He’s got a garage most car lovers would kill for – think classic Aston Martins and royal Rolls-Royces – but now King Charles is going green in a seriously bold way.
According to reports, the monarch is spending £160,000 on a Lotus Eletre, an all-electric SUV that’s more supercar than school run. With futuristic looks, 900 horsepower, and a range of up to 319 miles, this thing isn’t just electric – it’s elite.
It’s even being custom-finished in “Royal Claret,” the deep red shade reserved for royal and state cars. Word is, this high-powered EV will be cruising around one of his luxury country estates.
For those not familiar, the Lotus Eletre R has been described as an “electric hyper-SUV with racecar DNA.” Translation? It’s insanely fast, fully electric, and turning heads for all the right reasons.
Environmental campaigners are calling the King’s move a powerful statement – and they’ve got a point. With the UK car industry under pressure to ditch petrol and diesel, the royal seal of approval for EVs couldn’t come at a better time.
That said, this isn’t Charles’s first electric rodeo. Back in 2018, he picked up a Jaguar I-Pace – Jag’s first EV – but that car was later auctioned off.
He’s also been a long-time fan of classic British engineering. His most famous cars include:
- A 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante, gifted by the Emir of Bahrain (sold for charity in 1995)
- A vintage DB6 MkII Volante, given to him by the Queen for his 21st birthday – later converted to run on bioethanol (yes, it runs on wine and cheese... kind of)
- Several vintage Rolls-Royce Phantoms, all painted in Royal Claret and kitted out for state occasions
Some of these cars are official state vehicles, so they don’t even have number plates. But the King’s growing personal collection – like the new Lotus – is registered just like yours or mine (well, sort of).
And this eco-friendly shift isn’t just a personal flex. Last year, the Keeper of the Privy Purse confirmed plans to adapt even the state Bentleys to run on biofuels, with talks ongoing about an all-electric future for the royal fleet.
It’s also a big win for Lotus – a legendary British carmaker now majority-owned by Chinese giant Geely, which also owns Volvo and the makers of London’s black cabs.
So whether you’re into EVs, royal gossip, or just seriously cool cars, one thing’s clear: the King’s garage is getting a very modern upgrade.
