It's rare that we see a wholly different way of doing things in the automotive world, especially when it comes to design. The new Lotus Evija electric hypercar has done just that with some of the freshest design we've seen from any carmaker, even at the exotic level. We've only seen this level of brilliance from the likes of Italian brand Pagani with their radical Huyara.
The most prominent aspect of the new Evija, at least to us, is that long arc of a center stack/center console with its bevy of hexagonal buttons. We've never seen anything this unique. The only thing that comes close is the Porsche 918 Spyder's version, and that one has a screen and is far less artful than the one in the Evija. And then just take a look at the exterior of this thing.
Though it's not totally original (we see some Ferrari, Lambo, and McLaren in there), the Evija is stunning and aggressive in all the right ways. Deep vents, huge aero, and some of the best taillights around make for a hypercar that will surely get both attention and some deep-pocketed customers (the price is $2.1 million, about $700K more than a La Ferrari).
Though one could accuse Lotus of making a bit of a derivative front end, the tail is unlike anything we've ever seen with those LED taillight elements that wrap around the openings of the rear of the body channel vents and atop of one of the biggest rear diffusers we've ever seen. The view from the back end is simply incredible, and the design puts it on the map of one of the best tail section designs of any car out there today.
Aerodynamics are clearly very aggressive, utilizing F1 drag reduction. There's ample downforce thanks to Venturi channels underneath, the front splitter, rear diffuser, and the deployable spoiler. The big vents on the side, top, and rear, along with the elimination of side mirrors keep it slippery as it cuts through the air. The lack of mirrors is compensated for via cameras that deploy from the front fenders and one in the back, all displayed on monitors inside the Evija.
Not only is the Evija the brand's first electric vehicle, but the structure is also the company's first one-piece carbon fiber monocoque tub. It weighs a mere 284 pounds. Though the weight will be about 3,700 pounds (heavier than the McLaren P1's 3,411 pounds), the power will be totally nuts at 1,973 horsepower (that's 494 more horses than the Bugatti Chiron's 1,479). The four individual electric motors power four wheels, and it uses torque vectoring to improve handling. The Evija will hit 62 mph in under three seconds and top out at over 200 mph.
The Evija's primary focus is on performance, but it's not ignoring efficiency. The mid-mounted battery is a 70 kWh unit, and it will deliver about 250 miles of range. Future-planned 800kW ast-charging capability will provide an 80% charge in 12 minutes and a full charge in only 18 minutes, according to the brand. We're guessing you won't be able to get even close to 250 miles in race mode, but who cares?
Now, back to that interior. The F1-style steering wheel is covered in grippy Alcantara and has turn signals, lights, and audio controls front and center, along with a sweet red drive mode selector and carbon fiber stalks. Just in front of the steering wheel is a high-res display with all the relevant driving information and instrumentation. The Evija nicely eschews a center screen on the dash so as not to distract from the driving experience. It also keeps the cascading center console clean and unobtrusive.
The huge dash provides an airy feel to the cabin with a big arc that spans the full width of the cabin. The huge sport seats are deep and supportive with Alcantara suede all over its surface. Huge billet aluminum pedals provide ideal surface area, and a long rising LED lighting element spans from the doors to the full width of the dash. It's one of the best hypercar interiors around.
Lotus plans to build only 130 units, and they're taking deposits now (got $300,000?). Production starts in 2020, so it's for real, folks. The Evija looks like it has the stuff to be one of the world's top-performing vehicles and one the best-looking, too. There are those out there who know nothing about the Lotus brand, but the Evjia may just change all that.