June 2021
Calling all automotive collectors and enthusiasts of Artomobilia! Something mind-blowing is coming to Carmel, Indiana, this August! The arrival of the $2.5 million supercar—the Lotus Evija—will put the city on the global map for something other than its roundabouts!
INTRODUCING THE WORLD’S FIRST BRITISH EV HYPERCAR: THE LOTUS EVIJA
“The Evija is a Lotus like no other, yet a true Lotus in every sense.” Phil Popham, former Lotus CEO
Originally slated to start production in 2020, the Lotus Evija means “the first in existence” or “the living one.” Which is quite fitting as Lotus has built an indisputable reputation over the brand’s seven decades of success for its pioneering approach in both automotive and motorsport.
One of the most striking elements of the Lotus Evija, other than the fact it’s an electric vehicle (EV), is its exterior. From every angle the full carbon fiber bodywork is stretched taut, appearing shrinkwrapped over the mechanical components. Taking inspiration from the aeronautics industry, the exterior is a perfectly proportioned blend of fluid forms and crisp lines.
“The Lotus Evija will be making its first stateside debut in over a year at Artomobilia on Aug. 28, 2021,” Young Kim, dealer principal at Gator Motorsport/Indy Lotus, shared. “The Evija is the world’s first all-electric hypercar and currently the most powerful series production car ever built. We are honored to be the first Lotus dealership to have this vehicle at an event in the U.S.”
Gator Motorsport is the title sponsor for this year’s Artomobilia: A Celebration of Automotive Art & Design, hosted on the streets of the Carmel Art & Design District. Kim is the man responsible for not only securing the Lotus Evija for this year’s Artomobilia, according to co-founder and event director John Leonard, he can also be credited for his assistance in making the first-ever Artomobilia in 2008 an astounding success. His continued support as not only an exhibitor and now as the title sponsor has contributed to Artomobilia’s growing reputation as a first-class automotive exhibition for collectors and enthusiasts alike. In addition to the nation’s two most prestigious car concourses, Artomobilia is proudly on par. Which clearly was enough to entice Lotus to add Carmel, Indiana, to its highly exclusive list of “stops” in the U.S. this summer.
Previously featured at Pebble Beach and Amelia Island, the Lotus Evija will make only a few appearances in the US this year, including Carmel for Artomobilia and Salt Lake City for the annual Lotus Owners Gathering.
Leonard passed all of the credit to Kim for pulling off the impossible—adding Carmel, Indiana, to that list of limited and highly anticipated locations. Leonard expressed, “He [Kim] is the guy that made it happen so that the Indianapolis- area car market will see a car that is as rare as cars come.”
WHAT MAKES THE LOTUS EVIJA SO UNIQUE?
True to Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s core belief that every component should serve multiple purposes, the exterior design is also exceptionally efficient on every level. The most obvious example of this—and unquestionably the most dramatic element of the exterior—is the Venturi tunnel that pierces each rear quarter.
Inspired by Le Mans race cars, the tunnel optimizes air flow by directing it through the bodyshell. Aside from creating a breathtaking presence, this design concept—known as “porosity”—aids the delivery of high-energy air flow to the rear of the car.
When viewed from the rear of the car, each tunnel is edged with a red LED to create a striking ribbon-style light signature. The result is a stunning visual effect that’s akin to the afterburners on a fighter jet, especially when seen at night.
To say that it’s a huge nod for the team at Artomobilia and for Gator Motorsport to bring this automotive unicorn to the Midwest is a gross understatement. The prototype that will be admired by thousands of curious American automotive enthusiasts is currently one of four in existence. Production of the Evija was temporarily halted as a result of the global pandemic.
Now, Kim and his highly knowledgeable sales team are ready to take your orders!
“The Evija is a perfect combination of elegance and innovation, while paying tribute to the history of Lotus,” Kim shared. “The all-electric powertrain, consisting of four electric motors, is built to provide constant power to the wheels and generate approximately 2,000 horsepower. While the look of the cars may change, the feel is the most important. Featuring five different drive modes—Range, City, Tour, Sport, and Track—the Evija is continuing the tradition of being designed for the drivers.”
Kim added, “The Evija is a step into the future of Lotus. While only 130 cars are expected to be produced, the succeeding fleet of vehicles will all have parts of the Evija incorporated into their build. The same attention to detail from past models will also be inherited into the new Lotus Emira, the first model being introduced after the Evija, which is being revealed July 6, 2021.”
A WIN-WIN FOR ALL CONCERNED
Leonard first brought Kim into the fold back in 2008 when he was seeking out area car collectors for the first-ever Artomobilia event. The partnership has evolved over the decade-plus, and Leonard credits Kim for contributing to the exponential growth of the event and its satellite events that make up Artomobilia Wee
kend. Attendees of Artomobilia, Fuelicious and Revolanté will enjoy the Lotus Evija that will be displayed in full grandeur.
“This gentleman [Young Kim] was willing to bring a bunch of his cars out, and I was in need of [cars], so it was a match in heaven,” Leonard stated. “We got to know each other over the next couple of years, and he would talk about opening up a Lotus dealership. And then it happened for him in 2013.”
Gator Motorsport is Indiana’s only authorized Lotus Sales and Service Center and the only Sales and Service Center for Zenos Cars in the United States. Additionally, an exciting array of preowned vehicles are offered from daily drivers to Super Cars. Gator Motorsport upholds the standard that every detail matters in all aspects of sales, service and detail from your race car to your daily driver. It’s looking to be a phenomenal year for Kim as he is not only anticipating the arrival of the Lotus Evija but is also significantly expanding his facilities, located near Carmel and Zionsville along West 96th Street and Michigan Road.
“We have been humbled to give and receive support in our community since we opened our doors in 2013,” Kim expressed. “We are excited to announce that we are expanding our showroom and hope to have a grand reopening at the end of 2021 or early 2022. This expansion will increase space for new and preowned vehicles, allow our Service and Detail departments to increase their volume and continue to be a one-stop destination for automotive enthusiasts.”
PARTNERSHIP WITH A PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSE
The Artomobilia team prides itself on partnering with many local area nonprofits who are the beneficiaries of the proceeds raised at each of these related events. Kim and his team at Gator Motorsport subscribe to that same community “give-back” philosophy and are proud to partner with Riley Hospital for Children.
“Since the beginning, we have always believed in giving back to the community that provides so much for us,” Kim shared. “This year we took that to a new level, developing ‘Gator-Aid,’ our new community outreach program. We reached out on social media and let our community pick our first partner, Riley Hospital for Children. Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health is Indiana’s only comprehensive children’s hospital. We are excited to be involved in this incredible cause, and Gator Motorsport is committed to matching up to $10,000 for the kids! You can find the
direct donation link page at Gator-Aid.com.”
For more information on Gator Motorsport, visit GatorMotorsport.com. And for a complete listing of Artomobilia Weekend 2021 events, including when and where to see the Lotus Evija, visit artomobilia.org.
LOTUS EVIJA (TYPE 130)
POWERTRAIN: ………………………………………………. PURE ELECTRIC, 4WD
POWER: ……………………………………………………….. 2,000 PS
BATTERY POWER: …………………………………………. 70 KWH (CAPACITY)/2,000 KW (POWER)
TORQUE: ……………………………………………………… 1,700 N M WITH TORQUE VECTORING
0–100 KM/H (0–62 MPH): ……………………………… UNDER THREE SECONDS
0–300 KM/H (0–186 MPH): ……………………………. UNDER NINE SECONDS
MAX SPEED:………………………………………………….. IN EXCESS OF 200 MPH (320 KM/H)
ALL-ELECTRIC RANGE (WLTP COMBINED): ………… 250 MILES (400 KM)
CHARGING TIME (350 KW CHARGER): ………………. 18 MINUTES
WEIGHT: ………………………………………………………. 1,680 KG
PRODUCTION RUN: ………………………………………… MAXIMUM OF 130 CARS
OVERALL DIMENSIONS (L/W/H): …………………….. 4,459 MM/2,000 MM/1,122 MM
PRICE: ………………………………………………………….$2.5 MILLION + DUTIES AND TAXES
RESERVATION PROCESS: …………………………………$300,000 DEPOSIT SECURES A PRODUCTION SLOT