The 2,000-HP Lotus Evija Is the Fastest Lotus to Date, but Interest Appears Minimal.

      Lotus

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      The 2,011-horsepower Lotus Evija electric hypercar represents a departure from any previous models made by Lotus. Weighing in at almost 4,200 pounds, it moves away from the “light is right” ethos that defined the Elise, Exige, and Emira, among others. The trade-off, however, is that it is incredibly fast, largely due to the immediate torque provided by four independently-controlled electric motors. But does that make it a true Lotus?

      On paper, the limited-edition Evija stands out among most performance vehicles available today. It delivers more power than the Ferrari F80, the McLaren W1, the formidable V16 Bugatti Tourbillon, and even the electric Rimac Nevera. Yet, specifications reveal only part of the picture, whether discussing a minivan or a million-dollar hypercar. What truly matters is the feeling you get as you accelerate out of a tight turn. According to Top Gear, the Evija lives up to expectations.

      On the track, host Jethro Bovingdon lauded the steering feedback, the “wildly quick” acceleration, and how well the Evija conceals its weight. He pointed out that the battery pack is situated where a V12 would typically be found in a mid-engine car, which makes this electric vehicle feel more balanced than one with a battery crammed under the passenger area. While he doesn’t miss having shift paddles, he wishes for a way to disable the traction control and incorporate a regenerative braking system to compensate for the lack of engine braking.

      “It’s not the absence of an engine that troubles me. It’s the nuances of the dynamics. Nonetheless, it is indisputably thrilling, off the charts in terms of performance,” Bovingdon concluded. “I can understand its appeal. It gives me a sense of optimism about the future.”

      What remains uncertain is whether prospective buyers willing to spend over $2 million on a vehicle will share this sentiment. The odds don’t seem particularly favorable for the Evija, especially given that the market for electric hypercars isn’t as expansive as some manufacturers anticipated a few years back. Even Mate Rimac, who gained prominence through the development of electric hypercars, acknowledged that consumers in this niche often prefer traditional piston-powered vehicles.

      “We began developing the Nevera in 2016/2017 when electric cars were considered trendy. Back then, we thought electric vehicles would be the future for high-performance automobiles. However, we now see that as electrification becomes more common, buyers at the upper echelon want to set themselves apart,” Rimac explained in 2024, partially attributing this shift to government policies pushing consumers towards EVs.

      He then made a telling analogy. “An Apple Watch can outperform an analog watch in every aspect. It can do a thousand more things, it’s significantly more accurate, and it can monitor your heart rate. Yet, no one would pay $200,000 for an Apple Watch,” he noted.

      Interestingly, in 2024, Lotus became another automaker to move away from an exclusive focus on EVs.

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