RE: Lotus Evija to target Nurburgring record
Thursday 18th July 2019
Lotus Evija to target Nurburgring record
Well, it would be rude not to...
The Evija's raw statistics are impressive enough, but at the official unveiling last night PH discovered that Lotus is already considering some record-setting with its new EV hypercar.
One of the interesting details from the technical presentation was that the 70kW/h battery pack has been designed to deliver its 2MW peak flow for up to seven minutes before it suffers from the de-rating that tends to happen when EVs get hot and bothered. Louis Kerr, Lotus's principal platform engineer, admitted that this was with a lap time target in mind. It didn't take long for us to work out which one.
"Yes, we are thinking of the Nordschlife," Kerr confirmed, "we think we'll be comfortably quicker than the NIO EP9 there."
Although the Volkswagen ID.R recently set an outright electric record around the famous track, the NIO's 6:45 time from 2017 means that it is still nominally the fastest 'production' EV to have lapped the 'Ring. Lotus has set its sights on breaking it.
While the Evija's battery pack has a relatively modest capacity, considerably less than the 120kW/h of the Pininfarina Battista which is its main rival, it is designed to be used hard. Kerr says that the active cooling of the Samsung lithium-ion cells is why it can support ultra-fast charging, up to 800kW - more than any commercially available charger out there. The battery pack is also swappable, although this takes a couple of hours, with Lotus considering ways to ultimately let buyers upgrade to newer and more powerful packs as technology improves.
And those headline-grabbing acceleration figures? Kerr admitted they are also worst-case scenarios - so the 'sub-3' second 0-62mph time could end up being closer to two seconds and the sub-9-sec 0-186mph time could end up being even more impressive.
The other big surprise from the presentation was Lotus's confirmation that it will built up to 130 of the Evija; when we first learned about the car the steer from Hethel was that production volumes would be much lower. When we asked Lotus CEO Phil Popham why, his reply was refreshingly simple: "if something's worth doing, it's worth doing properly, isn't it?"
That figure is a limit rather than a target, but Popham confirmed that several contracts with potential buyers have already been signed.
Discussion
Well I can't see any it would be slower to 60 than a Porsche 918 which takes 2.2 seconds - similar weight, probably similar tyres, at least as good at modulating its power; both will be traction limited so power isn't really relevant. It may well then manage 60-120 faster than it does 0-60 because it's still be traction limited and has the advantage of some aerodynamic downforce increasing traction.
I wonder if it's a single speed reduction gear or it actually has a variable ratio gearbox. These things must be starting to reach the point where it's easily worth having more than one ratio if it's viable from a packaging point of view.
I wonder if it's a single speed reduction gear or it actually has a variable ratio gearbox. These things must be starting to reach the point where it's easily worth having more than one ratio if it's viable from a packaging point of view.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 18th July 07:43
Is it really going to happen ?
Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 18th July 08:34
Porsche911R said:
Is it really going to happen ?
Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
The people Lotus/Geely will be targeting with this wont even have heard of the M250 or indeed, in many cases, the Elise or Evora. Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
kambites said:
Porsche911R said:
Is it really going to happen ?
Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
The people Lotus/Geely will be targeting with this wont even have heard of the M250 or indeed, in many cases, the Elise or Evora. Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
Porsche911R said:
Is it really going to happen ?
Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
You miss the point. It’s about promoting the brand in a big way, showing the world - people like you - that Lotus are and will increasingly be a force to be reckoned with, producing high quality cars that are incredible to drive.Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 18th July 08:34
Geely have given Lotus carte blanche to spend big for this reason.
Porsche911R said:
Is it really going to happen ?
Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
Have a day offAre people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 18th July 08:34
Porsche911R said:
Is it really going to happen ?
Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
Yes yes, we all want an Elise. As lots of people bought them and made Lotus lots of money.... oh no, wait.Are people really going to drop 1/4 mil deposits with lotus after the last lot of car and the m250 issues.
They talk about a ring record but that’s 2 years away !
Running before they can walk again, they have already gone back on the 130 cars, now it’s less. Which means very low orders at launch, it’s seems 2.
The R and D must be massive on this project, when all we want is a new Elise.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 18th July 08:34
Porsche911R said:
Lotus imo won't make money on this project.
They're well aware of that, I'm sure. Are people really daft enough to see the Evija as a RotM model to make money? It's the halo. It's only purpose is to draw attention to the new and improved Lotus under Geely and prepare the market for future, profitable products.
Rawwr said:
Are people really daft enough to see the Evija as a RotM model to make money? It's the halo. It's only purpose is to draw attention to the new and improved Lotus under Geely and prepare the market for future, profitable products.
I think it's primary purpose is to introduce Lotus to the Chinese market which has, by and large, never heard of the brand except possibly as an F1 team. daveb99 said:
You miss the point. It’s about promoting the brand in a big way, showing the world - people like you - that Lotus are and will increasingly be a force to be reckoned with, producing high quality cars that are incredible to drive.
Geely have given Lotus carte blanche to spend big for this reason.
they need to make cars we can buy though. do you hear any hype about "Rimac" ? nope...Geely have given Lotus carte blanche to spend big for this reason.
Will Ferrari sell buckets loads of the SF90, yep it's only £500k for 1000bhp !
make a Car which can beat a GT3 the world will stand up and notice in a big way and people would buy the cars.
Lotus make great cars 10 years too late. they don't make bad cars, just very out of date ones vs other brands the last 15 years !!
This has now gone the other way and imo a massive error , time will tell.
now if they made this, and gave it a 150bhp kers over take button with 500 bhp + the 150 kers and took a ring time off Porsche then more people would notice and they would take more than 2 orders on launch !
They will bring out a £200kcar I guess in 10 years !! to match what Porsche will do with the 992 Hybrid in 2 years.
kambites said:
Rawwr said:
Are people really daft enough to see the Evija as a RotM model to make money? It's the halo. It's only purpose is to draw attention to the new and improved Lotus under Geely and prepare the market for future, profitable products.
I think it's primary purpose is to introduce Lotus to the Chinese market which has, by and large, never heard of the brand except possibly as an F1 team. Porsche911R said:
they need to make cars we can buy though. do you hear any hype about "Rimac" ? nope...
Will Ferrari sell buckets loads of the SF90, yep it's only £500k for 1000bhp !
make a Car which can beat a GT3 the world will stand up and notice in a big way and people would buy the cars.
Lotus make great cars 10 years too late. they don't make bad cars, just very out of date ones vs other brands the last 15 years !!
This has now gone the other way and imo a massive error , time will tell.
now if they made this, and gave it a 150bhp kers over take button with 500 bhp + the 150 kers and took a ring time off Porsche then more people would notice and they would take more than 2 orders on launch !
They will bring out a £200kcar I guess in 10 years !! to match what Porsche will do with the 992 Hybrid in 2 years.
I can't help but feel you're missing the point. Geely will be better placed to sell a cheaper version of an amazing car than they will be trying to sell expensive versions of plastic pigs. There's probably little point at this stage in trying to compete with McLaren, Ferrari or Porsche on ICE or even hybrid tech, strangely, that's something that M, F and P have done very well and will be doing more of. Lotus is being repositioned. You must see this, surely?Will Ferrari sell buckets loads of the SF90, yep it's only £500k for 1000bhp !
make a Car which can beat a GT3 the world will stand up and notice in a big way and people would buy the cars.
Lotus make great cars 10 years too late. they don't make bad cars, just very out of date ones vs other brands the last 15 years !!
This has now gone the other way and imo a massive error , time will tell.
now if they made this, and gave it a 150bhp kers over take button with 500 bhp + the 150 kers and took a ring time off Porsche then more people would notice and they would take more than 2 orders on launch !
They will bring out a £200kcar I guess in 10 years !! to match what Porsche will do with the 992 Hybrid in 2 years.
Lotus probably won’t make money on this but when they realise a less extreme version for 200k with links to this project to validate it. They will sell lots. That is probably the end game.
If they can do that they will be ahead of Ferrari and McLaren. In terms of technology.
As for if they built something as good as a GT3 they would make money. They do it’s called an Exige. The problem is Lotus don’t have the following Porsche do.
Porsche can sell every GT car before anyone even drives it. It could be complete piece of crap and they would still sell them all.
If they can do that they will be ahead of Ferrari and McLaren. In terms of technology.
As for if they built something as good as a GT3 they would make money. They do it’s called an Exige. The problem is Lotus don’t have the following Porsche do.
Porsche can sell every GT car before anyone even drives it. It could be complete piece of crap and they would still sell them all.
Rawwr said:
I don't disagree but the crux of the matter is that this is a halo car and not expected to be anything more than that, and certainly not expected to make any .
fixed that for you ;-)It's a concept car. I will be shocked to see a real one.
The figures seem so made up it's all on CAD models.
Porsche911R said:
they need to make cars we can buy though.
They will... in a few years time. There's no point in trying to sell high end sports cars from a brand which doesn't have the cachet to compete. With the direction they're getting from Geely it seems the plan is to build the brand up first then start trying to make profitable cars afterwards. To achieve its ends, this needs to "become a production car" so Chinese journalists can get their hands on it and Geely can stick it on billboards in Beijing and Shanghai. They don't actually need to sell any of them.
Porsche911R said:
Lotus make great cars 10 years too late. they don't make bad cars, just very out of date ones vs other brands the last 15 years !!
I disagree. The Elise/Exige is the only car left for sale today (Caterfields excluded, perhaps) that is 100% a driver's car. It's not 10 years too late, it's the last hope for most of us in a world increasingly moving towards driving experiences that get ever closer to watching TV.Nothing from any other manufacturer that I sampled came anywhere near.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff