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Lotus Evija electric hypercar will sound like a V8 F1 car

The otherwise-silent hypercar will reportedly produce sounds derived from the world championship-winning Lotus 49 V8 Formula One car.


The upcoming electric Lotus Evija will sound like a 1960s V8 Formula One car, according to new reports out of Europe.

Patrick Jordan-Patrikios – a music producer who has worked with Britney Spears and Susan Boyle, among others – was reportedly recruited by Lotus to develop “distinctive” and “organic” sounds for the otherwise-silent hypercar.

Many countries require electric vehicles to broadcast artificial noises at slow speeds, to keep pedestrians safe. As such, slowed-down audio recordings of the iconic Lotus 49 Formula One car – which was powered by a naturally-aspirated 3.0-litre V8 Ford Cosworth engine – were selected as the basis for the zero-emission hypercar's synthetic soundscape.

According to Mr Patrikios: "I adjusted the replay speeds and digital filtering of the Type 49 to generate a soundscape for the Evija. It was a very organic process."

"We all wanted something to spark an emotional connection between car and driver. Sound is hugely influential when it comes to creating and forming emotions, to enrich that bond that’s such a critical part of the Lotus experience," he added.

Five world champions drove the legendary 283kW open-wheeler in Grand Prix between 1967 and 1970, these being Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Mario Andretti, Jochen Rindt, and Emerson Fittipaldi.

The Evija, meanwhile, derives power from four independent hub-mounted electric motors. These draw voltage from a 70kWh lithium-ion battery pack, putting 1470kW/1700Nm to the ground. According to Lotus, the car will have a driving range of approximately 400km.

Just 130 examples of the £1.7 million (approximately AU$3.1 million) hypercar are slated for production, with the first deliveries expected later this year after numerous development delays.


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William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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