Lotus has put a gas engine in the Eletre because the EV life was just too quiet
Published on Dec 15, 2025 at 2:01 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Dec 15, 2025 at 2:01 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
Lotus has u-turned on its decision to have an all-electric lineup and has chucked a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine into the Eletre to create its first-ever hybrid.
The V6-powered Lotus Emira, launched in 2021, was reportedly set to be the last of the marque’s ICE vehicles.
But it seems Lotus has found letting go of combustion engines altogether a little too difficult.
So, say ‘hello’ the the Lotus For Me PHEV – the carmaker’s first hybrid that packs in some serious horsepower.
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Lotus has retrofitted a gas engine into its Eletre to create its first hybrid
The all-electric Lotus Eletre was the marque’s first SUV, and came with just over 600 horsepower for the standard trim, and a more powerful 905hp for its R trim.
Now, the carmaker has unveiled another first with its For Me, which combines a 70.0kWh battery with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four engine.
Despite being given its own name, the For Me is basically just a hybrid version of the Eletre.
Outwardly, the car looks very similar to the Eletre, but it comes with a slightly redesigned front grille and features new badging at the back.
The real differences between the two models are, of course, the powertrains.
That extra engine brings more power, with the For Me having a combined output of 952hp.
Its battery pack offers 261 miles of range, on its own, and the SUV has a 0-62mph time of 3.3 seconds.
Not bad, considering the additional engine adds an extra 1,000 or so pounds to the car’s weight.
The plug-in hybrid benefits from fast-charging and can go from 30 percent to 80 percent in just eight minutes.
The For Me hybrid will be initially launched in China
Lotus has confirmed that the For Me will be landing in the Chinese market early next year.
This is followed by a launch into Europe later on in 2026.
As yet, there’s no word on whether it will make it to the US, but amid the ongoing tariff situation surrounding Chinese-made vehicles, it seems that even if it did come to America, it wouldn’t be any time soon.
Lotus hasn’t shared pricing details for the For Me, but the EV Eletre was introduced with a price tag of $77,600.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
