Lotus has unveiled its first plug-in hybrid SUV, marking a departure from the brand’s decades-old naming tradition with the introduction of a new model called the For Me.
The new SUV is built on the same platform as the all-electric Eletre but adds a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine paired with electric motors on both axles. Combined output is listed at 710kW, supplied by a 70kWh battery.
According to Lotus, the For Me can accelerate from 0–100km/h in 3.3 seconds and offers an electric-only driving range of up to 420km on the CLTC test cycle. Despite its higher combined power figure, the For Me is slightly slower than the 675kW Eletre in the 0–100km/h sprint.
The model uses a 900-volt electrical architecture that enables fast-charging capability, with the system able to recover up to 80% battery charge in around eight minutes under suitable conditions. Performance hardware includes adaptive dampers, active anti-roll bars and six-piston Brembo brake calipers.
New Zealand availability has not yet been announced. Lotus plans to launch the model in China in early 2026, and if confirmed for the local market it would join the Eletre, Emira and Emeya in the brand’s New Zealand range.
