The Lotus Evija is an all-electric hypercar that was first unveiled back in 2019—as the company’s first ever electric vehicle. Only 130 units were planned for global release, and pricing at launch started from around GBP 1.7 million (~RM9.7 million)—a eyewatering price, to be fair. However, it also offers some incredible performance, with a total output of 2,000PS and 1,700Nm of torque meaning that you’ll go from 0–300km/h in under nine seconds, with a rated top speed of 320km/h.
Putting aside those numbers, however, one of the more common complaints when it comes to cars with electric powertrains—even if they are genuinely supercars—is the sound that they produce. Rather than the throaty revs of a petrol combustion engine, you have to live with a wholly different sort of sound, and it certainly takes some getting used to. Regardless, it’s an issue that Lotus is clearly aware off, seeing as they have just announced a partnership with a Brit Award-nominated music producer to develop a range of sounds for the Lotus Evija.
Patrikios has a pretty impressive resume, too, although you might argue that his past work might not exactly be the most relevant to the EV scene. Still, the British producer has worked with global artists like Sia, Olly Murs, and even Briney Spears, so perhaps he’ll be able to translate his expertise onto the electric automotive scene (or rather, sound). In any case, the producer explains that he is using the Lotus Type 49—one of the most iconic race cars of all time—as a starting point:
“There’s a purity to that V8, a raw edge and an emotion that stirs something in your soul, just like the best songs.”
So, how does the process work? Patrikios says that a recording of the Type 49’s engine note was fed into his computer, and they worked on slowing the note down to create a “natural driving sound” for the Evija’s all-electric drivetrain. He says that it was a “very organic process”, and the aim was to create an “emotional connection between car and driver”.
Even though the producer’s main task was to create the Evija’s “external” noise, or engine note, Patrikios also worked on chimes and tones for a variety of scenarios—from indicators, to seatbelt warnings. Meanwhile, Lotus explains that the Type 49 was chosen as a base for the Evija’s new engine note due to its iconic status in the motorsports world:
“Few race cars from any motorsport brand are as celebrated as the Lotus Type 49. It won on its first Formula 1 outing, the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix, with legendary driver Jim Clark at the wheel, and a Type 49 was on pole position at every race for the rest of the season. The following year Graham Hill won the F1 Drivers’ Championship in a Type 49.
“Only 12 examples were ever made, and the car will be forever associated with two world debuts. The Type 49 was the first to use the all-new Lotus-developed Cosworth-Ford DFV engine that would dominate the Formula 1 grid for more than a decade, and it also marked the first appearance of the iconic red, white and gold colours of Lotus sponsor Gold Leaf, one of the most recognisable motorsport liveries of all time.”
So, what do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.
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