Lotus is working with a renowned British music producer, inspired by the engine note of the iconic Type 49, to develop a range of sounds for the company’s all-electric Evija hypercar.

Patrick Patrikios, who has written and produced for Olly Murs, Sia, Britney Spears, Pixie Lott and numerous other world-famous stars, said: “We wanted to create a soundscape for the Evija that was recognisably and distinctively Lotus.

“I sat with the development team at Hethel and discussed what that should be. We wanted something intrinsically connected to Lotus so we could set an audio blueprint for its future electric cars.

“I loved the idea of using a famous Lotus as a starting point, and what better example than the Type 49 — one of the most iconic racing cars of all time. There is a purity to that V8, a raw edge and an emotion that stirs something in your soul, just like the best songs.”

The process began with the recording of a Type 49, which Mr Patrikios fed into his computer. In digitally manipulating the sound he and the Lotus team realised that slowing the engine note down created a similar frequency to the natural driving sound produced by the Evija’s all-electric drivetrain.

He added: “I adjusted the replay speeds and digital filtering of the Type 49 to generate a soundscape for the Evija; it was a very organic process. We all wanted something to spark an emotional connection between car and driver. Sound is hugely influential when it comes to creating and forming emotions, to enrich that bond that is such a critical part of the Lotus experience.”

The Lotus Type 49 won on its first Formula One (F1) outing, the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix, with Jim Clark at the wheel. Furthermore, a Type 49 was on pole position at every race for the rest of the season, and the following year Graham Hill won the F1 Drivers’ Championship in a Type 49. This was the first car to use the all-new Lotus-developed Cosworth-Ford DFV engine that would dominate the F1 grid for more than a decade.