Lotus Evora


The Lotus Evora is a sports car produced by British car manufacturer Lotus. The car, which was developed under the project name Project Eagle, was launched as the Evora on 22 July 2008 at the British International Motor Show. The Evora S was launched in 2010 with a supercharged 3.5-litre V6. A facelifted and more powerful Evora 400 model was unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, followed by a more powerful variant, the Evora GT430 which was unveiled in 2017.
The Lotus Evora is based on the first all-new vehicle platform from Lotus Cars since the introduction of the Lotus Elise in 1995. The Evora was planned to be the first vehicle of three to be built on the same platform, The sales target was 2,000 cars per year, with prices between £45,000 and just over £50,000, and sales in America scheduled from the beginning of 2010.

Overview

The Evora is the first product of a five-year plan started in 2006 to expand the Lotus line-up beyond its current track-specialized offerings, with the aim of being more of a practical road car that would appeal to the mainstream market. As such it is a larger car than recent Elise models and its derivatives, with an unladen weight of, with the automatic version weighing in at. It is currently the only Lotus model with a 2+2 configuration, although it has been announced that it will also be offered in a two-seater configuration, referred to as the "Plus Zero" option. The Evora, along with the BMW i8, are the only 2+2 mid-engine coupés on sale. This, however is the only one out of the two cars that has no hybrid system. The interior is larger to allow taller persons to fit, such as the then Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley, and two 6'5" tall people.
The cooled boot behind the engine is large enough to fit a set of golf clubs, although Lotus Design Head Russell Carr denies that this was intentional. Lotus intends the Evora to compete with different market sectors including the Porsche 911.

Nomenclature

The name "Evora" keeps the Lotus tradition of beginning model names with an "E". The name is derived from the words Evolution, VOgue, and auRA. Other names considered were Eagle, Exira and Ethos; Exira was rejected as it was considered not good enough and the other two because it would be difficult for Lotus to claim them as a trademark. The name "Evora" sounds similar to Évora, which is the name of a Portuguese city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Portugal.

Specifications

The Evora is equipped with a mid-mounted, transverse, Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre 24-valve 2GR V6 engine. The Evora S uses the same engine but with a supercharger. Both versions are available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with "Intelligent Precision Shift" manufactured by Aisin. The Evora has a drag coefficient of. The Evora is constructed on a lightweight aluminum tub with an additional front crash structure also made from aluminum, along with a steel rear sub-frame which houses the drivetrain. The chassis was designed to utilize bespoke 6000 series alloy extrusions which are then bonded with an epoxy based adhesive, and subsequently riveted together in order to increase torsional rigidity. The Evora also utlises forged aluminium double wishbone suspension with Bilstein high-performance gas dampers and Eibach coaxial coil springs. A hydraulically assisted power steering is used for increased maneuverability.

Models

Evora S

In 2010, Lotus unveiled a high performance variant of the Evora called the Evora S. The "S" in the name stood for "Supercharged". The car had the same standard design but was more powerful, now rated at and of torque due to a new supercharger manufactured by Harrop. The exhaust of the car was also replaced with a single-tubed exhaust system. The suspension's dampers were re-calibrated to suit the vehicle's new suspension characteristics. The steering also received re-calibration.
The car was able to accelerate from 0- in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of.
Lotus ceased production of the S in 2014 and later replaced it and the standard Evora with a new variant called the Evora 400 in 2015.
The Romanian Police have a Lotus Evora S in their line-up as of 2012.

Evora 400

The Evora 400 is a new variant that replaces the Evora and the Evora S. The "400" in the name is a reference to the vehicle's horsepower rating. The improved engine output of and of torque is due to an intercooled supercharger developed by Edelbrock. The Evora 400 has an all-new body kit design, which helps produce an extra of downforce. The exhaust has a new driver-activated system which allows the driver to increase the roar of the exhaust. The interior was slightly revised, notably with narrower sills for simplified entry and exit, a new dashboard design and centre console design. The wheel set was also different, now having new forged wheels as an option. The wing was changed to a split rear wing. The car has a total weight of.
Acceleration from 0+ is at 4.1 seconds, 0.5 seconds faster than the S variant. The 400 can attain a top speed of.

Evora Sport 410

At the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, Lotus unveiled the Evora Sport 410, a slightly enhanced version of the 400. The car's 3.5-liter Toyota-derived V6 received a power increase by, for a total of. The torque was also improved at.
The exterior received no modifications but weight was reduced to.
The performance figures were improved with the 0- acceleration time now at 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of. However, if the IPS automatic transmission system is used, top speed is reduced to.

Evora GT430

In 2017, Lotus unveiled the most powerful variant of the Evora and in turn the fastest road legal Lotus ever made, the Evora GT430. It is the part of an entirely new range in the Evora family, called the performance range. The car's 3.5 liter Toyota-derived V6 has an increased power output of due to an Edelbrock supercharger and a titanium exhaust system. The torque figures were also improved at for manual transmission cars and for cars with automatic transmission due to launch control and fast gear change ratios. This version is also the lightest and weighs for manual transmission cars and for automatic transmission cars. The cars with automatic transmission weigh more due to the added weight of the gear box and its cooling system. Top speed also varies for manual and automatic cars due to added weight and gearbox differences and are rated at for automatic cars and for manual transmission cars. Due to the increased torque the automatic transmission cars are a little bit quicker than the manual transmission cars having a 0- acceleration time of 3.6 seconds and 3.7 seconds respectively. It also generates more downforce than its previous variants. Only 60 units of the Evora GT430 will be produced. Exterior wise, the car has a new and aggressive body kit that features a bigger carbon fibre rear wing, bigger air intakes, forged aluminum wheels, polycarbonate lights and carbon fibre bodywork in order to keep the weight low. The interior is also stripped down in order to save weight and removes the rear seats along with the addition of carbon fiber components and racing seats, it also features a plaque signifying the car's production number. The creature comforts are retained with air-conditioning included as standard.

Evora GT430 and GT410 Sport

Later in 2017, Lotus unveiled another variant of the Evora GT430 called the Evora GT430 sport. It features a more aero dynamic body and removes the GT430s rear wing for smoother airflow and to reduce drag. This helps increase the top speed to with the automatic version having a top speed of due to added gearbox weight. The GT430 is also lighter than the Evora 400 and weighs for the automatic version and for the manual version.
To celebrate its 70th anniversary Lotus unveiled the new Evora GT410 Sport. Available as a two-seater or 2+2 the GT410 Sport takes the GT430's basic shape and adds new composite front and rear body panels minus some of the 430's higher downforce pieces for a more-subtle shape. The revised front panel has bigger carbon fibre air ducts, the idea being to more-efficiently move air around the front wheels, cutting turbulence and drag. Deeper front and rear splitters and carbon ducts behind the rear wheels add downforce. In total downforce increases by 211 pounds. Other carbon pieces include the front access panel, roof panel and rear decklid. The car is powered by the same engine powering the rest of the Evora lineup, rated at and of torque, allowing for a 0-to-60 mph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds with the manual and four seconds with the six-speed automatic. The car weighs, less than the 410.

Evora GT

In June 2019, for the 2020 model year, Lotus introduced the Evora GT for the North American market only. This car has a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 like the rest of the line up, but is rated at and for the manual and for the automatic; the manual gets a standard Torsen rear differential. Regardless of transmission choice the 0- acceleration time is estimated at 3.8 seconds. Top speed is different between the two with the automatic capable of and the manual having a top speed of. It uses some of the same aero bits from the Evora GT410 sport which helps it produce of downforce at maximum speed. This variant of the Evora weighs between and depending on which options are selected. The optional Carbon Pack includes a carbon fiber roof, rear tailgate, and front access panel which reduces weight by. The optional titanium exhaust reduces weight further by. Choosing the manual transmission over the automatic saves an additional.
ModelPowerTorqueEmissions
Top speedAcceleration
0–60 mph 		Economy
Evora at 6,400 rpm at 4,600 rpm217 g/km4.8 seconds
Evora IPS at 6,400 rpm at 4,600 rpm210 g/km5.0 seconds
Evora S at 7,000 rpm at 4,500 rpm229 g/km4.4 seconds
Evora S IPS at 7,000 rpm at 4,500 rpm224 g/km4.5 seconds
Evora 400 at 7,000 rpm at 3,500 rpm225 g/km4.1 seconds
Evora 400 IPS at 7,000 rpm at 3,500 rpm230 g/km4.1 seconds
Evora Sport 410 at 7,000 rpm at 3,500 rpm225 g/km4.2 seconds
Evora Sport 410 IPS at 7,000 rpm at 3,500 rpm230 g/km4.1 seconds
Evora GT410 Sport at 7,000 rpm at 4,500 rpm234 g/km3.9 seconds
Evora GT410 Sport IPS at 7,000 rpm at 4,500 rpm234 g/km4.0 secs
Evora GT274 g/km3.8 seconds
Evora GT430 Sport at 7,000 rpm at 4,500 rpm234 g/km3.7 seconds
Evora GT430 Sport IPS at 7,000 rpm at 4,500 rpm234 g/km3.6 seconds

Special editions

Evora 414E Hybrid

In 2012, Lotus produced a prototype hybrid Evora, called 414E. Developed as a demonstration project for the UK Government's Technology Strategy Board, the range-extended electric coupe emits 55 g/km and has an electric only driving range of 30 miles. When combined with the 3-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine acting as a generator, the 414E has a range of 300 miles. The 414E formed the basis of the Infiniti Emerg-e concept car.

Evora S Carabinieri

In July 2011, Lotus Cars donated two Evora S models with special equipment to the Carabinieri, the Italian gendarmerie. Lotus will take care of the maintenance of the cars and the training for the drivers.

Evora GTE Road Car

The Evora GTE road version is a variant of the Evora that was built to permit its racing variant to be able to race under GT3 and LM GTE regulations. There were only 25 of these special editions built. The road car uses the race car's engine, and produces, making it the most powerful Lotus ever made. The weight of the car has been lowered drastically, and is now at.

Motorsport

LM GTE

During the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Lotus announced the Evora Enduro GT concept, as a follow up to the Type 124 and GT4 race cars. Lotus is aiming for this car to enter into the LM GTE category by mid-2011, with a Toyota-supplied V8.
Lotus entered two Evoras at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, which were run by the Jetalliance Racing team. Despite overheating issues during practice and qualifying, car No. 65 finished 22nd overall, completing 295 laps, whilst car No. 64 retired after 126 laps.
In 2012, Jetalliance Racing failed to negotiate a deal to run the cars in Europe; instead, Alex Job Racing chose to run a LM GTE in the American Le Mans Series. Alex Job Racing did not get a good outcome from this however, and the car was later replaced by a Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 as the main race car for the team.

Group GT4

won the Nürburgring round of the 2010 GT4 European Cup season. A team including Johnny Mowlem, Stefano D'Aste and Gianni Giudici finished on the podium in the 2011 Dubai 24 Hour endurance race.
In 2011, Stefano D'Aste was the first Italian driver after Mario Andretti to win on Circuit Park Zandvoort with an official Lotus car and the car was the Evora GT4. D'Aste was in first position of the GT4 European Series till the last race but due to a problem that occurred to the engine he got a third position in the series, which was still good, considering that it was the first year that the official Lotus Evora GT4 took part to a full season competing with cars like the BMW M3, Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, and the Chevrolet Camaro; cars that are much more competitive than the Evora. The car proved capable of keeping up with these cars.
In 2012, Richard Adams, David Green and Martin Byford won the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship in a Lotus Evora GT4.

GT300

Mooncraft runs a Lotus Evora in the GT300 class of the Japanese Super GT series. However, the car isn't really an Evora but rather a silhouette racer using on the Dome-GTA M101 "Mother Chassis" with Evora lookalike bodywork and some Evora bits. As with all current Mother Chassis cars, it's powered by the Nissan VK45DE naturally aspirated V8.

Reception

The Evora received several accolades at its launch from the British motoring press, including: Britain's Best Driver's Car 2009 from Autocar and Car of the Year 2009, from Evo.
The car was reviewed by Jeremy Clarkson on the television show Top Gear. Overall his review was positive: he was very happy with the performance, handling and comfort. He was extremely impressed with the ride comfort even after driving it into a field saying "Here, the suspension is taking the knocks, not me." and described the car as "the only car I've ever driven, ever, which is a killer attack dog and an old sofa". However, he considered the rear seats to have not enough legroom, the interior felt tinny and the satellite navigation was sub-optimal.