Historical past with a long run: the Lotus Evija Fittipaldi
• Restricted-edition Evija celebrates 50 years since race legend Emerson Fittipaldi and Group Lotus received F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships
•New model of natural electrical hypercar commemorates iconic 5 many years of black and gold color scheme of Lotus Kind 72 race vehicle
•Emotive design main points come with rotary dial crafted from recycled unique Kind 72 aluminium, plus Fittipaldi signature hand-stitched on dashboard
•International premiere match at Hethel, ÚK, with Emerson Fittipaldi as visitor of honour
•8 vehicles now in construct, all bought with first buyer deliveries early in 2023
•Newest undertaking from Lotus Complex Efficiency
•Check pushed through System 1 International Champion Jenson Button
The sector’s maximum tough manufacturing vehicle – the beautiful Lotus Evija hypercar – now delivers much more exclusivity and desirability. Impressed through the previous to support the long run, Lotus has unveiled the Evija Fittipaldi, a tribute to some of the biggest car-and-driver pairings that System 1 has ever observed.
That driving force is, after all, Emerson Fittipaldi, the younger Brazilian racer who joined Lotus and turned into a legend, cementing his position in F1 historical past in 1972. At the back of the wheel of the now-iconic Lotus Kind 72 and successful 5 of that season’s 11 races, Fittipaldi secured the Drivers’ Championship for himself and the Constructors’ Championship for Group Lotus.
Precisely 50 years on, the Lotus Evija Fittipaldi is a becoming birthday celebration of that partnership. Simply 8 examples of the all-electric two-seater are being hand-built at Hethel in Norfolk, ÚK – the worldwide HQ of Lotus sports activities vehicle design and production – and all are bought. Buyer deliveries will start early subsequent yr. It’s the newest undertaking from Lotus Complex Efficiency, the bespoke design and experiential department of the industry introduced previous this yr.
Showcasing the world-famous black and gold color scheme – additionally 50 years outdated in 2022 – the hand-painted external and a large number of different distinctive design options had been created to commemorate this wonderful collaboration. They come with a hand-tinted plan view of the Kind 72 etched into the uncovered carbon fibre roof, and Fittipaldi’s signature hand-stitched into the dashboard.
And most likely probably the most emotive element of all is the rotary dial at the floating central tool panel. It’s been home made from recycled unique Kind 72 aluminium, making sure a real piece of the enduring F1 racer is a part of every Evija Fittipaldi.
Any such particular vehicle deserved a distinct international premiere; consumers, their households and different VIP visitors have taken phase in an unique, once-in-a-lifetime revel in day at Hethel to have a good time the release of the brand new vehicle and the enduring Kind 72.
Visitor of honour used to be Emerson Fittipaldi himself, who mentioned: ‘It is implausible to be again at Hethel for this sort of special day. I have actually loved being part of this undertaking and it is been a ravishing revel in revealing the automobile to one of the crucial new homeowners. Having the chance to pressure each the Evija Fittipaldi and my championship-winning Kind 72 System 1 vehicle at the check monitor at Hethel has been an implausible revel in.’
Different highlights of the day integrated the primary time in historical past that every one 8 surviving examples of the Kind 72 – therefore the choice of Evija vehicles being constructed – had been introduced in combination in a single position and run at the Hethel check monitor.
Simon Lane, Director, Lotus Complex Efficiency, commented: ‘The phrase ‘legend’ is regularly overused, however this undertaking has introduced in combination the Lotus Evija hypercar, Emerson Fittipaldi, the Kind 72 race vehicle and our emblem’s celebrated System 1 heritage. No argument, this is 4 reliable legends, all taking part to ship a in point of fact distinctive hypercar and a global premiere that used to be an actual ‘pinch your self’ second.’
He added: ‘Manufacturing of the Evija has commenced at Hethel, and those 8 vehicles are an overly particular birthday celebration of this essential second in our historical past.’
The bespoke specification of the Lotus Evija Fittipaldi begins with its distinctive paint end, which contains its designation written at the frame paintings in gold lettering to the aspect of the rear window. Complementing it are black and gold ‘Kind 72’ wheels whole with anodized centre lock surrounds – pink at the left aspect of the automobile and inexperienced at the proper – in addition to black and gold brake calipers.
Decals that commemorate the Kind 72’s race victories from the 1972 season are offered at the lively rear wing, whilst a bunch 8 has been implemented to the B-pillar. Fittipaldi raced with that quantity on his vehicle throughout the 1972 season, together with for his win on the British Grand Prix. A carbon and gold Lotus nostril badge completes the outside styling.
Inside of, the theme of luxurious and bespoke design continues. Black leather-based inner with gold distinction sewing can also be discovered during the cabin, together with unique roof liner sewing, plus gold finishes to the air vent surrounds, centre rotary dial, get started/forestall button and pedals.
The auto has been advanced with the beneficiant strengthen of Vintage Group Lotus, the ancient motorsport industry run lately through the circle of relatives of Lotus founder Colin Chapman to deal with and function Lotus F1 vehicles. Additionally based totally in Hethel simply around the street from Lotus, it hosted the gala dinner on the release match.
Clive Chapman, Managing Director, commented: ‘Emerson Fittipaldi and my father loved an overly particular courting, and their impressive good fortune used to be a super workforce effort through the devoted designers and mechanics at Group Lotus. Considered one of motorsport’s maximum admired drivers, it’s at all times emotional each time Emerson is reunited with the Lotus Kind 72, which he describes as the best vehicle he ever raced.’
He added: ‘Bringing in combination the Lotus Evija, the Lotus Kind 72, the black and gold livery and Emerson Fittipaldi, all in birthday celebration of his International Championship victory 50 years on – want I say extra?’
In spite of its fantastic energy and function, the driving force stays on the centre of the Lotus Evija revel in, simply because it used to be for the Emerson Fittipaldi and the Kind 72. The technical specification and function figures of the Lotus Evija Fittipaldi are in point of fact astonishing; greater than 2,000 PS makes it probably the most tough sequence manufacturing vehicle on this planet, developing greater than 1,700Nm of torque. The 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) is finished in beneath 3 seconds, and 0-186 mph (0-300 km/h) takes 9 seconds from a status get started. The restricted most velocity is 217 mph (350 km/h). The whole technical specification is detailed within the desk underneath.
From one international champion to any other, previous within the week Jenson Button visited Lotus to check pressure the Evija and Emerson’s Kind 72 at the noted Hethel check monitor. It used to be the primary time Jenson had observed the Evija in manufacturing and took one out on target to present it a shake down sooner than the release of Evija Fittipaldi. Temporarily getting up to the mark Jenson drove the automobile across the 2.2-mile check monitor, trying out the automobile’s trip, dealing with and function. He used to be additionally observed unleashing the ability in different status begins. Stuffed with reward when he jumped out of the driving force’s seat of the area’s maximum tough manufacturing vehicle. Jenson commented: ‘It feels like a jet engine! You bring to mind an EV as quiet however it isn’t. The torque is astronomical. It is wonderful, it places a large smile to your face. It seems like a spaceship, the drivability and course within the steerage for sure means that you can know you’re riding a Lotus; I’m amazed through the agility of it. Itt is a Lotus of the long run and I will’t wait to pressure my very own Evija.’
Jenson additionally were given the risk to show again the clock and pressure Emerson’s 1972 Lotus Kind 72. The auto that helped Emerson clinch his first driving force’s championship. Jenson Button added: ‘It is pretty to get into somewhat of racing historical past. There is not a large number of house, however the entirety is in the best place. It used to be simple to heel and toe. It is a actual privilege to pressure this sort of particular vehicle.’
A shocking piece of recent automobile design – the paintings of a workforce led through Lotus Design Director Russell Carr – the Evija includes a dramatic Venturi tunnel thru every rear quarter, giving it a in point of fact breath-taking presence. This ‘porosity’ manner optimised airflow, with air channelled no longer simply over, beneath and across the Evija however thru it, maximising downforce whilst minimising drag. Its entrance splitter aids grip whilst channelling cooling air to the battery pack, E-motors and brakes, and lively aero options similar to a System 1-style DRS (Drag Relief Machine) bestow the Evija with state-of-the-art efficiency. With riding dynamics overseen through the workforce of Gavan Kershaw, the world-renowned Car Attributes Director for Lotus, the Evija is a vehicle like no different.
The primary Lotus street vehicle to characteristic a one-piece carbon fibre monocoque chassis, the cabin – from the absolutely adjustable race-style seats to the multi-function steerage wheel – is the very pinnacle of motorsport-inspired street vehicle design and era.
Simply because the Lotus Evija is defining a brand new generation of natural electrical efficiency, so the Lotus Kind 72 stays probably the most a success racing vehicle no longer simply of its day, however in F1 historical past. In 2019 Autosport mag named it the best ever F1 vehicle. A revelation each at the strategy planning stage and at the monitor, the Kind 72 used to be the primary racing vehicle to include aerodynamics as a part of its preliminary design. The built-in rear wing and entrance splitter had been designed in particular to permit the automobile to slice throughout the air whilst additionally developing necessary downforce.
The Kind 72’s air consumption used to be relocated above the driving force’s head, making sure undisturbed and blank air might be sucked instantly into the engine, whilst its radiators had been positioned within the sidepods of the automobile slightly than the nostril. This no longer best greater cooling potency however stepped forward weight distribution – and subsequently efficiency – within the procedure.
The similar means used to be additionally taken for the brakes, mounting them inboard slightly than on every wheel to help cooling because the tops of the discs protruded throughout the bodywork. The Kind 72 used to be the primary of what turned into the normal ‘wedge on wheels’ designs that quickly encouraged each different competitor at the grid.
Supply – Lotus