Lotus will take the wraps off a range-topping supercharged S variant of the Evora at the Paris motor show.
The Lotus Evora S, spied here on the first day of a three-day test at the Nurburgring, will be the most hardcore version of the Evora yet. A supercharger will be fitted to the base car’s Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine to boost power to in excess of 350bhp and produce more than 300lb ft of torque.
See the first spy pics of the Lotus Evora S
This should allow the Evora to achieve a 0-62mph time of comfortably less than 5.0sec and reach a top speed in excess of 175mph.
The fitting of a supercharger has been made possible in the Evora’s compact chassis due to clever packaging of the V6 engine, which was always designed with the later addition of a supercharger in mind.
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The Evora’s engine bay has been designed to accommodate its supercharger between the cylinder banks, so as not to obstruct rear-view mirror visibility (which is compromised in the supercharged Elise).
The braking and most of the cooling performance that the faster Evora requires has already been engineered into the standard car, which has shortened the faster model’s development time.
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Visual changes over the standard Evora appear minimal, apart from the addition of a large rear diffuser.
Lotus’s 10,000sq ft Paris show stand will also be the location for the launch of a torque-converter automatic version of the Evora, a model that will be popular with US customers. The rest of Lotus's Paris line up has yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to showcase three new models, including a new Esprit.
The automatic Lotus Evora is also being tested at the Nurburging this week and sales of both models are expected to start immediately after the Paris show. The price of the Evora S is expected to top £60,000.
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Re: Lotus Evora S - first pics
I really want Lotus to succeed, but it's very hard for a small manufacturer to compete on price and quality these days, especially as there are so many regulations to attend to. I disagree with posts about the Nissan V6; it's a hoary old lump that's overdue for replacement. Of course Lotus could crank more hp out of the Camry V6 but they don't have Nissan's economies of scale. As for the suggestion of a double clutch tranny, that would erode "involvement" which is a sportscars' reason for existence. I realize I am shouting against the wind but please keep the manual. And for goodness' sake don't give it a 370Z automatic throttle blipper; that's like having an inflatable love doll programmed to coo "God you are so fantastic" every 30 seconds (I freely confess I am not speaking from experience). Now that Lotus have announced they are abandoning the Chapman philosophy and moving upweight and upmarket, another beacon is going to burn out. Somebody buy the company! Branson?
Re: Lotus Evora S - first pics
something rather special.....
Yes, it's a very good point you make. To me the current Lotus cars are over priced for what they are. The new 1.6l Elise in particular, a newer slower version of the Elise! And yes, with the more simplistic look they have an air of kit car about them.
We all know about how well a Lotus handles; it's legendary. So what I'd like to see from Lotus is a better price for the entry Elise, and more power. The engine from the 190 Celica minimum. Follow this throughout the range, better pricing and more power (or same power and much better pricing).
Then we can start to talk about Lotus's future; a future that must move to a new bodyshell build material. Expectations from customers have increased even in the years since the Elise was brought out (who's interior was always simple, but really well built). The obvious comparison is with the Boxster, but it's undrivable for me as the dash gets in the way of the clutch; not a problem with the Elise. But the Boxster's interior is really quite impressive (currrent ones anyway, the older ones were very cheap and plastic). That's the level customers expect for a 50k car.
Lotus can do it, if they want to.
Re: Lotus Evora S - first pics