The most significant Lotus car to be launched in the last decade combines traditional sports car ride and handling with a large, practical platform encompassing a whole new drivetrain and chassis architecture.By Barry Green
Much awarded and lauded in the UK and Europe, the Lotus Evora enters the Australian market as the only mid-engined 2+2 sports car in production. The new arrival contrasts sharply with the more minimalist Elise, Exige and 2-Eleven models, being more of a daily driver than weekend track car come occasional driver.
Much attention has been paid to its ease of use. Wider, taller door apertures and narrower sills make getting in and out an easier undertaking, while the design of the cabin itself will accommodate two 99th percentile (6ft 5in tall/196cm) males in the front seats.
The ‘convenience factor’ of the Evora extends to less obvious areas. For instance, beneath the skin the entire front-end structure is a high tech aluminium sacrificial modular unit, attached to the main extruded aluminium tub. This modular unit is designed to deform for maximum safety, and to reduce repair costs in the event of a frontal impact.
Lotus cites a 0-100 km/h time of 5.1 seconds from the Toyota sourced all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre DOHC V6 which, with tweaking, produces 206 kW at 6400 rpm and maximum torque of 350 Nm at 4700 rpm.
Emission levels of 205 g/km and fuel economy of 8.7 litres/100 km (combined highway/urban cycle) are quoted.
The entry-level Evora 2+0 is priced at $149,990 (plus dealer and government charges), with the 2+2 coming in at $156,990. There’s a three-year 100,000km whole vehicle warranty.
