No extra power — yet the price still stings. Lotus has set August 31, 2026 as the launch date for two new flagship electric models — the Eletre 900 GOLD and the Emeya 900 GOLD. The SUV is provisionally priced from 928,000 yuan, or roughly $138,000, while the four-door Emeya starts at 918,000 yuan, around $136,600. Sounds impressive. But what exactly are buyers paying for, if the powertrain is unchanged from the current 900-series cars?
Both models use a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system rated at 675 kW. That is 918 metric horsepower — or about 905 British hp, which is why both figures show up in different reports. Torque tops out at 985 Nm, and a two-speed transmission helps hold traction at high speed. Lotus's official specs confirm the same 675 kW for the standard Emeya 900. Nothing new under the hood — and that's the whole point.
Because the entire GOLD upgrade lives in the chassis and equipment, not the motor. Both cars get an expanded set of carbon body and cabin trim, 10-piston carbon-ceramic brakes, forged-carbon wheel inserts and dedicated 900 GOLD styling. The package also adds twin-chamber air suspension, adaptive CDC dampers, a 48-volt active roll control system and rear-wheel steering. Here, buyers pay not for horsepower — but for the engineering that keeps it in check.
The Emeya 900 GOLD sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.78 seconds and tops out at 256 km/h. The Eletre is heavier and slightly slower off the line — 2.95 seconds — but its top speed is higher, at 265 km/h. Both cars get active aerodynamics with adjustable front and rear elements.
And now — the part Lotus is especially proud of. The company claims that an Emeya with the same equipment package lapped Malaysia's Sepang circuit in 2 minutes 20.317 seconds, setting a track record among production electric vehicles. A bold claim. But worth remembering: this is the manufacturer's own statement, not the result of an independent comparative test.
So what is the 900 GOLD, really? Not a new step in the power race, but the most fully loaded factory version of the existing 675-kilowatt hardware. The premium goes toward carbon, powerful brakes and a full suite of active chassis tech. Acceleration and output barely differ from other range-topping Eletre and Emeya 900 models. The gold in the name isn't about horsepower. It's about everything around it.
