Enter Evija, Lotus’s all-electric supercar

Norfolk-based British sports car manufacturer Lotus has unveiled its latest model, the “all-new” battery-electric Evija, The Telegraph reported.

Making its debut in London last night, the Evija (pronounced E-vi-ya) is a battery-electric supercar billed as the most powerful of its kind in the world. While the performance figures are hypothetical at this point, Lotus claims a power output of 1,973 bhp and a top speed in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h)

The batteries, too, will apparently offer industry-leading performance, with a claimed 250-mile range made possible in part by an exceptionally light 1,680kg curb weight, the Telegraph report said.

Lotus partnered with Williams Advanced Engineering to develop the powertrain, which is expected to deliver a 0-62 mph time of under three seconds.

Speaking at the unveiling in London, Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham said: “The Lotus Evija is a car like no other. It will re-establish our brand in the hearts and minds of sports car fans and on the global automotive stage. It will also pave the way for further visionary models.”

He added: “This is another amazing moment in the history of our company. The Evija is a true Lotus in every sense – it has been developed with an unwavering passion to push boundaries, to explore new ways of thinking and to apply ground-breaking technologies.”

Popham explained: “Evija is the perfect name for our new car because it is the first all-new car to come from Lotus as part of the wider Geely family.

“With Geely’s support we are set to create an incredible range of new cars which are true to the Lotus name and DNA.”

Geely is the Chinese automotive giant that owns Volvo, Lynk & Co, and black cab maker London EV Company, among others. It bought a majority stake in Lotus in 2017, the Telegraph report said.

Just 130 cars are expected to be built, with prices starting at £1.7 million (US$2.1 million). A deposit of £250,000 secures a production slot.