The Lotus Emeya hyper-GT has completed the final stages of a rigorous global test and development program in one of the world’s harshest environments.
Emeya is described as the ultimate all-electric grand tourer, designed and engineered to deliver the optimum driving experience for our customers 365 days a year and in all conditions.
Over the northern winter, it was in Ivalo, Finland, as Lotus engineers concluded their validation work.
Around 250km inside the Arctic Circle, temperatures in recent weeks have been as low as -25 degrees Celsius, but still the team has put the car in a local automotive ‘freezer’ to test it to -40 degrees Celsius.
It’s the culmination of a stringent three-year test and development program across 15 countries in two continents, supported by Lotus’ global engineering teams.
It took place on a variety of terrain and conditions; from the UK’s challenging B-roads to the smooth and fast-flowing German autobahn, through the highest Alpine passes and the remoteness of Inner Mongolia.
Testing also took place at race tracks such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife and at proving grounds like the high-speed loop near the southern Italian town of Nardò.
As well as extreme cold, Emeya also endured conditions as high as +40 degrees Celsius, with testing to take place in the Middle East, United States and Australia ahead of deliveries in these markets.
Two types of testing took place during Emeya’s development – controlled and real-world.
Controlled testing means consistent conditions must exist.
For example, during tyre tests the surface must remain consistent to allow meaningful comparisons.
Real-world testing then proves the controlled results, introducing new factors such as changing road surfaces and driving in traffic.
Meeting global regulatory targets is a vital part of the program, but at the heart of it is one key internal target – to guarantee Emeya drives like a true Lotus.
As the company transitions to become an all-electric tech-focused luxury performance brand, it says staying true to the roots of what makes Lotus a Lotus is paramount.
During the Arctic testing, engineers focused on testing Emeya in various ways, including proving the unrestricted usability of the battery in extreme weather, both charging and discharging, to ensure consistency and repeatability.
Testing and calibrating the air-conditioning and thermal management systems to ensure the car is as efficient and comfortable as possible in all conditions.
The 55-inch head-up display – the largest and most advanced in any Lotus – has Snow Mode which turns the display blue, helping the driver to see the outline of the road more easily against a white background.
CHECKOUT: New Lotus Eletre an electric SUV
CHECKOUT: First new Lotus in more than a decade