Lotus Emeya completes testing ahead of 2024 launch
Lotus has completed testing of its new all-electric GT car, the Emeya, ahead of it going on sale later this year.
The three-year proving programme has taken the firm’s latest model from Norfolk to Inner Mongolia, with stops in southern Italy and the Arctic Circle. In total, it has visited 15 countries across two continents to ensure it is ready for customers.
The hyper-GT will join the Eletre SUV as the British sports car firm expands its EV offering. Powered by two motors producing up to 893bhp and 726lb ft, Lotus says the Emeya will blend startling performance with Lotus’s famous driving dynamics and continent-crossing capabilities. The Emeya will accelerate to 62mph in under 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 159mph. There’s no official word on range but Lotus says it will be “broadly similar” to the Eletre’s. We’d expect that to mean around 375 miles from its 102kWh battery.
Testing has taken in everything from the UK’s challenging B-roads to the smooth German autobahn, along with high Alpine passes and remote Mongolian wilderness. The development team also visited race tracks including Nardo and the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife to ensure the car’s setup met their expectations.
Most recently, the Emeya completed several months of winter testing in Ivalo, Finland, 250 miles inside the Arctic Circle. Among features under scrutiny were the performance of the battery under repeated charging and discharging in freezing temperatures, safety system behaviour on icy surfaces and the performance of the car’s bespoke tyres.
Sylvain Verstraeten, the regional vehicle line director for Emeya, said: “The testing process at Lotus is rigorous and covers a comprehensive performance assessment of everything from suspension and steering through to battery and tyres.
“Emeya is the ultimate all-electric grand tourer, designed and engineered to deliver the optimum driving experience for our customers 365 days a year and in all conditions. We’re incredibly excited for customers to be able to experience Emeya for themselves.”
