The wait is finally over. What you see here is the world’s first all-electric British hypercar, the Lotus Evija. Captured at its unveiling in London today, the name Evija means ‘the first in existence’ or ‘the living one’ and it is rather appropriate for what promises to be a game-changer in its segment and a massive step forward for the historic marque.
Speaking at the unveiling in London, Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham said: “The Lotus Evija is a car like no other. It will re-establish our brand in the hearts and minds of sports car fans and on the global automotive stage. It will also pave the way for further visionary models.”
Befitting such a seminal model, the Evija comes with some impressive stats, from the faintly ridiculous 1972hp power output spread between four electric motors, to the world-first laser lighting tech for both main and dipped beams. This is British engineering at its finest and reaffirms the UK’s dominant position in advanced technology and automotive manufacturing. As CEO Popham added, “This is another amazing moment in the history of our company. The Evija is a true Lotus in every sense—it has been developed with an unwavering passion to push boundaries, to explore new ways of thinking and to apply ground-breaking technologies.”
Staying true to its ‘add lightness’ doctrine, the Evija is also the lightest production EV hypercar ever, thanks in part to the first full carbon fiber chassis ever used in a road-legal Lotus—it weighs in at just 3700 pounds. The centrally mounted battery pack offers an estimated range of 250-miles (WLTP combined) on a charge and can be fully charged in just nine minutes when 800kW chargers become available. With the existing 350kW charging technology you can be back to 100% charge in 18 minutes.
Considering the power on offer the performance targets of a sub-3-second 0-62 mph time and a top speed of over 200mph should be easily within reach. Unlike most electric sportscars, the Evija will be unrelenting well into triple figures and is claimed to reach 186mph in under nine seconds. In-gear acceleration should also be breathtaking, with the 62 to 124 mph increment taking less than three seconds.
Performance stats aside, the Evija is one exquisite piece of modern automotive design. Features like the prominent Venturi tunnels through each rear quarter are an integral part of its aesthetic appeal and an important design aspect as Russell Carr, design director at Lotus Cars explains: “We studied how Le Mans race cars use air flow creatively to go over, under and around the vehicle, but also through it. This concept of ‘porosity’ is key to the Evija and has enabled us to create a timeless design with exceptional amounts of downforce.” This design direction is a glimpse into how future Lotus designs will look like and many of the Evija’s cutting-edge technologies will filter down into upcoming models.
The bodywork is made as aerodynamically efficient as possible through the use of handle-free doors and the absence of door mirrors; cameras integrated into the exterior are used instead. Active aerodynamics and an integrated air diffuser work together with the four torque-vectoring electric motors at each wheel to offer superb handling and cornering capabilities. An ESP stability control system ensures that the prodigious power on offer is deployed safely too, and while high-tech solutions abound, the overriding goal here is to offer a sportscar that, as Lotus puts it, is ‘For the Drivers’.
Matt Windle, executive director of Sports Car Engineering said: “Every element of the Evija has been meticulously analyzed and validated. Precision engineering is nothing without human engagement, and that’s why technology with soul is the benchmark for this and every Lotus.” Evidence of this philosophy can be seen in the decision to go with an electro-hydraulic steering system to retain that trademark Lotus steering feel.
Two dihedral doors grant access to the interior, which is also a model of futuristic and bold design. A centrally located floating ‘ski slope-style’ console features touch-sensitive haptic feedback buttons and a digital display ahead of the driver that can be configured as required.
A nod to the marque’s previous designs can be seen in the roof console, which Carr explains is a tribute to one of the most iconic Lotus cars: “Versions of the Lotus Esprit Turbo featured a huge roof console in the late 1970s and early ’80s. It’s not something you might expect on a contemporary hypercar but Lotus fans will love the connection.”
Development of such a technically complex vehicle would not have been possible without the financial backing of parent company Geely and the Evija is the first all-new Lotus to be released as part of the wider Geely family. It is undoubtedly the most expensive too, with a projected price of between £1.5m to £2m before taxes. Build slots for the 130 cars to be built can be secured with a £250,000 refundable deposit. It’s probably best not to wait too long on this one.
Images courtesy of Lotus Cars
