The all-electric Lotus Eletre may be able to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving thanks to the host of advanced sensors it has been equipped with.
Lotus’s Eletre isn’t just special because it is the brand’s first all-electric production car but also because it uses multiple LiDARs, two of which deploy out of the front fenders when needed and a third LiDAR on the roof. Lotus has also equipped the SUV with radars and high-definition cameras.
Speaking with Autocar, the chief executive of Lotus Robotics, Li Bo, revealed that the Eletre is close to already being a true Level 3 car, noting that it offers prolonged hands-off operation. He says the SUV can travel up to 124 miles (200 km) before it will require human intervention and while that’s very impressive, Lotus thinks it can do better. Much better. In fact, Lotus wants the Eletre to be capable of traveling 62,150 miles (100,000 km) per intervention. If it can do so, this would effectively be equivalent to Level 4 operation.
A fleet of Lotus Eletre prototypes are already being tested autonomously on the streets of China and Li noted its self-driving systems are so advanced that it can learn how an owner likes to drive. For example, a more aggressive driver may use the brakes later and may make lane changes more quickly.
Read: Would You Let An Autonomous Lotus Drive You Around The Nürburgring?
In the UK, the Lotus Eletre will start at £89,500 ($111,708) putting it in line with mid-range Porsche Cayenne models. Both the £89,500 variant and the £104,500 ($130,430) Eletre S deliver 603 hp and 524 lb-ft (710 Nm) from their electric powertrain. They can also travel up to 373 miles (600 km) on a charge and can be recharged from 10-80 percent in just 20 minutes.
Those seeking more performance will be able to opt for the Eletre R starting at £120,000 ($149,777). It delivers an extraordinary 905 hp and 727 lb-ft (985 Nm) of torque, hits 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.95 seconds, and has a range of 304 miles (490 km).
