TOP GEAR JUST GOT IT'S PAWS ON THE RIDICULOUSLY-POWERFUL LOTUS EVIJA - HERE'S HOW IT WENT...
Lotus Cars has always had a bit of a rollercoaster history - and not the tame kind, more like the terrifying steel beast at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. But recently, the tide has turned for the better. The legendary British marque seems to have finally found its footing, and it’s showing in the metal (and carbon fibre) it’s producing. While Lotus still proudly wears its British badge, its major turnaround came when Chinese automotive powerhouse Geely, along with Etika Automotive, stepped in with big resources and even bigger ambition. That injection of cash and cutting-edge EV tech has been a game-changer, particularly as the auto world leans harder into electrification. At the forefront of this electric renaissance is the jaw-dropping Lotus Evija - a hypercar that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi flick and performs like it's from another galaxy entirely. The Evija isn’t just a milestone for Lotus - it’s a first for Britain, being the country’s debut all-electric hypercar, and it’s a proper weapon too. It first broke cover in 2019 and has since undergone extensive development, culminating in performance stats that still raise eyebrows. In a world where every new hyper-EV seems to be trying to outdo the last, the Evija still stands proud as the most powerful production EV hypercar to date. Yes, even more than Croatia’s Rimac Nevera. With a mind-bending output of close to 1,500 kW thanks to four electric motors (one per wheel), the Evija delivers the kind of numbers that feel like they belong in a video game. Despite packing a mountain of tech, it tips the scales at just 1,680 kg - making it the lightest EV hypercar currently in production. Lotus claims the Evija will sprint from 0–100 km/h in just under 3 seconds, hit a top speed around 350 km/h, and still manage a range of about 345 km on a single charge.
In October 2023, Lotus decided it was time to let the Evija stretch its legs properly, so they brought it to the Nürburgring - the ultimate proving ground. A track-prepped version was handed over to German racing ace Dirk Müller, who went all in. The result? A staggering lap time of 6:24.047 minutes, slotting the Evija in as the third-fastest car to ever lap the Nordschleife in its modern configuration. For reference, only the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo (5:19.546) and the Volkswagen ID.R (6:05.336) have gone quicker. Not bad company to keep. And now the Evija is back in the spotlight, thanks to a deep-dive review by the Top Gear crew. This time, it’s Jethro Bovingdon behind the wheel - a man who knows a thing or two about wringing the most out of high-performance machinery. His task? To unleash every kilowatt of the Evija’s electrified fury and show us whether it lives up to the hype in the real world. From acceleration to braking, cabin design to track manners, and even how it compares to its electric rivals, Jethro leaves no stone unturned. If you weren’t curious about the Evija before, you definitely will be after this.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the professionals at Top Gear as contributing editor Jethro Bovingdon gets up close and personal with the Lotus Evija, the world's most powerful electric hypercar: FIRST DRIVE: 2011bhp Lotus Evija – Full Road And Track Test! | Top Gear
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