They call the floating instrument panel the ‘halo’, which is an appropriate metaphor for the entire Evija project

As with the Pininfarina Battista, it exists to help showcase and cast a warm glow over what’s coming from Lotus. We’ve yet to see what else that’ll be but, if Geely’s ownership of Volvo and Polestar is anything to go by, it’ll include an understanding that you make sure good people are in place, and let them get on with things. 

And so to the Evija. What should we expect? Astonishing acceleration, clearly, to levels internally combusted road cars have never reached. And it’s worth noting that, if Lotus can keep the Evija down to the 1680kg being targeted “in lightest specification”, then it won’t weigh so much for a car of this power either: a Bugatti Chiron weighs all but two tonnes, after all. 

But this is still a car that’s ‘not very Lotus’ in the traditional scheme of things. It’s hugely powerful, it’s expensive and it weighs nearly a tonne and three-quarters. 

Is that a shame? Well, being ‘absolutely, resolutely Lotus’ is commendable, and produces cars that are fun to drive at any speed. 

That is arguably more relevant now than ever, but it hasn’t put the company on a sustainable footing for quite some time. So things have to change. This is a ‘halo’, a statement of intent. But I’m more excited about what will follow it.

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