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“S implify, then add lightness.” Colin Chapman’s most iconic quote, and the ethos on which the Lotus brand was built, could not be more relevant in the current climate. As electrification takes hold and the average weight and size of cars increases, I often wonder what Chapman would make of it all. Moreover, I wonder if he wouldn’t have come up with a better solution, especially given that another one of his credos was “Rules are for the obedience of fools and interpretations of smart men”.

As the electric revolution moves from the early-adopter phase to mass-market consideration, I worry we might have got it all wrong. To remove a major barrier to purchase created by range anxiety, manufacturers are developing EVs capable of going 300 miles in one trip to make them directly comparable to their internal combustion-engined rivals. This requires a huge battery pack, which in turn uses vast quantities of precious materials. It also adds weight to the finished product, which you have to haul around no matter what the state of charge or distance you’re covering. The reality is, the only way to truly tackle range anxiety is through dramatic improvement of the charging infrastructure. Or, more realistically, a significant leap forward in battery technology and energy density.

Lotus – now owned by Chinese automotive leviathan Geely – needed a halo product to showcase its engineering talent and kickstart what we hope is its successful reinvention. Enter the Evija, the brand’s first all-electric hypercar and the heaviest Lotus in history. While the EV element is frustratingly conformist (delivering a claimed 250-mile range and weighing 1,680kg in its lightest form), the rest of the car definitely isn’t, starting with the design – just look at it! Freed from the constraints of creating another special edition Exige, the design team has used the Evija to showcase its talents and create something that redefines extreme EV design language. The exterior styling has been driven by the demands of aerodynamics, proving aero cars can be beautiful, while its skeletal, pared-back, carbon-fibre interior references Chapman’s ‘lightness’ ethos.

Time will tell if it can deliver against its launch promise of being the most powerful and dynamically accomplished road car in Lotus history, but, if it has the performance to back up its looks, it should make for a compelling package. Moreover, we hope it provides lifeblood to a brand that has challenged convention through its history, as we badly need to apply some Chapman logic to the conundrum of modern mobility.

As he said: “Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.”

Enjoy the issue,

“I OFTEN WONDER WHAT CHAPMAN WOULD MAKE OF IT ALL”