Okay, I know, I know. Is an electric Lotus really a Lotus? I don’t think anyone at the Southern California Lotus Club would consider it one, but I sent them this news anyway: The Emeya 900 has beaten a very impressive EV record.
The record took place at the Sepang International Circuit, a very unforgiving track designed by Hermann Tilke that opened in 1999. It’s long been used to test Formula 1 and MotoGP cars since it has a blend of high-speed straights and dangerous turns.
One of the records set on this track is the electric vehicle record. I’d normally not pay attention to this, but I saw Lotus (check) and Tesla getting beaten (check, check).
The Lotus that beat Tesla by 7 seconds
So, the previous EV record on this track was 2:27.790, set earlier this summer by Ee Shedden. He used the Exotic Mods Tesla Model 3 Performance, which was, shocker, modded for performance. It’s 132 pounds lighter than the regular Model 3 due to its fiberglass doors, bare-bones rear seating, and suspension and brake upgrades.
It was made to hold this record.
However, the Lotus Emeya 900 beat it. By a lot. Its time was 2:20.317, shedding more than seven seconds. And the Emeya was straight from the factory. This means it was standard production with no performance or track modifications.
The Lotus Emeya 900 has a dual-motor powertrain that produces 905 horsepower, allowing it to reach 0 to 62-ish miles per hour in 2.78 seconds. It reached 154.597 mph during its record lap thanks to its speed, sure, but also its design. It’s light (it’s a Lotus, after all) with an aerodynamic body meant to allow air to channel through it rather than allow it. Think Evija.
“The Emeya carries that same philosophy into the electric era,” said Chong Yok Meng, Senior Director for Chassis and Vehicle Dynamics at Lotus. “It has been developed with the same DNA that has defined Lotus for more than 75 years. This record is more than a lap time – it validates our engineering philosophy and proves that electrification enhances, rather than compromises, the Lotus driving experience.”
However, the Emeya 900 is 5,842 pounds. Which, according to Lotus’ CEO, means it’s “mediocre.”
