Want to reduce your carbon footprint on the road? Invest in a luxury electric sports car or a hybrid sports car and take a drive in a super car that offers eco friendly speed and style.
Lotus Evija
The sleek Evija is a striking two-door sports coupé developed by English manufacturer Lotus in partnership with F1 expert Williams Advanced Engineering. Powered by four electric motors to produce a combined 1,970 horsepower, the Evija will be able to accelerate from zero to 100km/h in less than three seconds. Lotus also claims the Evija will be the most powerful car to enter production, that it will have a range of 400 kilometres and a top speed of more than 320km/h.
It will also be the most expensive Lotus ever made – with a projected price tag of £2.04 million. As such, the “buying experience” will need to be somewhat special. Lotus recently announced that Evija customers will be able to configure their bespoke dream machine using a touchscreen configurator adapted specifically for the task using gaming software. It enables a virtual car to be looked at from all conceivable angles and allows a future owner to personalise every aspect of its finish, from the colour of the paint to the interior trim, the tint of the glass to the style of the wheels – they can even see how their car will look when placed in different environments around the world using a “ray tracing” technique that mimics sunlight levels. Customers can also look forward to gifts landing on their doormats “at regular intervals”, each reflecting the car’s “exclusive and technical nature” and the key hand-over will include the presentation of a hand-crafted “build book” filled with images of production milestones.
Maserati Ghibli Hybrid
The recently unveiled Ghibli Hybrid is the first electric car to be produced by Maserati, and will be available for European customers to buy from September 2020 onwards.
The eco-friendly Maserati will be able to reach a top speed of just under 160 miles per hour, powered by a four cylinder, 2 litre petrol engine that works together with a 48 volt mild hybrid system to reduce emissions. The smart system is designed to collect energy when breaking or decelerating that will charge the battery, supplying additional power to the engine in order to reduce fuel consumption. This Ghibli Hybrid will also offer a range of futuristic connectivity amenities, including built-in, real-time navigation for journey planning, a new touchscreen multimedia setup and automated health-checking system, as well as additional safety and security features. There’s also a hands-free control option when connecting with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant systems.
Tesla Roadster
The marque credited with sparking the electric supercar revolution first announced that it would be releasing a second edition of its very first car, the Roadster, back in November 2017 alongside the unveiling of its new more mass market Model 3. The revamped model for 2020 boasts some hugely impressive statistics including hitting 0-60mph in just 1.9 seconds, which is 0.4 seconds faster than the current fastest Tesla and 0.3 seconds faster than the Porsche 918 Spyder - at present the fastest hybrid on the market.
These speeds come thanks to a three-motor system, one in the front and two in the rear, which can propel the Roadster to a top speed of 250mph while a 200kWh battery allows a drive distance of up to 630 miles between charges. Reservations are now being taken for the roadster, which start from $200,000.
Jaguar E-Type Zero
Possibly the most stylish electric supercar around, in September 2017 Jaguar announced it would be converting its classic E-Types into fully electric vehicles with a view to 'future proofing' this design classic. Unlike many modern battery-powered cars, however, the E-Type features a front engine/rear drive configuration which Jaguar says helps maintain the feel of driving its petrol-powered parent which has been an enthusiasts favourite since its launch in 1968.
Weighing in at 46kg less than its predecessor, the E-Type Zero is capable of producing the electric equivalent of around 295bhp translating to an acceleration of 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds with a single charge range of 170 miles. While still in its prototype stage no price information for the E-Type Zero has been released, however, Jaguar's first modern electric car, the I-PACE, is due to go on sale in early 2018 with a price tag of £55,000.
Porsche Mission E
Pegging its electric design as ‘the sports car of the future’, Porsche’s Mission E remains at the concept stage for now but, when it becomes reality, promises all the performance and luxury you would expect of this famous marque. With four seats, four doors and two luggage compartments, the Mission E will have a top speed in excess of 250km/h, a range of over 300 miles on a single charge and will charge to 80% in less than 15 minutes. Plus with 600 horsepower providing acceleration of 0-100km/h in less than 3.5 seconds it won’t be second fiddle to its petrol counterparts.
Renault Trezor
Powered by the same batteries and motor as the cars driven by Renault’s championship winning Formula E team, the Trezor boasts 350 horsepower and torque of 380 Nm. It also uses an innovative Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) which helps it recover energy while braking thus extending its range. Its 100% carbon convertible body features beautiful curved lines, a wide wheel base, low centre of gravity and neutral, sport and self-drive modes to really help you get the most out of this ground-breaking electric sports car.
Ferrari LaFerrari
Available to buy now for 449 lucky clients, the limited edition LaFerrari combines a 6,262cc V12 engine with a 120 kW battery to produce one of the most powerful hybrid cars on the market. With a maximum speed in excess of 350 km/h and acceleration of 0-200km/h in less than seven seconds, the hybrid engine has a CO2 emission of around 340g/km (compared to an average of 495g/km in standard Ferrari models). Get yours for £1,150,000.
NIO EP9
The NIO EP9 concept car is futuristic and fast. When tested on Germany’s benchmark Nordschleife circuit at the Nürburgring, it scorched around all 12.5 miles of it in six minutes 45 seconds and established a lap record for a non-series production car. And, in hypercar terms, that represents a very real credential indeed.
Powered by two batteries and four electric motors, the EP9 can be “set” to produce an eye-watering one megawatt of power, the equivalent to 1,341hp – one third more than the original Bugatti Veyron. It has a top speed of 194mph and accelerates from standstill to 124mph in just 7.1 seconds. The car is currently not road legal, but a batch of 10 is being built, priced at $1.48 million.
The EP9 is helping to extend the already giant leaps being made in the field of electric power. Founded in Shanghai in 2014, NIO now employs 2,000 people around the world and is working on its first autonomous vehicles, which are expected to hit the market by the end of 2020.
BMW i8
Receiving five-star reviews across the board when it was unveiled in 2014, the BMW i8 combines all the thrill and good looks of a traditional supercar without the expensive running costs and harmful emissions. Its full consumption and CO2 emissions are an astonishing 134.5mpg and 49g/km respectively while the top speed remains a very respectable 250km/h. With a price tag of slightly over £100,000 this could be the ideal car for those looking to get in to electric.
Lamborghini Asterion
Designed for racing enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike, the Lamborghini Asterion utilises Plug-In Hybrid technology meaning it can work completely under electric power in urban environments but can also be combined with a traditional combustion engine for a more thrilling ride. Thanks to a lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium body its CO2 emissions are just 98g/km while its top speed is an impressive 320km/h (125km/h in pure electric mode) meaning it looks and feels every bit as special as its traditional predecessors.
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