,640 kg, but it can hit 62 mph or 100 kph in just under 3 seconds or 2.95 seconds, to be pedantic. The top speed on this thing is 165 mph or 265.5 kph.
The price tag dangles at 189,352 US dollars or 150,000 GBP. Behind the wheel of the Eletre R lies Mat Watson, who tried to show off his doughnut-making skills, but instead ended up overheating the battery, making the car unusable for a few minutes.
There are two more versions of this electric SUV. The AWD Eletre S produces 603 hp or 450 kW, has a top speed of 160 mph or 258 kph, can hit 62 mph or 100 kph in 4.5 seconds, and has an estimated range of 304-354 miles or 489-570 kilometers.
The standard AWD Eletre delivers 603 hp or 450 kW and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (100 kph) in 4.5 seconds. It maxes out at 160 mph (258 kph), and the battery can last for 304-373 miles or 489-600 kilometers.
Photo: carwow
Then, there's the sexy Lamborghini Urus Performante wearing a full Urban body kit. This AWD mastodon packs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that can deliver 657 hp or 666 ps with 627 lb-ft or 850 Nm of torque. It has a top speed of 190 mph or 306 kph and can hit 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.3 seconds. It's not as powerful as the Eletre R, but it's around 1,102 lbs. or 500 kg lighter, weighing 4,740 lbs. or 2,150 kg.
During the first race, Mat lost control for a while during the launch, while the Lambo was gaining ground, but because the Eletre R is so powerful, it not only caught up but managed to win by a metaphorical mile.
Even though it won, the Lotus's driver screen was showing "Launch failed." Mat tried his best to engage Launch Control, but the "Hyper-SUV" just wouldn't listen. Another warning popped up, saying, "Too many launch activations." EVs... am I right?
After sort of solving things, during the second race, the Eletre R slipped so hard after it launched that it looked like it wanted to crash into the Lambo Urus Performante with a vengeance. The scene reminded me of one of my favorite racing games of all time, Motorstorm. Shenanigans included, it still won like nobody's business.
The Lotus Eletre R, with stability control on, finished in 11.3 seconds, and with ESC OFF, it did it in 11.6 seconds. The Lamborghini Urus Performante took 12 seconds to cross the finish line. A 1/2-mile roll race soon followed, but predictably, the Lotus won hands down. There was no point in repeating it because the Lambo stood no chance against it.
However, customary to the "carwow" YouTube channel, there was one challenge left: the brake test from 100 mph or 161 kph. The Lambo finally won an event, going home with one gold medal. Remember, the tarmac was very wet, so hopefully, we'll see the Lotus Eletre R in action again, but in more forgiving conditions.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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