Lotus Emeya Sets Fastest EV Lap At Sepang, Beating Previous Benchmark By More Than Seven Seconds
The Lotus Emeya R has recorded what the company says is the fastest publicly reported electric vehicle lap at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), completing the 5.543km Grand Prix circuit in 2:20.317.
The lap is 7.473 seconds quicker than the previous publicly reported EV benchmark recorded earlier in 2026, making it the fastest published electric vehicle lap time at Malaysia’s premier racing circuit.
More notably, this feat was achieved using a standard production-specification Emeya R, demonstrating the capabilities of the showroom model without race-specific modifications.
Malaysia Hosts Lotus’ First Electric Time Attack In Southeast Asia
The Time Attack programme marked Lotus’ second official event at Sepang and its first all-electric Time Attack programme in Southeast Asia. Malaysia was selected to host the event as one of the brand’s key markets in the region.
The record attempt was led by a Lotus Group Vehicle Dynamics Engineer, with GT racing driver Daniel Lu piloting the car around the circuit.
Sepang’s combination of long straights, fast sweeping corners and heavy braking zones makes it one of Asia’s most demanding circuits, testing not only outright power but also chassis balance, braking performance, aerodynamics and steering precision.
Built For The Track, And Ready For The Road
Powering the flagship Emeya R is a dual-motor electric powertrain producing 905PS and 985Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint in 2.8 seconds.
During the record lap, the Hyper-GT reached a top speed of 248.8km/h.
Lotus attributes much of the car’s performance to its advanced chassis tuning, active aerodynamics and unique “porosity” aerodynamic philosophy, which directs airflow through, under and around the vehicle to improve stability, efficiency and downforce. The concept was first introduced on the Evija hypercar before being adapted for the Emeya.
Continuing Lotus’ Sepang Legacy
The achievement builds on Lotus’ previous success at Sepang. In 2025, the Lotus Emira recorded a lap time of 2:27.932 with Malaysian motorsport icon Tengku Djan Ley behind the wheel.
According to Lotus, the latest result demonstrates that the brand’s traditional focus on ride, handling and driver engagement has successfully transitioned into the electric era.
“At Lotus, the track has always been the ultimate proving ground. Every Lotus is engineered around one purpose – For The Drivers,” said Chong Yok Meng, Senior Director for Chassis and Vehicle Dynamics at Lotus.
“The Emeya carries that same philosophy into the electric era. It has been developed with the same DNA that has defined Lotus for more than 75 years. This record is more than a lap time—it validates our engineering philosophy and proves that electrification enhances, rather than compromises, the Lotus driving experience.”
CarTok Editor’s Note
A seven-second improvement around Sepang is significant by any measure, especially on a full Grand Prix circuit where gains are usually measured in tenths rather than whole seconds. While Lotus rightly qualifies the achievement as the fastest publicly reported EV lap, it also highlights how rapidly high-performance electric vehicles are advancing — not just in straight-line acceleration, but in sustained circuit performance.
