Meet the Evija, pronounced ‘E-vi-ya’. It is the first all-electric hypercar from a British carmaker and it looks to set the bar very, very high. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but the performance figures that Lotus are expecting make this one of the most desirable hypercars in the world, long before it’s even gone on sale. It will also be one of the most exclusive.
Lotus has set a target power output of 2,000 PS - which would make this the most powerful series-production car, however only a very limited number of models will be built. Lotus is saying that they will only produce 130 examples of the Evija with production beginning in 2020. A select few buyers will be eligible to purchase the Evija and they will each need to put down a massive £250,000 deposit to secure a production slot. The overall price of the Evija will start from £1.7 million before optional extras, duties and taxes. So you’re looking at a cool round-sum of about £2mill if you fancy one yourself, any takers?
So, what’s on offer?
Aside from the jaw-dropping appearance of the car, the figures speak for themselves. Lotus are expecting an all-electric range of 250 miles on a single charge which is more than the forthcoming electric-MINI hatchback and several electric small-cars can currently achieve. This will be achieved due to the ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque of the Lotus which brings the weight to 1,680 kilograms, making it the lightest electric hypercar in the world.
Lotus hasn’t been particularly precise when outlining the expected performance figures of their new world-beater. The all-important 0-60mph time currently stands at a vague, but impressive, ‘sub 3 seconds’ while the top-speed is being reported as ‘over 200mph’ - which is commonplace in this segment, so we can’t quite put our finger on just how impressive the Evija will be to drive, although there’s still plenty to get excited about.
Lotus fans will also be pleased to know that every single model will be designed, engineered and built by hand at Lotus’ famous home in Hethel, in the UK. Enthusiasts will also be pleased to know that although there is no mid-mounted engine, there will be mid-mounted batteries which should emulate the dynamic and sharp driving experience that Lotus cars have always been famous for.
The new Evija means an awful lot for the Lotus brand who are looking to catapult themselves to the forefront of performance electric vehicle production. Phil Popham, Lotus Cars CEO 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.”
He added: “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.”
So, what do you think? Are you a fan of the super-sleek appearance and the performance figures, or are you not interested in high-performance electric cars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.