First Lotus Evija hypercar continues its testing on the track

MANILA: If you are following the development of the Evija, you’re sure to know that the company has already rolled out the most complete version of the car-built process to date.

Lotus’ new electric hypercar has just finished an extensive simulation testing and has begun testing Prototype #2 on track in the UK and Italy. Gavan Kershaw, Lotus' Director of attributes and product integrity and the brand’s lead test driver said that the Evija is “in a completely pure state at the moment, with no stability control or torque-vectoring.

This is so we can evaluate the fundamentals of the chassis, to create the mechanical advantage before the other layers, such as the electronics, are added.” At this point in the testing, this means “we can really read the car. Later we can tune what we’ve gained as a mechanical advantage as we add layers," he adds. This meticulous method of developing and testing the car is in line with the Lotus way—to get the fundamentals right from the beginning.

At the moment, the Prototype #2 features customer-specification suspension, full carbon-fiber body panels which make for a lightweight vehicle, a fully electric powertrain, and an almost complete interior with an already production-ready seat design and is already equipped with a ‘ski slope’ floating console. The car is also fitted with a fully hydraulic system in support of the active aerodynamics of the car.

The Lotus Evija is still undergoing stability, agility, torque split, and acceleration testing. Tire grip and response are also being assessed. All these to make sure that the driver gets a complete control and feel of the car.

Russel Carr, design director for Lotus Cars, said "the Lotus Evija is a true Lotus, in that it elegantly balances stunning aesthetic forms with ingenious technical solutions to create a beautiful car with innovative design features. It will re-establish our brand on the global automotive stage and pave the way for further visionary models."

Once done with all the rigorous testing and interior fittings, the Lotus Evija will be the lightest EV hypercar to be produced for retail at 1,680 kg. It will also make history as the first British all-electric hypercar capable of delivering an astounding 1972 Hp of power capable of delivering a top speed of 320 km/h and a driving range of 400km (WLTP combined cycle).

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