In what might be the most unexpected crossover since Iron Man popped up in Spider-Man’s film, His Majesty King Charles III - yes, that King Charles, the one with the crown, corgis and the Aston Martin that runs on surplus wine - has reportedly bought himself a Lotus Eletre.
That’s right. The King of England has gone electric.
Not just with any EV, mind you. We’re talking about a 905 horsepower hyper-SUV that looks like it was designed by someone halfway through a vision quest in Tron. This isn’t a mild hybrid. This isn’t an electric runabout with a Bluetooth app and dreams above its station. This is a full-blown, rubber-ripping, physics-defying machine with four seats and Royal Claret paintwork. The same shade usually reserved for state Bentleys and, well, kings.
It is, without doubt, the most royal entry into the world of electric performance we've seen yet. And more importantly, it’s a Lotus - a brand that’s always had a thing or two to say about how cars should feel.
Why The King’s Gone Full Lotus
It makes sense, if you squint a bit. King Charles has always fancied himself a bit of a green pioneer. The man was banging on about climate change before most of us had worked out how to use a recycling bin. He famously converted his DB6 to run on bioethanol made from wine and cheese by-products - presumably from Waitrose.
So, when the opportunity came to drive a fully electric, British-engineered monster with more tech than a space station and more power than a small warship, he said yes. And to be honest, can you blame him?
Design and Aesthetics: The New Face Of Lotus
The Eletre marks a fundamental shift in how Lotus wants to be seen. Gone are the stripped-out, elbow-on-the-road sports cars that doubled as chiropractic instruments. In their place: something muscular, confident and aerodynamic.
This thing’s drag coefficient is just 0.26, which is about as slippery as a bar of soap in a shower. All those sharp lines and contoured body panels aren’t just for showing off - they’re part of a genuine aerodynamic strategy. From the active grille shutters up front to the split rear spoiler, this is form and function marching together in perfect formation.
It’s huge. It’s striking. And crucially, it still looks like a Lotus. Just one that’s been down the gym and found a protein sponsor.
Performance and Powertrain: Numbers That Punch Holes In Time
Here’s the bit where your eyebrows start to lift.
Under the floor lies a 112 kWh lithium-ion battery, paired with dual permanent magnet synchronous motors that deliver all-wheel drive and a tidal wave of instant torque. In the Eletre R - the one the King’s gone for - that means 905 bhp and 985 Nm of torque.
Put your foot down, and it’ll go from 0 to 62 mph in 2.95 seconds. In a car that weighs as much as a small cottage. That’s supercar quick. Ludicrous. Irresponsible. Brilliant.
Top speed? 165 mph. In a five-seat SUV with enough boot space for a crown and sceptre.
Interior And Technology: Royally Futuristic
Climb inside and you’re greeted with something that’s less car, more boutique hotel suite built by NASA.
There’s a 15-speaker KEF Premium Audio system, a high-definition OLED central screen wide enough to host a small film festival, and four-zone automatic climate control so every royal posterior can find its perfect microclimate.
Materials are chef’s kiss - sustainable fabrics like Re-Fibre, tactile metal switchgear, and beautifully finished trim pieces. And yes, there’s LIDAR, giving it the ability to eventually drive itself once the world gets around to figuring out how to regulate that sort of thing.
It’s not a cockpit. It’s a control centre for the future.
Charging and Range: No Time Wasted
Thanks to its 800V electrical architecture, the Eletre supports ultra-fast charging. Hook it up to a 350 kW DC charger, and you’ll go from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes.
That means you can pop into a service station, grab a sandwich, and by the time you’ve found your oat milk latte, you’re good to go. No drama. No three-hour charging anxiety. Just proper, usable range - up to 373 miles if you behave yourself.
Safety, Security And Confidence
Naturally, the Eletre doesn’t skimp on safety. It’s loaded with all the modern electronic driver aids you'd expect - lane-keeping, adaptive cruise, emergency braking, and more acronyms than you can shake a stick at.
And while some have raised questions about the car’s software systems and data privacy (given Lotus’s parent company Geely is Chinese-owned), Lotus has firmly stated that customer data and vehicle integrity are protected. No issues have been reported. The Eletre is, above all else, a secure, connected piece of high-performance machinery.
In short, it’s as safe as houses. Very, very fast, smart houses.
So... Is It Still a Lotus?
It’s a fair question. After all, the company that built the featherweight Elise is now delivering a 2.5-tonne SUV with more screens than a Currys showroom.
And yet... yes. It still feels like a Lotus. The handling is sharp. The feedback is real. The driving experience - which is sort of the point, if we’re honest - hasn’t been lost in the march toward electricity and opulence.
The Eletre is the Lotus ethos, just evolved. It’s Lotus learning to shout in a new language - and doing it fluently.
Final Verdict: a Crown-Worthy Contender
If there’s one thing to take from this whole regal tale, it’s this:
Electric cars aren’t just practical now. They’re not just good for the planet. They’re also exciting, beautiful, and brutally fast.
The Eletre isn’t just a big SUV with a fancy badge. It’s a statement. It’s proof that British engineering, when backed by the right vision (and budget), can still produce something genuinely world-class.
And if the King of England has chosen one for his private garage? Well, that’s the most royal seal of approval you’re going to get.
Drive The Future, Today
So, the King has an Eletre. But you? You don’t need a crown or a castle to get a taste of electric exhilaration.
At Driving Experience, we offer a range of driving days that let you experience the future firsthand - from Lotus Driving Experiences, where you can get behind the wheel of the cars that made the brand legendary, to full-blown Electric Car Experiences that deliver all the instant torque and futuristic tech you’d expect from this new era of motoring.
Whether you're a die-hard Lotus fan or an EV enthusiast looking for your next thrill, we've got something with your name on it.
Book your driving experience today and take the first step into the future of motoring.
