Lotus has been quite open about plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the Eletre in China. What slipped under the radar until now is the name change. Meet the Lotus For Me. Yes, that really is the official name for the Chinese market. Thankfully, the rest of the world will not have to explain it at dinner parties.

The automaker calls the PHEV a “hyper-SUV,” built around its new X-Hybrid architecture. The setup uses a 900-volt electrical system paired with a 70 kWh battery pack and two electric motors. Combined output lands at 939 hp, which is slightly more than the flagship all-electric Eletre R. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is also part of the powertrain, stepping in when the battery needs backup.

Read: Lotus Might Slash Eletre’s Price In Half In Canada

Off the line, the For Me reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.3 seconds. It continues to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 10.5 seconds and clears the quarter-mile in 11.16 seconds.

Electric Range And Charging Capability

More surprising are the range claims. Lotus says the SUV can travel 260 miles (418 km) on electricity alone and more than 870 miles (1,400 km) when the hybrid system is working together. WLTP-rated fuel consumption is quoted at just 0.07 l/100 km under ideal test conditions, which is impressive on paper and, as usual, a bit harder to match outside a laboratory.

The battery pack supports 6C charging rates, which means it can jump from 30-80 percent in just eight minutes.

What Else Is New?

Visually, there is almost nothing separating the new For Me from the regular Eletre. Aside from fresh badges, functional exhaust pipes, and a few extra cooling vents up front, the design remains largely unchanged.

Under the skin, the same 48-volt active anti-roll bars as the Eletre have been retained, as has the trick dual-chamber air suspension and dual-valve adaptive dampers. Despite the fitment of a new plug-in hybrid system, the For Me weighs roughly the same as the Eletre, varying between 2,575 kg (5,676 lbs) and 2,626 kg (5,789 lbs), depending on the specification.

Lotus says the For Me will go on sale in China later this month. Europe is next in line in mid-2026, followed by North America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and other markets before the end of the year.

What Is Lotus Tuned Specification?

Its debut also coincides with Lotus introducing a new internal standard called Lotus Tuned Specification (LTS). According to the company, LTS is a proprietary engineering and dynamic tuning framework that brings several core systems under one coordinated development process. Lotus engineers worked alongside key suppliers to co-develop components such as the brakes, active stabilizer bars, and suspension hardware.

The Lotus Eletre might soon become a far more accessible proposition in Canada, thanks to a new trade agreement with China that could take a wrecking ball to the electric SUV’s bloated sticker price. What is now priced well into super-luxury territory may soon fall within reach for a much broader group of buyers.

Read: We Drove Lotus’ Electric SUV To See If It Can Silence Its Haters

As in the United States, 100 percent tariffs have pushed the Eletre’s price in Canada into the stratosphere, starting at a jaw-tightening CA$313,500 (about US$226,000 at current exchange rates). That puts it in the same league as a mid-spec Bentley Bentayga and even pricier than the Lamborghini Urus E. In the U.S., things aren’t much better, with a starting price of US$229,000 before delivery.

Tariff Relief

With the new policy in effect, the first 49,000 Chinese EVs imported into Canada each year will now face a reduced 6.1 percent tariff. Lotus claims this will cause the Eletre’s price to “fall sharply by about 50 percent.”

However, it’s worth noting that under the terms of the agreement, half of those 49,000 vehicles are required to start below CA$35,000 (US$25,000), which the Eletre most definitely does not.

Lotus announced the change on Chinese social media, although it stopped short of confirming a new starting price for the Eletre. If it does indeed drop by 50 percent, it could start from around CA$156,000 ($112,500), significantly undercutting the Urus and positioning it closer to the Porsche Cayenne GTS, which starts at CA$134,800 ($97,200).

“Canada has always been an important market with great strategic significance in the global territory of Lotus sports cars,” Lotus Group chief executive Feng Qingfeng wrote in a social media posting. “Users here have a high appreciation for high performance and driving pleasure. We warmly welcome the new tariff optimization policy, which has created a more open and fair market environment for international car brands.”

More: Canada Just Invited China’s Biggest EV Makers To Build Cars On America’s Border

Lotus currently operates six dealerships across Canada and will no doubt be eager to ramp up sales of the Eletre. The flagship model features a pair of electric motors that combine to produce 905 hp, allowing a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in a blistering 2.95 seconds and reach a 265 km/h (164 mph) top speed. It also has a quoted WLTP range of 280 miles.

A Hybrid Eletre Is in the Works Too

Lotus isn’t stopping with just the all-electric Eletre. A hybrid version is also in the works, offering an alternative path for buyers who aren’t quite ready to go fully electric. Official documents out of China confirm that this variant, called the Eletre For-Me, retains the SUV’s shape and layout but adds a turbocharged four-cylinder engine to the mix.

Read: Lotus Dropped A Gas Engine Into The Eletre SUV

It’s Lotus’s first step back from its earlier pledge to go EV-only, and while the full specs haven’t been disclosed, early reports point to a combined output of 952 hp, slightly more than the current top-spec Eletre R.

We had a chance to review the all-electric Eletre last year and were pleasantly surprised. It’s quick, feels well-built, and has a beautiful interior that suits the category. Will those qualities be enough to convince Canadians to buy it if the price drops by half?