Try as Tesla might, EVs still don’t have a great reputation when it comes to high-performance cars. That’s where Lotus is stepping in, and its much-anticipated all-electric hypercar, the Lotus Evija, isn’t that far away. Here’s a look at how the 2021 Lotus Evija is simply pushing all boundaries as far as EVs and power go. 

Breaking into the hypercar world

While Tesla is currently building somewhat affordable EVs, a decade ago, the only Tesla that was on the market was the Tesla Roadster. The Roadster was a sports car, and while it had a six-figure price tag, its primary mission was to impress people.

At the time, EVs were a relatively new idea, and EVs were, at best, more closely associated with hybrids. Hybrids didn’t have that sporty of a reputation either as the Toyota Prius was seen as a slow but practical car.

For some folks, the Roadster changed that stereotype about EVs. For others, it didn’t work out. Since then, Tesla has largely moved on, and Tesla is now focusing on building EVs that most people can afford. However, potentially in an effort to change that stereotype, Lotus is doing the exact opposite. 

Instead of creating a six-figure sports car that rich people can afford, Lotus is creating the Evija, a hypercar that will cost millions that only the richest can afford. In any case, given its specs, it may end up changing those stereotypes about EVs permanently.

The ridiculous specs of the 2021 Lotus Evija

As MotorTrend wrote, the Evija is breaking into the hypercar market with its four powerful electric motors. Combined, they produce 1,971 hp and 1,254 lb-ft of torque. Due to its carbon fiber body, the Evija weighs less than 3,700 pounds.

As a result of those specs, it can go from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 3 seconds, and it can go from 0 to 186 MPH in 8.6 seconds. MotorTrend said that the Bugatti Chiron, for comparison, needs 13.6 seconds to hit that speed.

As far as top speed goes, MotorTrend also said that the Evija will top out at over 200 MPH. These impressive specs are powered by a massive 2,000-kW battery. While that’s a big battery, the Evija’s charge speed will be as quick as the car itself. When using a 350-kW charging station, the Evija can charge in just 18 minutes, according to MotorTrend.

However, the Evija’s big battery and its powerful performance figures won’t hurt its range that much either. MotorTrend wrote that under Europe’s WLTP testing standard, the Evija should get about 210 miles on a full charge. However, due to the fact that the WLTP test is different from the EPA’s test, the Evija should get a lower range if the EPA tests it. MotorTrend said that ultimately, the EPA’s estimates may be about 30 percent lower.

A rare and expensive all-electric hypercar

Those performance numbers will be more than enough to surprise any hypercar fans, but at the same time, since the Lotus Evija will be a hypercar, it will also have to be exclusive and expensive. MotorTrend said that only 130 units of the Evija will be produced, and they will also cost at least $2.1 million apiece. The Evija was supposed to start production and deliveries in 2020, but that was pushed to 2021. 

That being said, the Evija’s powerful performance numbers aside, MotorTrend said that, at the end of the day, it’s actually a pretty minimalist car. Although it’s an EV and it uses a lot of high-tech technologies, it’s still, like MotorTrend wrote, “a real driver’s car and a real Lotus.”