The first all new Lotus since the Elise Roadster made its debut in 1995, the Evora enters the sports car market at the world’s only mid-engined 2+2 in production. Despite tipping the scales at 3,047 lb, over 1000 lb more than the Lotus Exige, the US spec Evora will hit 162 MPH and accelerate to 60 MPH in 4.9 seconds. Powering the mid-engined roadster is a 3.5 liter Lotus-tuned Toyota V6, producing 276 HP. To make things even more exciting, Lotus recently confirmed rumors of a 400 HP supercharged Evora convertible, expected to hit showrooms in 2011.

According to Lotus, the Evora is designed for people who desire exotic sports car characteristics, yet offers more real-world usability than the Elise, Europa, and Exige models. Its wider, taller, leather-trimmed cabin will feature contemporary features such as an advanced touch screen multimedia system and electric power door fold mirrors. Despite its more conventional approach, the Evora will continue to represent Lotus’ core values of performance through light weight and efficiency. The hand-built chassis will feature an extruded and bonded aluminum cabin attached to an extruded aluminum subframe at the front, and a lightweight welded steel subframe at the rear. This will all be covered by high-tech composite body panels, and a composite roof acting as a stressed structural member to provide exceptional vehicle stiffness.

To complement the high tech 440 lb chassis, Lotus engineers have developed a completely new suspension for the Evora. A much stiffer forged aluminum double wishbone suspension will replace its steel counterpart in the Exige and Elise. To bring the car to a stop, Lotus AP four-pot calipers matched with massive cross-drilled vented discs will ensure impressive stopping power.

Future of Lotus:

The release of the Lotus Evora is the first model in Lotus’ new strategic business plan to attract a wider range of customers. According to Mike Kimberly, CEO of Group Lotus, their five year plan “includes the introduction of three new cars and advanced new technologies to more markets around the world.” Kimberly continues, “Looking to the future, we will continue to research, develop and produce lighter, more efficient vehicles which are linked to our extensive and well-regarded work on all aspects of future fuels, alternative engines and electric and hybrid vehicle propulsion system solutions.”

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