QUITE simply, the Lotus Evija is the most powerful series production road car ever built. It just happens to also be the world’s first fully electric British hypercar, offering unparalleled performance and a target power output of 1,492.5kW.
That’s no typo either. The Evija, which means ‘the first in existence’ or ‘the living one’, sets new standards in terms of advanced EV engineering and will take the Lotus brand forward into a new era.
With an unquestionable reputation for its pioneering approach in both automotive and motor sport, this new car marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of an iconic and much-loved British sports car brand.
It is the first hypercar from Lotus, and the company’s first model with an electrified power train. As the first completely new car to be launched under the stewardship of parent brand Geely, its significance cannot be overstated.
Exclusivity and desirability go hand in hand in the world of hypercars, and the Evija is blessed with an abundance of both. Production is limited to not more than 130 examples, making it among the most exclusive cars ever launched.
It’s a figure set in tribute to the car’s project code, Type 130. Lotus road and race cars throughout the brand’s seven decades of success have been assigned a Type number, and the Evija is no exception.
Hethel, close to the historic city of Norwich in the east of England, UK, has been the home of Lotus since 1966. The company has confirmed production of the Evija will begin there during 2020.
As well as tempting the world’s hypercar buyers, the car will act as a halo for the rest of the Lotus range – the renowned Elise, Exige and Evora. It will do the same for a range of eagerly anticipated new Lotus performance models to come, including a rumoured SUV.
“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,” Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham said at the unveiling of the Evija.
“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.”
A stunning piece of contemporary automotive design, the Evija features a dramatic Venturi tunnel through each rear quarter, giving it a truly breath-taking presence.
Designer Russell Carr said the team studied how Le Mans race cars use air flow creatively to 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 down force.”
The Evija signals the start of a contemporary new design language for Lotus, which will evolve and reappear on future high-performance cars.
Illustrative of the innovative thinking and ingenuity which has always been part of the Lotus DNA, the Evija is a technical tour de force.
It continues the legendary Lotus bloodline that’s rich in firsts and technical game-changers, both in the automotive and motor sport sectors.
While it is a glimpse of the future from Lotus, it remains true to the company’s DNA and the guiding principles of founder Colin Chapman, who built the first Lotus in 1948.
The Evija is the first Lotus road car to feature a one-piece carbon fibre monocoque chassis. The cabin, from the fully adjustable race-style seats to the multi-function steering wheel, is the very pinnacle of motor sport-inspired road car design and technology.
At the heart of the Evija is an ultra-advanced all-electric power train. It has been developed by technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering, famed for success in motor sport, from Formula One to electrifying the first four seasons of Formula E.
The battery pack is mid-mounted immediately behind the two seats and supplies energy directly to four powerful e-motors. This highly efficient system is the lightest, most energy dense, electric power package ever fitted to a road car.
With a target weight of just 1,680 kg, it will be the lightest pure electric hypercar ever to go into series production. Engineered for precise and sustained performance, the Evija has five driving modes – Range, City, Tour, Sport and Track.
It can race from 0-100km/h in under three seconds and accelerate to a top speed of more 320km/h. The Evija is priced from $3 million Australian dollars. A $442,000 deposit is required to secure a build slot. Production will commence in 2020.
