There’s a new brand in town, but it’s not just any brand. It’s a brand whose cars have adorned my bedroom walls when I was a kid. It’s a brand rich with Formula 1 history and a legacy of the best-handling sports cars. That brand is Lotus and its founder, the late Colin Chapman, was one of the greatest engineers in the auto industry.

“Simplify, then add lightness” was Colin Chapman’s design mantra, which summed up what Lotus cars were all about. They were simple, light, nimble with small but punchy engines, devoid of any cumbersome hardware or electronics.

Lotus sports cars were for purists. Few other sports cars could match this boutique British brand when it came to driving dynamics. But after Chapman’s death in 1982, it all fell apart. Lotus went into near bankruptcy, lurching from one owner to another, before finding stability with, you guessed it, a Chinese auto giant. In 2017 Geely took control of Lotus and pumped in millions of dollars to reignite the hallowed brand. In the process, Geely has reinvented Lotus too. Completely.

Enter the Lotus Eletre, which fans would decry as the antithesis of the brand. The Rs. 3 crore Eletre is exactly what a Lotus shouldn’t be: Electric, heavy and made in China. It’s not a low-slung sportscar either. It’s a massive, high riding, five-door SUV. But does that make it unworthy of the Lotus badge which still carries the initials ACB (for Anthony Colin Bruce)? Absolutely not.

Two powerful electric motors, one each for the front and rear wheels (which effectively makes the Eletre a four-wheel-drive) combine to deliver 905 hp and 985 Nm of torque. Yes, nine hundred plus! These figures are crazy enough to make the Eletre the most powerful EV in India. They also overcome the Eletre’s 2.6 ton weight and propel (or rather rocket) it to 100 kph in 2.95 seconds, making it the fastest electric SUV in the world. Flick to ‘Track’ mode, floor the nicely sprung accelerator pedal, and you’ll actually be winded by the manic acceleration that makes Ferraris and Lamborghinis seem pedestrian.

This is a blindingly quick car. Owners will need to get accustomed to handling all that power. You just can’t get enough of how the Eletre pins you to your seat and hits three-digit speeds in the blink of an eye. The good thing is that you always feel in control. The steering is light and accurate. You don’t sense the Eletre’s mass or height when you flick it through bends.

The big surprise is how roomy and luxurious the Eletre is from inside. It’s got a 2,160-watt 23-speaker KEF Reference Audio system, has great legroom all round to suit tall passengers and the discreet ambient lighting blends nicely with the cabin’s high-quality materials. However, the large central screen doesn’t look well integrated with the dashboard and isn’t the most intuitive to use.

What really matters is that the Eletre delivers on its legacy and is nothing short of thrilling to drive. It guarantees a big smile from its owners. And from up above, Colin Chapman must be smiling too.

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