Four electric hypercars the Lotus Evija has to beat

With its mid-mounted battery pack and four powerful motors producing 2,000PS (1,972 horsepower) and 1,700Nm of torque, the Evija promises 0-62mph acceleration in under three seconds and a top speed in excess of 200 mph.

The car’s aerodynamics are equally impressive, with a dramatic Venturi tunnel cutting through each rear quarter, a sculpted underside to optimise downforce and a huge integrated diffuser. There’s also a Formula 1-style Drag Reduction System (DRS) and a noticeable lack of wing mirrors, replaced by cameras integrated into the wings and roof.

Pretty impressive, wouldn’t you say? But the Evija isn’t alone in the big-power, big-torque world of electric hypercars. Here are four rivals Lotus shouldn’t forget.

Rimac C_Two

Rimac doesn’t boast anywhere near Lotus’ seven decades of history and manufacturing know-how, having been founded in the garage of company boss Mate Rimac in Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina. But the C_Two, unveiled in 2018, is still very much an Evija rival.

In 2007, the then 18-year-old Mate Rimac began working with electric motors when the conventional powertrain in his BMW E30 drift car blew up. From there, he moved into larger rental facilities near Zagreb in Croatia in 2009, keeping the E30 ‘Green Monster’ as the company’s prototype.

The 1,287hp Rimac Concept One was unveiled in 2011, followed by the track-orientated Concept S and then the C_Two, with gull-wing doors, more power, an extended range and limited to 150 units, like the Evija.

The C_Two’s four electric motors produce a combined 1,914 horsepower and 2,300Nm of torque. Despite being made almost entirely of carbon fibre the C_Two is a heavy machine, weighing in at 1,950kg, but with all that power it’ll still sprint to 62mph in 1.85 seconds on its way to a top speed of 258mph.

Alongside a torque vectoring system you’ll find eight cameras, a LIDAR, six radars, and twelve ultrasonic sensors, all aiding its level 4 autonomous capability. There’s one system you definitely won’t find on the Evija: facial recognition software to start the car and the adjust settings according to the owner's mood… There’s also a ‘drift mode’, although quite why that’s necessary we’re not entirely sure.

Pininfarina Battista

Joining the Evija and C_Two in the battle for hypercar supremacy is this exquisite number, the Pininfarina Battista.

This is arguably the best looking car on our list, given that it’s fresh from Italy’s most famous automotive design house, Carrozzeria Pininfarina. With more than 90 years of car design under its belt, the company has now turned its Italian expertise to the future, creating its first own proper model, the Battista.

Named after the company’s founder, Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the electric model boasts a 120kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and produces around 1,900bhp and 2,300Nm of torque. Blistering acceleration sees the car reach 62mph in less than two seconds and 186mph in less than 12. Pininfarina promises a 280 mile range, too.

The Battista features a carbon fibre monocoque and Pininfarina claims the car will be very light, but there are no weight figures to inspect just yet. Interestingly, its electrical architecture is being co-developed with Rimac.

With recycled materials replacing leather in the stylish cockpit, the Battista is dedicated to sustainability. 150 units will be produced at a cost of approximately £2m each

Dendrobium D1

Revealed two months ago at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Dendrobium D1 will be another British-built, fully electric hypercar.

While details are still sparse, the D1 will reportedly be powered by four electric motors, weigh 1,750kg, accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds and top out at over 200mph.

Likely to be launched in 2022, Dendrobium hopes to build ten cars, all with a price tag of around £1 million, or about half the price of the Lotus.

Ariel P40

Ariel, best known for its insanely fast Atom and hilarious Nomad, revealed plans for the P40 all-electric hypercar in 2017.

Its four wheel-mounted motors combine to produce 1,180 horsepower and 1,800Nm torque. Weighing just 1,500kg, relatively little for an electric car of this type, the diminutive P40 will reportedly be able to accelerate from 0-100mph in 3.8 seconds, running out of puff, however, at 155mph.

So which car would you chose: the Lotus Evija, Rimac C_Two, Pininfarina Battista, Dendrobium D1 or Ariel P40?

Pininfarina image by Pete Summers.