Lotus Eletre and Emeya prices cut as new trims arrive

Lotus has reduced the prices of its all-electric Eletre and Emeya (hooray!), while also giving their versions and trim levels a new set of names (uh oh).

Notably, both cars now begin at £84,990: a reduction of almost £5,000 for the Eletre and close to £1,000 for the Emeya. That seems logical enough, given that they are essentially the same car. At the other end of the range, though, the flagship now costs a hefty £139,990 - more on that in a moment.

More concerningly, Lotus believes buyers need a wider spread of options spanning luxury, techiness and sportiness. It has therefore returned to several historic trim names, while the former S and R versions have been dropped.

To complete the confusion, Lotus has also introduced 600 and 900 badges, which loosely correspond to power outputs. The entry-level dual-motor '600', formerly the S, in fact produces 603bhp; the much faster R, now badged 900, delivers 905bhp. In total, there are now six trim levels.

Lotus Eletre and Emeya 600 equipment

Each model uses a 112kWh battery pack. In standard 600 form, equipment includes LED headlights, four-wheel drive, active air suspension, a 22kW onboard charger, 20in alloy wheels and torque vectoring. The cabin gets a 15-speaker KEF sound system, upgraded seat upholstery and multi-zone climate control, alongside a 29in head-up display in the Eletre and an enormous 51in display in the Emeya.

The 600 GT, priced at £89,990 for either the SUV or saloon, adds motorway assist, parking sensors, larger wheels and upgraded brakes. Choose the 600 GT SE for £94,990 and, rather than a refreshing aperitif, you receive a smart glass roof, powered tailgate, substantially more interior lighting and extra speakers - 23, to be precise.

Sportier 600 and 900 trim levels

For those after the 'sportiness', the 600 Sport SE takes the price into six-figure territory at £104,990. It brings a dynamic handling pack, an active rear wing and more advanced seats, which can massage you en route to the circuit and cool you down during a lap.

Naturally, those sporting upgrades come as standard on the 900 Sport. Although the interior treatment changes from Jasper to Quartz - whatever that means - the key changes are its two-speed transmission and more powerful rear motor. This one is £10 below £130,000.

At the top of the range, the 900 Sport Carbon includes a carbon pack, lightweight bonnet, active front air dam and carbon-trimmed cabin details - the name rather gives it away, doesn't it? It costs £139,990.

Performance, range and charging

In performance terms, the Emeya 900 completes 0-62mph in a fierce 2.8 seconds and reaches 159mph. The Eletre 600 covers the same sprint in a still very respectable 4.5 seconds, before topping out at 155mph.

WLTP range claims are unchanged: the entry-level Emeya 600 can travel up to 379 miles, while the Eletre 600 manages 373 miles. Admittedly, official figures are not especially representative of real-world use, but both cars can replenish their batteries from 10 to 80 per cent in around 14 minutes - coincidentally the perfect* duration for a power nap.

Order books are already open, with deliveries due to begin later this year. Let us hope the new trim structure works, otherwise Lotus could head towards the special-edition route that blighted the final years of the Elise and Exige. Please no, not again.

*This claim is entirely unverified.