Lotus Evija X Sets Third-Fastest Lap At The Nurburgring

Lotus has announced that the incredible Evija X has set the third-fastest-ever lap around the Nurburgring, with the electric hypercar completing the circuit in 6:24.047. The Norfolk-based brand confirmed the incredible achievement today, months after the hardcore Evija was spotted at the Green Hell.

The Evija is still far off the fastest and second-fastest times, set by the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo (5:19.545) and the Volkswagen ID.R (6:05.336). However, the Lotus can lay claim to a rather unique title: it’s the quickest car around the Nurburgring with a production-spec chassis.

Lotus May Return To The Nurburgring For A Better Lap Time

It would take a miracle (or incredible engineering) to beat the Porsche or Volkswagen, but Lotus is convinced it can do better. The surprising lap record was set on a damp track, so there’s a chance the automaker could return to the ‘Ring to shave precious seconds off that time. “Watch this space,” said the company.

While the exterior vastly differs from the standard Evija, the hardware remains the same. There’s a staggering 1,972 horsepower and 1,257 lb-ft of torque courtesy of four electric motors and a 70 kWh battery pack. So, if there were no mechanical changes, how was the Evija X able to set such a rapid lap time? Lotus partnered with Multimatic (the company that helped design the last Ford GT) to hone the aerodynamics and handling. The track-focused model wears a massive rear wing, as well as a prominent front splitter and canards. As a result, the Evija X produces more than 6,600 lbs of downforce.

Will It Be Sold To Customers?

Other improvements include sticky Pirelli P-Zero racing slicks and carbon brake discs. Lotus hasn’t indicated whether it will sell the Evija X to customers, but we’re guessing several high-net-worth customers will be inquiring about this track weapon following its performance at the Nurburgring. Should it be made available to customers, we expect the price tag to exceed the standard model’s $2.3 million asking price.

The Evija X’s time is incredible, beating the production car record holder, the Mercedes-AMG ONE, by more than ten seconds. It will be interesting to see what the automaker could do if it went beyond aerodynamic updates.