The British automaker, Lotus, is slowly getting its affairs in order. The company will launch its first electric vehicle, the Evija, in the summer of 2021. It is also looking into the future by contemplating a transition to all-electric powertrains. In addition, the company is imagining what an endurance racer would look like at the 2030 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Is It a Plane? No, It’s a Futuristic Endurance Racer

The E-R9 is a conceptual vehicle with a futuristic design that features a fighter jet-style body and a delta-wing shape. The endurance racer has active aerodynamics, vertically mounted control surfaces that aid in high-speed cornering, and morphing body panels.

Drivers can change the vehicle’s shape on the fly, or the car can do it for them via an array of sensors, which allow the Lotus E-R9 to maintain minimum drag on the straight and maximal downforce through the corners.

The company doesn’t divulge all the details regarding the E-R9’s powertrain but confirms that it features an all-wheel drive with each wheel being powered separately. It also features torque vectoring, a technology used on the Evija. The main difference between both automobiles would be that the endurance racer will be able to make adjustments while on the move.

The E-R9 Features Technology That Lotus Will Develop in the Upcoming Years

Lotus strongly believes that advancements in battery technology over the next ten years will increase battery density and power, which will give rise to mixed cell chemistry batteries that can be replaced during pit stops by the maintenance crew.

The endurance racer was developed by Richard Hill, the company’s chief of aerodynamics, and Louis Keer, the main engineer behind the Lotus Evija. Its name pays homage to the company’s iconic racing past, as the 9 is a reference to the Lotus Mark IX, which was used for the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans.

While the E-R9 is still a conceptual vehicle, it gives a glimpse into the potential future of automotive racing, and things do look exciting.

Numbers aren’t everything in car performance, but sometimes a vehicle comes along and it’s stats just can’t be ignored. The Lotus Evija hypercar is bringing a lot to the table, and it’s sure to have a lot of interest when it’s released at the end of the year.

Aiming Big

Lotus’s chief test driver, Gavin Kershaw, explained recently to Top Gear that the company has some pretty big ambitions for its new electric hypercar. While many car manufacturers worry about its performance from 0-60, Lotus is focusing on making the Evija quick all the way through to 186mph. The Evija will hit 0-60 in under three seconds, which is nothing amazing in comparison to other sports cars. But, where Lotus is differing is the continued performance beyond 60 mph.

Rivaling Bugatti

The Lotus Evija will reportedly go from 0-124mph in under six seconds, which would mean the electric hypercar would compete with the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport. However, that’s not all, and the Evija aims to keep on acceleration long beyond 124mph. Lotus claims the Evija will go from 0-184mph in nine seconds, with the Pur Sport taking 12.4 seconds. Those are big claims by Lotus, and it would certainly put the Evija on the map if they are accurate.

Continued Performance

Lotus says it is concerned with giving its drivers high performance throughout all speeds. The car is rumored to be more responsive between 70-80mph than it is from a standstill, helping it to reach its top speed in the blink of an eye. Lotus has compromised on the top speed slightly, but we’re sure drivers will feel that sacrifice was worth it when they hit 184mph in nine seconds.

Lotus has plans to bring the Evija to the track to give it some real-world testing in the coming months. That’s when the car manufacturer will discover if their car can live up to its hype.