Richard Hammond has finally had a proper go in one of the wildest electric cars ever built. Lotus invited the TV presenter to its Hethel test track to drive the Evija, giving him the chance to explore the 2,000 hp electric hypercar alongside Lotus engineering and motorsport director Gav Kershaw.
The pair discuss the Evija’s four-motor setup, huge aerodynamic package and the challenge of making an electric car this powerful still feel like a Lotus. Hammond then gets behind the wheel and pushes it around the track.
The numbers are properly serious. The Evija produces around 2,000 hp and uses four electric motors, with Lotus claiming 0-300 kmph (186 mph) in under 10 seconds, and a top speed of over 320 kmph / 200 mph. It can also generate up to 1,600 kg of downforce while weighing roughly 1,680 kg.
There is no screaming engine here, but Hammond seems impressed by the car’s response and mechanical feel. That’s important for Lotus, because the Evija was never meant to be just another brutally quick EV.
Source: @DriveTribe
