British carmaker Lotus has unveiled the first car fully developed since the company got bought by Chinese automotive group Geely. The Evija – pronounced ‘E-vee-ya’ and meaning ‘the first in existence’ or ‘the living one’ – is the first fully electric supercar from an established sports car marque and the most powerful, too.
Aside from power, the Evija will also be a relative featherweight in the EV world. It’s the first Lotus to feature a single-piece carbon fiber monocoque chassis, and with all the components plugged in it should weigh around 1,680 kilograms. thanks to its slick aero shape with strategically placed vents, ducts, and an active rear spoiler that help the Evija stick to the tarmac. Its electric motors can also vector power to each wheel as needed for optimum grip and maneuverability. Five different driving modes – range, city, tour, sport, or track – let the Evija adapt to multiple environments.
Lotus says the Evija will boast no less than 1,973 horsepower (1,471 kilowatts), sent to the pavement through four electric motors capable of generating 493hp (368 kW) each and it’ll claw its way to 62 mph in less than 3 seconds. The battery is a 70 kWh unit, providing a claimed 250 miles of range on the European test cycle and the ability to charge at 350 kW. That’d give an 80% charge in 12 minutes and a full charge in 18 minutes, Lotus says. Lotus will only build 130 examples of the Evija at around $2.2 million a pop, so owning one will be highly exclusive.
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