- Lotus revealed the 2,000 hp Evija almost five years ago.
- The first production models are only now reaching customers.
- Top Gear tested the Evija around a track and on the road and said it was a mixed bag.
Lotus was supposed to start production of its electric hypercar flagship, the Evija, in 2020. Repeated setbacks postponed its launch by almost five years, but production finally began in 2024. That said, we’re not entirely sure actual customers have taken delivery of this $2.3 million quad-motor, track-honed monster. But Top Gear finally got behind the wheel of a production-spec Evija. They had a lot to say.
We were excited when Lotus announced that it was making a bespoke electric hypercar that, on paper, had all the ingredients for greatness. Unlike other Lotus-badged EVs, which are heavier than equivalent models from other brands, going against the brand’s longstanding ethos of “adding lightness,” Lotus insists the Evija isn’t overweight.
The manufacturer officially claims the Evija weighs 4,160 pounds (1,887 kg), considerably less than its Emeya electric sedan. This figure is from a few years ago, though, and Lotus hasn’t updated it since.
The big secret to its (relative) lightness is a small battery pack with a capacity of 70 kilowatt-hours, which only provides up to 195 miles (313 km) of WLTP range. However, its range will surely dip into the double-digits once you dip into its performance. You'll have to think ahead before setting off on any fun runs.
But what the Evija boils down to is how it drives and how it makes you feel, and in that respect, it seems to deliver. It’s not perfect, as Top Gear's Jethro Bovingdon found out. But as a driving experience, it delivers on the Lotus promise.
The first part of the video focuses on track driving, where the car’s handling characteristics shine through. Unlike the 2,000-horsepower, quad-motor Rimac Nevera, you can’t disable the traction and stability aids and slide the Evija around. They change with the driving mode, but they don’t really allow any slip. This car is all about grip, traction and getting a clean lap.
The car exhibits a tendency to understeer, which if we're honest isn’t surprising for a Lotus. But unlike previous offerings from the company, it can use torque vectoring to neutralize the handling and correct its line. Getting on the power out of a corner doesn’t sound like much, but the acceleration looks so violent that it apparently takes a physical toll on the driver.
Out on the road, the electronic nannies are ever-present in the background, which doesn't appear to be a bad thing. It allows the driver to establish a rhythm with the car while threading corners together, something not so easily done with 2,000 hp underfoot. This is the mark of a good driver’s car and we’re happy to hear Lotus has managed to infuse this character into an electric vehicle.
While watching this video, I couldn’t help but compare the Evija to the Rimac Nevera. The Croatian car just gives you so much more control over the powertrain, allowing you to tailor the driving experience to your preference or the kind of driving you’re planning to do.
It also has a more advanced 800-volt platform, more usable range and it’s slightly cheaper than the Evija. Lotus may have a hard time finding buyers for all 130 examples it initially planned to build. Early on, the company mentioned it already had a few dozen orders for the car. But there was never an announcement proclaiming it was sold out.
