Lotus Eletre X PHEV crossover to start presales in China on March 10, European launch in June
The Lotus Eletre X plug-in hybrid crossover will start presales in China on March 10. It is a PHEV counterpart of the all-electric Eletre launched in 2022. The new model will sell in the Middle Kingdom under the quirky Lotus For Me name.
The Lotus For Me was first exposed in China in December 2025 during the domestic homologation process, as the company’s plant in Wuhan is responsible for the mass production. The brand’s officials confirmed this model will sell in China under the quirky For Me name, which doesn’t correlate with the tradition of naming every model with an “E” at the beginning.
On March 6, 2026, Lotus confirmed that the plug-in hybrid variant of the Lotus Eletre will sell globally as the Lotus Eletre X. The new model will commence sales in June, with deliveries expected to kick off in Q4 this year. However, it will first enter China, with presales scheduled for March 10.
More about Lotus Eletre X
The Lotus Eletre X aligns with the electric Eletre in terms of styling. The new model adopts a similar sleek outline with a sloped bonnet, active aerodynamics elements, and optional cameras instead of mirrors. It was previously reported that the electric Eletre has downforce of 110 kg on the front part and 80 kg on the rear. We expect the same performance from the PHEV version.
The Eletre X‘s interior adopts a thin 12,6-inch LCD instrument cluster, a narrow touchscreen for the front passenger, and a large 15.1-inch floating main display. The car also offers a KEF-branded acoustic system, a head-up display, and an additional screen for rear passengers. The rear seats’ backrests could be electronically adjusted.
Powertrain
Dimensions of the Lotus Eletre X for the Chinese market are 5103/2019/1636 mm. The wheelbase reaches 3,019 mm. It is 6 mm higher than the ongoing electric Eletre. This PHEV features a 2-liter turbocharged petrol engine delivering 205 kW (275 hp). Lotus officials said it can generate up to 150 kW of power and provides 25kWh of energy per hour during highway cruising.
The 2-liter ICE is paired with two e-motors. The system’s peak power output is 700 kW (939 hp). Such a combination allows the China-spec Eletre X to speed up to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. This large SUV reaches 200 km/h in 10.5 seconds, and completes the quarter-mile (402 meters) in 11.16 seconds. Lotus shared that the Eletre X can accelerate to 100 km/h with 10% battery charge in 3.5 seconds, as the system still provides around 550 kW (737 hp) of power.
The Lotus Eletre X features a ternary NMC battery for 70 kWh produced by the CATL–Geely joint venture. Its weight reaches 408 kg. The car’s CLTC range in electric mode lies between 345 and 355 km, depending on the wheel size and other equipment. In PHEV mode, the Lotus For Me consumes 0.06 – 0.07 liters per 100 km under WLTC conditions. With a drained battery, its fuel consumption increases to 5.98 – 6.10 liters per 100 km.
The Lotus Eletre X also has a 52-liter fuel tank on board. As a result, the car’s mixed range reaches 1,400 km. Other fine highlights of this model include six-piston Brembo brake calipers and Pirelli P Zero 5 LTS tires.
Presales, launch, and market prospects
The Lotus Eletre X will commence presales in China as the Lotus For Me on March 10. The launch of this vehicle is scheduled for March 29. CarNewsChina expects the price of this SUV to align with the BEV model. The Eletre EV costs 558,000 – 863,000 yuan in China (80,910 – 125,130 USD). The European launch is scheduled for June 2026, with deliveries starting in Q4.
Lotus previously announced a strategic shift towards plug-in hybrid technology as its all-electric model line fell short of expectations. The automaker aims to launch PHEV versions of its current BEV models to increase its market share. This brand has the potential to boost its market performance amid the easing of tariffs on China-made vehicles in Canada and Europe.
