Overview
The Lotus Evija (pronounced eh-VIE’-ya) aims to push the boundaries of modern hypercar technology. While many rivals offer hybrid powertrains, this model commits to being fully electric, and it comes with an ultrafast charging setup. Its exterior design takes cues from race cars built to dominate the track. The car’s sheet metal includes elements such as butterfly doors and a large rear wing. Best of all, however, is what this car offers from its four electric motors: The Evija delivers almost 2000 horsepower, and Lotus claims this makes it the most powerful production car on the planet. Only 130 models of this leading-edge hypercar will be built, each priced at more than $2 million.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The star of the show is Evija’s muscle-bound electric powertrain. Motivation is provided by a team of four electric motors, and Lotus claims they generate a total output of horsepower and 1254 lb-ft of torque. That’s almost double the horsepower provided by more expensive hypercars such as the Aston Martin Valkyrie. A single-speed automatic transmission governs it all, sending power to all four wheels. The car’s light curb weight is designed to optimize handling. The company claims the Evija weighs just over 3700 pounds, making it supposedly the lightest EV hypercar ever to enter production. The Evija can reach a top speed of more than 200 mph, and Lotus expects it to sprint to 62 mph in under three seconds. The car’s performance can be customized via five driving modes: Range, City, Tour, Sport, and Track. Our drive for an Evija prototype gave us a little taste of what to expect from the production version, namely its communicative steering rack and responsive handling characteristics. While the prototype had a detuned electric powertrain and was without some of its niftiest features, such as active aerodynamics and torque vectoring across its axles, it still generated just over 1600 horsepower and showcased its brutal acceleration.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
EVs typically require you to wait several minutes or hours for the battery to charge. The Evija is different. It’s equipped with technology that’s designed to make charging the battery almost as quick as getting a fill-up at the gas pump. The car takes just 12 minutes for an 80 percent charge, and a full charge takes a mere 18 minutes. This Lotus hypercar is able to travel up to 250 miles between charges.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Lotus Evija seats two passengers, and its cabin is accessed via a pair of dihedral doors. These doors do without handles to preserve the car’s clean, sculptural aesthetic, and they’re operated using the key fob. Once you’ve entered the car, the doors can be closed using a switch on the overhead console. The Evija’s electrically adjustable front seats feature a carbon-fiber shell and thick pads swathed in microfiber. The driver can manually adjust the tilt and length of the steering column, and there are two bespoke storage spaces placed close to the occupants’ hip points. The list of standard interior amenities includes climate control and three-point seatbelts, with four-point harnesses offered as optional equipment. Overall, Evija’s cabin has a look that’s somehow both retro and modern. Lotus says certain design elements were inspired by the company’s racing cars.