Only Lotus Evija owners can get this driving jacket

MANILA: Lotus has teamed up with world-famous Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons to design a unique lightweight luxury driving jacket that brings together the best of British craftsmanship.

It is undoubtedly the most exclusive driving jacket in the world. Only customers of the Lotus Evija, the world’s first British all-electric hypercar, who spend in the region of £2 million will be eligible to purchase the garment.

The jacket’s timeless design is inspired by the cores value that both Lotus and Norton & Sons instill in all of their products: performance-oriented, lightweight, modern design, innovative technical materials, and sporting durability.

Norton & Sons was established in 1821, exactly 200 years ago. In the 1860s, it moved to its current location at 16 Savile Row, in the heart of London’s Mayfair district. Every Lotus Evija customer will be provided with a personal appointment at the shop, where they can experience the unparalleled luxury of the Norton & Sons bespoke service. They will be measured and fitted with meticulous attention to detail, and a unique design for the driving jacket will be drafted by hand by Norton & Sons’ master cutter. Each jacket will be hand-cut and hand-sewn to make the garment as unique as the Evija. It is the “ultimate driving jacket” to match the “ultimate road car.”

Norton & Sons Design Director Patrick Grant and Lotus Design Director Russell Carr worked together to create the jacket’s unique design. They drew inspiration from the Evija hypercar as well as the carmaker’s illustrious and successful racing history.

In a statement, Grant said, “When I was a kid, Lotus was the sports car everybody wanted. It was what James Bond drove and was the dominant team in Formula 1. To get the chance to explore the extraordinary Lotus racing archive, and to design a piece of clothing that takes its inspiration from such iconic 1960s and 1970s designs, was both a challenge and a thrill.”

The jacket is made of Loro Piana’s superfine lightweight water-resistant merino wool/nylon technical material, which is produced in Italy. It also features state-of-the-art Cobrax and Riri hardware. The overall shape is reminiscent of Team Lotus pitlane jackets from the early 1970s, which were worn by Lotus Founder Colin Chapman and renowned motorsport icons such as Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti.

The stunning form of the Evija’s “ribbon” tail light inspired the shape of the front pocket, which is accented with twin red stitching. The design is repeated on the nape of the neck, both inside and outside the jacket, and features a golden number 16, the Savile Row address of Norton & Sons’ shop. Meanwhile, the three underarm ventilation eyelets were inspired by the Lotus Elan 1600 triple tail light design.

The breathable technical eyelet knit lining is perforated to decrease weight. It also has a pocket just big enough for the Lotus Evija key. There is also a unique label celebrating the collaboration, which features the Norton & Sons wordmark, the Lotus roundel and strapline “For The Drivers,” as well as a silhouette of the Evija designed by Anthony Bushell, the car’s lead exterior designer.

“We wanted to work with Patrick and the Norton & Sons team to create the ultimate driving jacket for Lotus Evija owners. I’m delighted with the result, which exemplifies everything Lotus and the Evija stand for — premium British craftsmanship and quality, exceptional performance and a timeless design,” Carr stated.

Photos from Lotus

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