When traveling the world, you are bound to come across some very strange names, such as the Disappointment Islands, the Welsh town called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, or even Zzyzx in California. Now, it is something else when the iconic automaker, Brit Lotus, launches a stunning 952-hp hybrid SUV with a weird name. This new hybrid model has been all that everyone has been talking about, and not just because of the automaker’s transition away from EVs.
Brit Lotus releases a stunning 952-hp hybrid SUV
Enthusiasts of F1 and sports cars are no strangers to British Lotus Cars, founded by Colin Chapman in 1952, as the automaker revolutionized both with lightweight cars and pioneering technology. Team Lotus was responsible for the shift in design of F1 cars after introducing the monocoque chassis, and reached a significant milestone by being the first to design the F1 car with:
- A reclining seat
- A structural engine
- Advanced aerodynamics
Since its heyday, Brit Lotus has been acquired by China’s Geely, but retains its reputation as a British automotive engineering symbol. Now, Brit Lotus has announced the release of a stunning 952-hp hybrid SUV, steering away from its typical lightweight sports car and EV persona. However, that is not even the strangest part, as everyone is talking about this model’s weird name. Find out more below.
Everyone is talking about this weird name
The British legend piqued the world’s interest earlier this year after announcing the 872 HP super electric car, but its latest release has caught the world’s attention for entirely different reasons. First of all, the British automaker has decided to stray from its usual EV models by introducing a gas engine to the Eletre SUV, making it the brand’s very first hybrid ever.
In an even more twisted move, Brit Lotus has decided to name this rebranded version the ‘For Me’ model. For those of you curious about the look of the For Me hybrid SUV, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will be showcasing a sneak peek, as all new cars for sale typically appear on the MIIT website. Style-wise, there won’t be much difference, but spec-wise, you will be surprised.
A lot of change from within
The For Me plug-in hybrid will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine and will have a four-cylinder mill. The latter will serve a dual purpose by also serving as a generator to charge the SUV’s battery. The battery itself will no longer be the 107 kWh pack, but will be substituted for a 70 kWh pack. As mentioned, this model is far off from Colin Chapman’s original ethos, the company was built:
“Simply, then add lightness.”
The 952-hp hybrid is anything but light, as it weighs a sturdy 5,787 pounds. For comparison, the base version of the Eletre weighs 5,654 pounds, and the Eletre R weighs a whopping 6,051 pounds. Other surprising specs of the new hybrid SUV model include:
- Reaching 62 mph in 3.3 seconds
- The battery has a range of 261 miles (420km) – based on the Chinese CLTC test cycle
- Charges the battery by 50% in just eight minutes
It should not come as a surprise that Brit Lotus had a change of heart by turning to plug-in hybrids, as the global EV market has seen a significant decline in sales recently. Several other automakers realised that adapting to the historic shift was the only means to survive financially, including Ford’s CEO, who was clear about the future and stated that its EVs will be very different. Now, the new For Me model will officially debut in 2026, and only time will tell whether more Brit Lotus cars will undergo sudden hybrid transitions.
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