Lotus unveils Emerson Fittipaldi-inspired Evija

Lotus has unveiled an exclusive version of the Evija hypercar, a version that pays tribute to one of the greatest car-and-driver pairings that Formula 1 has ever seen.

That driver is, of course, Emerson Fittipaldi, the young Brazilian racer who joined Lotus and became a legend, cementing his place in F1 history in 1972. Behind the wheel of the now-iconic Lotus Type 72 and winning five of that season’s 11 races, Fittipaldi secured the Drivers’ Championship for himself and the Constructors’ Championship for Team Lotus.

The Lotus Evija Fittipaldi is a fitting celebration of the aforementioned partnership.

Such a special car deserved a special world premiere; customers, their families, and other VIP guests have taken part in an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience day at Hethel to celebrate the launch of the new car and the iconic Type 72.

“It’s fantastic to be back at Hethel for such a special occasion. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of this project and it’s been a wonderful experience revealing the car to some of the new owners. Having the opportunity to drive both the Evija Fittipaldi and my championship-winning Type 72 Formula 1 car on the test track at Hethel has been an incredible experience,” said Fittipaldi.

Showcasing the world-famous black and gold color scheme — also 50 years old in 2022 — the Evija Fittipaldi boasts a hand-painted exterior with a hand-tinted plan view of the Type 72 etched into the exposed carbon fiber roof and Fittipaldi’s signature hand-stitched into the dashboard.

And perhaps the most emotive detail of all is the rotary dial on the floating central instrument panel. It has been hand-crafted from recycled original Type 72 aluminum, ensuring a genuine piece of the iconic F1 racer is part of each Evija Fittipaldi.

“The word ‘legend’ is often overused, but this project has brought together the Lotus Evija hypercar, Emerson Fittipaldi, the Type 72 race car, and our brand’s celebrated Formula 1 heritage. No argument, that is four legitimate legends, all collaborating to deliver a truly unique hypercar and a world premiere that was a real ‘pinch yourself’ moment,” commented Lotus Advanced Performance Director Simon Lane.

Only eight examples of the all-electric two-seater are being hand-built at Hethel in Norfolk, UK. All of which, said Lotus, are already sold. Customer deliveries will begin early next year.

Photos from Lotus

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