Lotus Evija X sets third fastest 'ring time ever
Modified one-off Evija makes Mercedes-AMG One look slow - and apparently it's got more to give
The last time we talked about the Lotus Evija X it was based on spy pictures of it coming to a stop while testing on the Nordschleife last June. Unsurprisingly, Lotus wasn’t terrifically keen to talk about the car back then, except to confirm that it was ‘the ultimate expression of Evija’ and that it had been extensively testing at various race tracks as the team looked to ‘to push the boundaries of what’s possible with the Evija and the world’s most powerful EV powertrain.'
Well, clearly it has pushed. And the results speak for themselves: a lap time of 6mins 24.047secs is quite a statement, it being the third-fastest time ever recorded. Naturally it does not qualify for the production car record on account of it being a modified one-off (the official Nurburgring site lists it as a prototype) but being more than 10 seconds quicker than the Mercedes-AMG One illustrates just how savagely rapid the Evija X really is.
Of course, you’d expect that from an electric hypercar with 2,011hp to call upon - significantly more power than the VW ID.R needed to blitz its way to 6mins 05.336secs back in 2019. But that car was built from the ground up to do nothing but set extraordinarily fast lap times (ditto the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo that holds the ultimate record). The Evija X has the distinction of achieving the quickest time ever using a production chassis, and is said to be mechanically identical to the road-going model.
Or at least it shares its 91kWh battery, quad-motor powertrain and carbon fibre tub. The bodywork and suspension have obviously been extensively modified with the former earning that colossal active rear wing and dramatic front diffuser, and the latter treated to all-new dampers and competition-grade Pirelli tyres. Lotus has not officially confirmed any partners for the project, although it’s believed that Canadian specialist Multimatic played a role in developing the Evija X.
In a statement, Lotus said: ‘We tested on the Nurburgring first in June 2023, then early October, and returned Friday 13 October to see what we could achieve. It was a damp day, so we weren’t expecting too much... sighting laps only in the morning and then two pacey laps in the afternoon, hitting a time good enough to take third place for a prototype. We think it has more to give…’
The prospect of more is quite something when you watch the lap and hear the scale of the wind noise being generated, which sounds like a tornado ripping through a cul de sac. Lotus did not name its driver on the day, but the Nurburgring site attributes the lap to Dirk Müller, a Ford factory driver and former Le Mans class winner. You suspect he’d like another crack at Romain Dumas’ ID.R time. Of course, that would mean finding another 20 seconds. So let’s hope Lotus gets back to pushing those pesky boundaries ahead of some better weather this year.
Not the fastest lap time as the 919 time is plain ridiculous
it's not the fastest road car...because it's not a road car
It's not the fastest EV...because that's the ID.R
As far as publicity stunts go this is bit of a miss (dare i say typically Lotus).....however the lap is mighty impressive
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