Bespoke

 Copilot:

King Charles has just taken delivery of a new Chinese electric car: are there any estimates of what the value of this vehicle might be... 

Pictured: King’s Chinese-backed Lotus as Starmer heads to Beijing

                                                                              

The vehicle in question is a Lotus Eletre, and based on current market data for this model, the estimated value ranges from roughly £90,000 to over £120,000, with bespoke royal specifications likely pushing the price even higher. The article you’re reading confirms it is a custom-built, Royal Claret–liveried version of the Eletre, which would place it toward the top end of that spectrum. 

💰 Estimated Value of King Charles’s Lotus Eletre

🔎 Base Market Pricing (UK)

The Lotus Eletre lineup typically includes:

                                                                               

The Telegraph article notes that the King’s car is described as a “hyper‑SUV with racecar DNA” and references the 900 hp configuration, which aligns with the Eletre R / 900 model. 

🎨 Royal Customization Premium

King Charles’s vehicle is:

Bespoke

Painted in Royal Claret, the traditional royal/state-car livery

Built at a specialist facility in Norfolk

Personally paid for by the King

Custom paint, interior tailoring, and royal‑grade finishing can easily add £10,000–£30,000+ to the base price.

📌 Realistic Estimate for This Car

Taking into account:

Top‑spec Eletre R pricing (~£120k+)

Bespoke royal livery and detailing

Possible additional security or comfort modifications (not disclosed but typical for royal vehicles)

👉 Estimated value: £120,000–£150,000+

A figure toward the upper end is more plausible given the bespoke nature.

🧭 Contextual Notes

The Eletre is assembled in the UK but uses components from China, reflecting Lotus’s integration with Geely. 

The King’s choice aligns with his long-standing environmental preferences and his history of adopting low‑emission vehicles.

If you want, I can also compare the Eletre’s value to other royal vehicles, or break down what specific customizations might cost.

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Asked Copilot if the two cars were really of the same color. Below:

The color of the new Lotus Eletre in the first image and the Bentley State Limousine in the second image are similar but not identical. Both vehicles are finished in Royal Claret, the traditional deep maroon shade used for royal ceremonial cars. However, there are subtle differences:

                                                                                        

🧠 Interpretation

The Lotus Eletre’s paint likely uses a modern formulation of Royal Claret, optimized for electric vehicle styling and high-gloss finishes.

The Bentley’s version is more traditional, possibly with multi-layered lacquer and deeper pigment saturation.

Lighting and camera angle also affect perception: the Eletre’s curves and metallic surfaces reflect more ambient light, making it appear slightly brighter.

So while both are officially Royal Claret, the Lotus’s modern styling and finish give it a subtly different visual impact than the Bentley’s stately, ceremonial tone.

Would you like a breakdown of how Royal Claret is formulated or how it’s adapted across different royal vehicles?