Not too long ago, Lotus committed to an all-electric future. The plan was ambitious, but in hindsight, maybe a touch premature. Like several other automakers, it’s now reevaluating that timeline.

Lotus is changing its mind about only making electric cars. The British marque dropped a gas engine in the battery-powered Eletre SUV, making it a plug-in hybrid. Called the For Me–yes, really–it’s ...