The Lotus Evija | Sitting in The Future

The Lotus Evija continues a rich, 70-year tradition of iconic, game-changing road and racing cars. Today I wanted to share my initial impressions when I had the fortunate opportunity of sitting inside one at a press event recently. 

It really does feel like you're stepping foot inside a time machine or teleportation device. The honeycomb buttons scream sci-fi. The steering wheel is diminutive and there is a red dial that can be switched with a reassuring click for the 5 driving modes. City, Tour, Eco, Drive, Track. 

It is a touch overwhelming. I feel like the young boy that got inside the Flight of the Navigator ship. (Timely reference).

I didn't get to drive the Lotus Evija unfortunately but I'm told by the engineers that it's practical, agile, and made for everyday use. You can push up to the limits in all five modes. I often tune out when I hear how good a car can perform around the Nuremberg ring because it doesn't help getting from Clapham to Kent. However, I'm informed that the philosophy of the Lotus Evija is that it was designed for everyday use. For example, the features that really appealed to me as a city boy are things like having the capability to lift the nose up of the bonnet to allow a frictionless drive over speed bumps. 

The Lotus Evija is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. The target electric range shown is based upon simulated results for the WLTP test procedure. The battery pack is behind the driver, right in the centre. This enables the car to be super agile all the way through to the 200 mph top speed. 

Evija breathes the air it goes through. Made to be porous, born to be driven. Incredible downforce achieved without any compromise.

It was a wonderful experience and you can check out more artistic visuals and information on the Lotus Evija on their website. 

"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." Russell Carr, Design Director.