Lotus' Eletre SUV shows the company has finally grown

We all need to mature one day, and for Lotus, that time has come. Welcome to the Eletre, the company's first production SUV. An electric plus, with comfortable seating for four or even five. Lotus has historically been known for producing cars that were the bare minimum necessary for an enjoyable drive.

Being? Well, that's a lot. It weighs a lot, at around 5,500 pounds. Its style certainly extends to a point of excess, and this interior is nothing if not dazzling. This thing won't be for everyone, in fact I don't know who it's for, but it's easily the highest quality and most complete interior Lotus has ever produced. And, with an Unreal Engine-based infotainment system powered by not one but two Qualcomm SoCs, plus four separate LIDAR arrays, there's no shortage of tech credibility.

What's missing? The emotion of every car Lotus has produced so far and, frankly, a clear sense of purpose. After a few days behind the wheel, I'm not convinced many people will really like this thing, but Lotus just had to evolve to survive, and it's an impressive first effort. Watch the video below for the full story.