Lotus unveiled Tuesday a battery-electric "hyper" SUV called the Eletre -- the first of a trio of EVs Lotus plans to launch over the next four years.

The upshot? The Eletre, which means "coming to life," is the British brand's first utility vehicle and a crucial play for the anticipated boom in demand for battery-electric luxury SUVs. The vehicle's design and luxury interior features are notable. But it's some of the vehicle's tech, including a whopping four lidar sensors that pop out when needed, that provides the best glimpse of what Lotus has in store for the future.

First the basics. The company, which is owned by Geely Automotive and Malaysian conglomerate Etika Automotive, is packing in the power, torque and some decent battery range.

The Eletre has an 800-volt electric architecture, allowing for fast charging without battery degradation. There are two electric motors, one on each axle, that produce a minimum of 600 horsepower and allow the SUV to rocket from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds. Lotus says its battery pack, which will have more than 100-kilowatts of storage, will allow the Eletre to travel 373 miles on a full charge under the European WLTP cycle. A 350-kilowatt charger can add 248 miles in 20 minutes.

The Eletre comes with four drive modes, including one for off road, which adjusts the steering, damper settings, powertrain and accelerator pedal response. Other hardware and features can be added, such as optional 23-inch wheels, active ride height, active rear-axle steering, an active anti-roll bar and torque vectoring via braking.

The vehicle will go into production at Lotus' new facility in Wuhan, China, later this year.

Image Credits: Lotus

As Lotus' first SUV and EV, the new model "heralds a momentous point in our history and a clear signal of our ongoing desire to transform our business," according to Lotus Cars managing director Matt Windle.