Lotus Evija (Hypercar)

Power up: flat out on track in the 2,011bhp Lotus Evija

Time to get behind the wheel of the electrifying Lotus Evija on track. Buckle up...

It’s funny, the only time the Evija feels slightly unruly is under full power in a straight line – where the front tyres can feel very sensitive to surface changes and cambers – and under heavy braking. There’s just not quite the stability you expect and because Lotus didn’t go for a ‘skateboard’ construction (instead building up the batteries where you’d find a V8 or V12 in a mid-engined supercar) the weight just behind your shoulders moves and shakes in ways that can feel pretty unnerving. Oh, and even six piston carbon ceramic brakes can’t handle 2,011bhp and 1,884kg for too long before the pedal starts to creep closer to the floor.

You might have noticed that I’ve avoided describing the raw performance up until now. Mostly because, well, it’s hard to put into words. Relentless? Yep, but that doesn’t quite do it justice. Sickening? Weirdly not. Perhaps the driving position and excellent body control help here, but the Evija is far less vomit inducing than a Tesla Plaid, for example. Extreme? Absolutely. The Evija makes something like a McLaren 750S feel very ordinary indeed. Unforgettable? Perhaps that sums it up best. Not just the acceleration but the whole car.

The Evija is brutal yet oddly balletic at times, wild yet determinedly controlled – a vast leap for Lotus but still clinging to the old ways where it can. It turns out there’s nothing simple about a sunny day in Wales and this Lotus. But I won’t forget it in a hurry.

 
What does McLaren P1 designer Frank Stephenson think of the Lotus Evija?

A bold step for Lotus, and a bold take from a bold designer

The Evija is a bold step for Lotus. A futuristic EV hypercar that pushes aero to the extreme. Without the soul of a combustion engine, designers and engineers have to find ways to give a car character and personality. With the Evija and its masterfully sculpted body surfaces and dramatic Venturi tunnels that carve through the rear bumpers, it is clear Lotus is aiming to create a vehicle that is not only visually striking, but highly efficient.

Despite the minimalist front end appearance, there are a few clever passive aerodynamic features on display that channel air over the windshield as well as out behind the front wheels, creating downforce while also cooling. You can follow the airflow around the side of the vehicle into the cavernous side intakes, and finally out of the huge rear openings – brilliantly integrated into the highly distinctive tail light signature.

It was never going to be an easy task for a battery powered hypercar to embody Chapman’s iconic mantra of “Simplify, then add lightness”, but there is no doubt the Evija is a wonderfully innovative, efficient piece of cutting edge design.

 
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