Lotus Evija Breaks Records in Autocar Test, Becomes Fastest Car Ever Benchmarked
The Lotus Evija has officially rewritten the performance playbook. In a landmark road test conducted by Autocar, one of the most respected names in automotive journalism, the all-electric hypercar not only lived up to the hype — it surpassed it, shattering multiple long-standing records and becoming the fastest car ever tested in the publication's 96-year history.
Autocar's comprehensive road test program, which dates back to 1928, is known for its rigorous and consistent benchmarks. During testing, the Evija delivered unprecedented results: a 0–200 mph time of just 13.0 seconds and a standing quarter-mile of 9.5 seconds at 171.6 mph. Even more astonishing was the standing kilometer time of 16.2 seconds, where the Evija reached its top-speed limiter of 217.4 mph — a full second quicker than its nearest rival, the Lamborghini Revuelto.
The Evija's domination extended beyond traditional sprints. In mid-range acceleration — often the true test of hypercar power — the Evija left all challengers behind. It completed the 100–150 mph run in just 2.7 seconds, three seconds faster than any previous Autocar-tested vehicle. From 150–200 mph, the Lotus was five seconds faster than the next-best performer.
Only two other street-legal cars — the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and the McLaren F1 — have ever breached the 200 mph mark in Autocar's evaluations. The Evija joins this elite group while eclipsing their figures in nearly every metric.
'This is where electric performance makes its mark,' said Matt Saunders, Autocar Road Test Editor. 'Top speed may no longer be the headline, but Lotus has proven that acceleration — from zero to the extremes — is the new frontier. The Evija doesn't just outperform; it redefines what's possible.'
With customer deliveries now underway, Lotus has proven that its bold leap into the electric era was more than justified. The Evija isn't merely a record-breaking EV — it's one of the most formidable hypercars ever built, regardless of powertrain.
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