THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY

"THE LOTUS EMEYA R IS A 905BHP, MIND-BOGGLING, MISSILE DISGUISED AS A LUXURY SEDAN."

- WORDS MANDAR SAWANT PHOTOGRAPHY ROHAN SONAWANE

Going in to drive the Lotus Emeya R, I was well aware of its hard-line specs: 905bhp, 985Nm, all-wheel-drive, and 0 to 100kmph in just 2.78 seconds — figures you'd usually find on the spec sheet of a serious supercar. The Emeya has the numbers to make Bologna's or Stuttgart's finest blush, but numbers don't prepare you for the absolute absurdity of what it packs. It's a cheeky, physics-bending hooligan that takes the rulebook, rolls it up, and lobs it out of the window. This Hyper GT is one of the quickest cars ever made, and when you tap into its full potential, let's just say your grin will need its own recovery period.

Unveiled to the world in 2023, the Emeya marks a new chapter for Lotus — it's the brand's first-ever four-door, four-seat Hyper GT, and an electric one at that — aimed squarely at the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. That's why the Emeya comes in three variants, with outputs ranging from 603bhp all the way up to the manic 905bhp R, which is the only version to make it to Indian shores. It's underpinned by Zeekr Technology's Electric Premium Architecture — an 800-volt platform that enables DC fast charging at up to 350kW, allowing a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in just 20 minutes. Power comes from a 102kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeding a dual-motor setup, paired with a two-speed gearbox — but more on that later. First, we need to talk about the Emeya's design, because it's a stark departure from what Lotus is traditionally known for.