All of the electrifying details on the Lotus Evija
1,972bhp for all-new Lotus Most powerful road car ever
“Lotus claims 0-62mph in less than three seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph”
LOTUS has revealed its first all-new car for a decade – the Evija. The pure-electric hypercar marks a number of firsts, not only for its maker, but for the industry, because Lotus says it’s the world’s most powerful road car.
The Evija (pronounced E-vi-ya) was previously known as the Type 130, and is Lotus’s first full-electric model. It’s due to be built at the firm’s base in Hethel, Norfolk, next year. Lotus CEO Phil Popham describes the Evija as “a car like no other” and one that will “pave the way for further models”.
Penned by Lotus design director Russell Carr, the Evija has been inspired by Le Mans sportscars and F1 racers – so is a significant departure from current models. Lotus says the Evija debuts a new design language that will “evolve and reappear” on future cars.
The car is based on a bespoke carbon-fibre monocoque chassis and cloaked in carbonfibre bodywork, while aerodynamics have played a defining role in the overall look. The Venturi tunnels at the rear draw air through the body and increase downforce, while the LED tail-lights mimic afterburners on a fighter jet when illuminated.
An integrated front splitter, inspired by the Type 73 Formula One car, is designed to help cool both the front axle and the battery, which is located behind the seats. An active rear spoiler has also been integrated into the bodywork to improve aerodynamics and performance.
At the Evija’s heart is a complex drivetrain. Lotus says it’s targeting 1,972bhp and 1,700Nm – four and a half times more than the firm’s current flagship, the Evora 430. That would make the Evija the world’s most powerful road car. Against the clock Lotus claims that the Evija can crack the
0-62mph sprint in less than three seconds and do 0-184mph in under nine seconds, while its top speed is in excess of 200mph.
The 70kWh battery, supplied by Williams Advanced Engineering, can cover 250 miles and be fully recharged in 18 minutes. The battery is also the first of its kind to be compatible with 800kW charging, although there are currently no such units available.
The battery drives four electric motors, one on each wheel, so the Evija is four-wheel drive. Torque-vectoring technology can distribute power to any two, three or four wheels to maximise performance. When the car is driving on track, Lotus says that the amount of power going to each wheel can be increased to maximise agility. It can deliver full performance on track for seven minutes – the equivalent to around four laps of Silverstone.
The Evija features magnesium wheels that measure 20 inches up front and 21 inches at the rear. Carbon-ceramic brakes and Pirelli Trofeo R tyres are fitted as standard, while the in-board suspension – as on an F1 car – features adaptive dampers on each axle.
There are no door handles; the dihedral doors – like those on a McLaren 720S – are opened remotely on the key fob. The cabin is trimmed almost entirely from carbon fibre; the two carbon-backed bucket seats feature Alcantara pads for support, and are available with four-point harnesses.
The rectangular steering wheel includes a host of buttons and dials, so the car’s functions are more easily operated on the move. Meanwhile, a floating centre console between the seats has additional controls for the media, climate and nose-lift systems.
There’s just one digital display behind the steering wheel, although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available.
Only 130 Evijas will be built, each costing £1.7million plus taxes. Lotus is currently taking refundable deposits of £250,000 to secure a production slot, and the first cars are set to be built in the middle of next year.