The Lotus Evija is an all-new fully-electric hyper that marks a bold new direction for the British marque. Designed as the brand's halo car and the first major project under new owner Geely, the Evija joins the ultra-exclusive group of electric hypercar but aims to apply Collin Chapman's guiding philosophy of lightness over everything. With nearly 2,000 horsepower on tap and a curb weight of around 3,700 pounds, this electric hypercar is here to break records. Here's a look at all the quirks and features that define the all-new Lotus Evija.

The Lotus Naming Convention

Lotus has historically given all its road cars names that start with the letter "E" and the Evija continues this 74-year-old tradition. According to Lotus, the name Evija is derived from Eve of the Abrahamic religions, a name whose etymology can be traced back to the Biblical Hebrew חי and it means 'the first in existence' or 'the living one.' It also marks the achievement of three major milestones for the iconic British automaker as the Evija is the brand's first EV, first hypercar, and first new car under Geely's ownership.

Powertrain of the Future

The era of electric hypercars is approaching us fast,, and after the Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Batista showed the world the true potential of electric hypercars, the Lotus Evija is here to join the pack. This EV hypercar takes power from four electric motors mounted on each wheel and together they make a total of 1972 horsepower and 1,254 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the Rimac, the quad-motor setup here does not feature any reduction gears and even comes with a lightweight 70 kWh battery. As a result, it weighs around 3,700 pounds which is significantly lighter than the Nevera and the Batista, both of which weigh more than 4,500 pounds. As a result, the Evija is nimble and capable of putting down some impressive figures such as a 0-60 mph time of under three seconds, a 0-186 mph time of under nine seconds, and a top speed in excess of 200 mph.

Slick Active Aero

As is the case with any new hypercar capable of sailing well past 200 mph, Lotus has equipped the Evija with state-of-the-art active aero. For starters, there's an active three-piece front splitter that is responsible for adding downforce and diverting the airflow to cool the brakes and the battery pack. But, that's not all, according to Lotus’s chief aerodynamicist Richard Hill, “the splitter also minimizes the amount of air allowed under the vehicle, thus reducing drag and lift on the underbody.” There's also a small rear wing neatly integrated into the bodywork that's only activated at higher speeds and even features a deployable F1-style Drag Reduction System (DRS).

Carving Wind

Lotus says the Evija is carved by the wind, which is a simpler way of saying that aero plays a major role in Evija's performance. The massive vents and duct work all serve a purpose, primarily to keep the car on the ground and aid in high-speed handling. Both rear-quarter panels act as Venturi tunnels using airflow through the bodywork to maximize downforce and minimize lift without the need for a massive wing. Even the use of cameras instead of side mirrors and lack of door handles all come down to making the car as slippery as possible.

The Collin Chapman Ideology

Lotus's entry into the hyper EV segment marks a new direction for the iconic marque but at its core, it is still a Lotus following Collin Chapman's guiding philosophy which puts lightness over everything else. To achieve this, Lotus has equipped a small and lightweight 70 kWh battery pack developed in conjunction with Williams Advanced Engineering to power the Evija which weighs just 1,582 pounds, but it comes at the cost of precious range. Compared to its chief rival, the Rimac Nevera which comes with a 120 kWh battery pack and offers over 400 miles of range, the Evija has to make do with a usable WLTP range of 215 miles. But, the tradeoff is worth it, as a result, the Evija tips the scales at a mere 3,700 pounds, which is significantly less than the Nevera's 4,740 pounds, and this lack of mass makes a major difference on the track.

Braking Perfection

EVs commonly face issues with delivering a pleasing breaking feel due to the complex brake regen systems fitted to them which more often than not robs the direct feedback that drivers seek. Now, this might be acceptable in an affordable passenger EV, but when talking about an electric hypercar then it becomes a problem. Lotus has gone the distance to ensure that their EV hypercar delivers reassuring feedback and sheds speed just as fast. The Evija features Brembo Carbon ceramic brakes on all four corners and according to Topgear magazine, the brakes are surprisingly easy to modulate. In the toned-down City, Range, and Tour modes most of the braking will be taken care of by the regen system to maximize range.

A Classically Lotus Interior

Collin Chapman's obsession with saving weight often lead to Lotus cars having a very bare-bone interior, and it's clear that the Evija is trying to recapture some of that barebone- and minimalist aesthetics with the Evija's interior without having to compromise on modern tech and creature comforts. The doors, for starters, are fully electric and have no handles, instead, they are closed by a set of overhead buttons. The single-screen setup also chases minimalism with discreet graphics, complimented by a floating touch button panel, and the squared-off steering wheel houses essential controls but does not look cluttered or out of place in the Evija's neo-retro-themed cabin.

Quick car, Quicker Charging

At first, Lotus's decision to install a tiny 70 kWh seems questionable considering cheap passenger EVs like the entry-level Hyundai Ionq 5 has a bigger battery pack and the mythical Tesla Roadster is said to arrive with a 200 kWh battery pack if and when it becomes a reality. Apart from saving weight, a smaller battery can also charge faster and Lotus says with a 500 kW charger, the Evija can charge in as little as nine minutes but these chargers are practically nonexistent. With a 350 kW charger, the Evija can completely refill its batteries in about 12 minutes which is impressive, provided your nearest track has a beefy charger up and running.

Drive Modes for Every Mood

Though the new Lotus Evija looks like a futuristic mashup between an open-wheel racecar and an LMP1 car, it is a fully street-legal hyper EV. This is why Lotus has given a whole host of drive modes that alter the Evija's power delivery from the quad motors to deliver the best balance of performance, range, and comfort. A knurled dial located on the steering wheel lets you choose between Range, City, Tour, and Track modes with the first three modes emphasizing squeezing the best possible range out of the Evija's tiny 70 kWh battery pack.

Rarity and Exclusivity

Marking a new landmark for the British marque, Lotus will only build a limited number of their first all-electric hypercar. According to Lotus,, only 130 units of the Evija will be manufactured, priced at around $2.3 million a pop. But is not as simple as handing a bag full of money, one will have to put down a hefty deposit of $322,000 and allocations for the first year of production have already reached the limit, so even if you put your money down now, you will only take delivery sometime in 2024. Production has started full swing at Lotus's new facility next to their private test track and deliveries of the very first unit are expected to start by the end of 2022 or early 2023.

2023 Lotus Evija Specifications:

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