Regardless of how you feel about the incoming onslaught of all-electric hypercars, it’s hard not to acknowledge the fact that the Evija is exactly the type of halo car Lotus needs.
Flushed with cash after being acquired by Geely back in June 2017, Lotus now has the money it needs to launch a fleet of new models and the Evija is the flagship that marks a new era for the British marque. James May recently had the opportunity to check it out in person.
This particular Evija is a show car, meaning The Grand Tour host wasn’t able to put it to the test. Nevertheless, he does discuss many of its key specifications while also taking a peek inside the cabin.
Watch Also: See The 1,972 HP Lotus Evija In Action At The Carmaker’s Hethel Test Track
The key highlight of the Evija are its four electric motors that combine to produce 1,972 hp and 1,254 lb-ft (1,700 Nm) of torque, giving it a slight power advantage over the Rimac C_Two and Pininfarina Battista. One interesting aspect of the powertrain is the fact that the battery pack isn’t located in the floor like in many other electric vehicles but behind the passenger cell, where you’d ordinarily find the engine of an ICE-powered hypercar.
Five different drive modes will be available. In Range, power will be capped at 986 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm), while City will decrease the amount of regenerative braking and Tour will increase grunt to 1,380 hp and enable the torque vectoring system. Sport mode will kick things up a notch with 1,676 hp and 1,253 lb-ft (1,700 Nm), while Track will unleash the full 1,972 hp.