Lotus Eletre Turns a New Corner: A Hybrid on the Horizon
Lotus, long heralded as an electric-only marque, appears poised for a dramatic twist. A camouflaged Eletre prototype in China hints at not just a plug-in hybrid version—but one given serious performance muscles under the hood.
Lotus, in recent years known almost exclusively for its electric vehicles, is preparing to open a new chapter. A mysterious Eletre prototype has emerged in China, suggesting that a plug-in hybrid could be arriving soon. And not just any hybrid—one that hides a proper turbocharged heart. It seems Lotus is adding new flavour to its electrification story.
Information circulating in China about a masked Lotus Eletre shows a fuel-filler flap on its rear—on the all-electric version the charging port is located up front, on the right. From this small but telling detail, people believe Lotus is testing a new plug-in hybrid version of its electric SUV.
Reportedly, the new Eletre will get the same 2-litre turbo engine that recently debuted in the Zeekr 9X model. It is the engine known as the DHE20TDE, producing around 279 horsepower, specifically developed for hybrid applications. In this engine layout the powertrain may be configured with two or even three motors, where the internal combustion engine works in tandem with electric drives. Notably, the thermal efficiency of this engine exceeds 46 per cent—a figure that places it among the more advanced hybrid power units.
Lotus has not remained a boutique outsider for some time now; it is part of the Geely automotive group, which co-operates with Renault and Aramco in a joint venture called Horse Powertrain. This venture specialises in development of internal combustion and hybrid powertrains. It is precisely through this partnership that Lotus’s hybrid rebirth for the Eletre has become possible.
What is even more intriguing is that the hybrid Eletre is expected to retain its electric version’s 900-volt electrical architecture. That implies extraordinarily fast charging, and it would allow a driving range of over 1,100 kilometres. By comparison, the current fully electric Eletre falls several hundred kilometres short of that figure.
Officially, the hybrid Eletre is slated to arrive in the China market in early 2026.
The fact that a brand which until recently stood for lightness, simplicity, and pure-curve petrol kind of driving is now moving toward a future half electric, half turbocharged, shows just how fast the automotive era is shifting.
