Even the ultimate lightweight carmaker is going electric. British sports car builder Lotus has just revealed the Evija, an all-electric hypercar with a target of 2,000 hp and a top speed over 320 km/h.
It seems like the antitheses of Lotus, that for decades has followed the mantra of founder Colin Chapman: Simplify, then add lightness. But as the world changes, so must the makers of performance cars. And, of course, if this is the result, then we certainly don't mind.
The power target Lotus has set for the car is 2,000 PS. That's 1,972 hp. The automaker says that'll make it the most powerful production car in the world. The powertrain has been developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, part of Formula 1 team Williams – the same group that provided the motors for the first four seasons of Formula E.
The Evija will come with four electric motors, allowing for torque vectoring and all-wheel drive. Plus 1,254 lb-ft of torque.
That power, Lotus says, is enough to send the car from zero to 100 km/h in under three seconds, and to a top speed of more than 320 km/h. Lotus says it'll be the lightest pure electric hypercar in series production. With a 70 kWh battery mounted amidships, directly behind the front seats, it'll tip the scales at 1,680 kg. Lotus says that the car will achieve a WLTP combined cycle range of 400 km.
The name, pronounced E-vi-ya, means "the first in existence." Lotus says, marking what the company feels the new car represents. It's not just the first electric car from Lotus, it's the first completely new Lotus since it became part of Geely.
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.”
The Evija uses an all-carbon chassis, the first time the company has done that in a road car. There is a motorsports-style interior, with racing-style seats and multi-function steering wheel. The team has studied Le Mans race cars to develop not just the airflow over and under the car, but how the air moves through the car. Lotus says that means "exceptional amounts of downforce."
The car's internal name is the Type 130. As a nod to that, Lotus is building only 130 of the cars – with a starting price of £1.7M before taxes. The order books are now open.
You may also like
