Lotus Introduces Its First Eletre Plug-In Hybrid SUV For 2026 - Here are The Details

Lotus, a brand once famous for lightweight sports cars, is entering a new phase with the upcoming Lotus Eletre Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). A new filing in China has revealed key technical details about this powerful and tech-loaded SUV, giving us the clearest picture yet of what Lotus is preparing to offer.

The Lotus Eletre PHEV replaces the big 108kWh battery from the full-electric Eletre with a smaller 70kWh battery, borrowed from the Zeekr 9X, another model under the same parent company, Geely. Even with the smaller pack, Lotus claims an electric-only range of up to 220 miles.

This number comes from China’s CLTC test cycle, which tends to be more optimistic than the European WLTP test. Still, it suggests that the Eletre PHEV could be one of the longest-range

PHEVs on sale.

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Charging could also be impressive, as in the Zeekr 9X, this battery can charge from 20 to 80 percent in just over eight minutes. If Lotus matches this, the Eletre PHEV might become the fastest-charging plug-in hybrid in the UK, reaching charging speeds above 400kW. Lotus hasn’t confirmed this yet, but expectations are high.

The SUV is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. But unlike regular hybrids, this engine does two jobs- it can directly power the wheels or act as a generator to charge the battery while driving.

Lotus calls the setup the Hyper Hybrid powertrain, as the company earlier hinted at an output of 912bhp, but because the Zeekr 9X uses a similar system with 1,381bhp, the Lotus version could have room for future upgrades.

According to Autocar UK, the Eletre PHEV will weigh between 2,575kg and 2,625kg, similar to the electric version. Despite being heavy, the sheer power is expected to deliver thrilling acceleration.

From the outside, the hybrid Eletre looks almost identical to the full-electric model. The main differences include a more open front grille, ‘For Me’ badging on the rear (expected to become ‘Hybrid’ for Europe). Otherwise, it keeps the sleek, sporty SUV design Lotus introduced with the EV version.

The full global reveal will take place in January 2026, with UK sales starting by autumn 2026. Lotus had earlier promised to sell only EVs by 2028. However, slower-than-expected sales of the Eletre and Emeya EVs have pushed the company to rethink its strategy. Lotus recorded a $357 million operating loss in the first nine months of 2025.

According to Autocar UK, CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed that plug-in hybrids will help the brand grow in markets where EV adoption is slow, such as Italy and Saudi Arabia. The move should also improve profitability and help secure Lotus’s long-term future.

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