Lotus makes a family sports car

The Lotus Evora is the first all-new Lotus since the Elise roadster of 1996 (the coupe version called Exige joined the line-up in 2000) and the world's only production mid-engine 2+2.

"Evora is the biggest milestone Lotus has achieved since the Elise and is the start of our bold five year strategic business plan, which includes the introduction of three new cars and advanced new technologies to many more markets around the world," says Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc. "The Evora also represents Lotus core values of performance through light weight and efficiency, proving you can have performance, fuel economy, elegant design and practicality all in a class leading mid-engine 2+2 sports car, whilst also meeting all global safety and homologation standards"

Power comes from a Toyota 3.5-litre V6 (with Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing system) producing 276 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Lotus developed its own engine management system to optimize unique outputs. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual (also from Toyota). Pavement grip is entrusted to unique Yokohama LTS performance tires (225/40 ZR18 up front ; 255/35 ZR19 in rear). The combination of a 0.337 coefficient of drag and weight at just over 1300 kg, allows the car to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in under five seconds, with a claimed top speed of 261 km/h.

Because it aims to reach a different type of buyer from the almostracecar like Elise and Exige models, Evora features a more refined cabin with elegant trim and extensive equipment list with contemporary features such as touch screen multimedia centre, extensive connectivity for mobile phones and portable audio devices, and power mirrors.

Access to the interior is also reportedly easier than with the smaller sports cars, with wider, taller door openings, narrower sills and a higher seating position that will reportedly accommodate two 99 percentile males (six foot five).

Future derivatives of the car are planned including, among others, a convertible model. Just 2,000 Evoras are planned for annual production on a dedicated assembly line in Hethel, England.

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Fact file2010 Lotus Evora

MSRP:Est. $85,000 Freight:n/a

Notable options:Alpine mul timedia system; parking assists camera; cruise control; nav system; adjustable driving dynamics.

Lotus Evora Race Car and Evora Cup Series

Lotus Motorsport is launching a new race car and race series revolved around their in-production Lotus Evora. The Lotus Evora Cup race car, on sale for £120,000 excluding taxes, will use a new 395-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engine mated to a Cima six-speed paddle-shift sequential transmission.

Built to GT4 specs, the car qualifies to race in many events worldwide. Still, Lotus execs decided that a one-make race calendar would be a good way to showcase the car's abilities. The 2010 Evora Cup uses a system where five points will be awarded for showing up to a race, five points for a first-place finish, down to one point for a fifth-place end. Double points will be given at the Lotus Festivals in Donington Park, England, in October, and Vallelunga, Italy, in November. The winner of the series is the driver with the most points over six months. Over €100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.



The Evora race car weighs 200 kilos less than the production model, weighing in at 1200 kg. Lotus did not specifically state where the weight savings come from, mentioning that the production car already uses a lightweight aluminum chassis, but they did install a carbon fiber Dallara aerokit. To keep things under control, engineers chose six-piston front callipers and two-piece aluminum belled discs.

"The Evora Cup racing car is the first step along the route for Lotus Motorsport to realise its racing ambitions," says Lotus Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro. "I am looking forward to seeing the Evora racing this year in the Lotus Evora Cup competition and I am excited by the plans for 2011, where Lotus intends to introduce a pan European one make race series for the Evora Cup."

Painted in Epsom Green with a single Solar Yellow racing stripe down the middle, the Lotus Evora Race Car will be introduced to the public at Autosport International in Birmingham, England, today.

Lotus Evora 124 to Debut at 2010 Nurburgring 24-hour Race

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has been developed from the award-winning Evora road car and is built to FIA regulations and safety standards.

The Type 124 (pronounced One Twenty Four) Endurance Racecar is the next step in the evolution of the Evora. The car will make its 24 hour racing debut at the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours which provides a great test for the Evora’s performance, efficiency and durability under tough and demanding endurance race conditions.

At the heart of the Lotus Evora are fundamental racecar elements: mid-engine layout, high-tech and super-stiff extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and very strong lightweight forged aluminium wishbones. All these elements mean that it is a natural evolution from the road going Lotus Evora to a competitive endurance racecar.

From the outset the design team had intentions to take the Evora racing and the chassis was designed with this in mind. Endurance races are the perfect events to showcase the efficiency, handling and durability characteristics that have been fundamental to the concept of the Evora.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has a race-tuned version of the mid-mounted Toyota V6 engine, with power increased to over 400 ps (depending on race regulations). Vehicle mass is expected to be reduced by up to 200 kg, bringing the weight of the racecar to less than 1200 kg (depending on race regulations).



Further changes for the Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar include a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox, full FIA specification roll cage, FIA-compliant 120 litre ATL fuel system, FIA fire extinguisher system, competition carbon fibre rear wing, diffuser and front splitter.

The racecar is fitted with AP Racing 6 piston callipers front and rear, with a race-tuned Bosch ABS system, 4-way adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. The racecar runs on 18″ rims shod with Pirelli racing slicks and the wheels widths have been increased over the roadcar to 9 ½ J on the front and 11 J on the rear.

The aerodynamically efficient Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar body design, made from lightweight composite and carbon fibre panels, remains predominantly unchanged from the road car, with the only modifications being to the lower sections of the front and rear clamshells and the side sills.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, said, “Motorsport has been in our blood ever since our founder, Colin Chapman, built the first Lotus back in 1948. We are proud of our motorsport history, which includes victories in Formula One, Le Mans, saloon car, rally car and sportscar racing around the world; more recently, we won the British GT3 Championship in 2006 with the Lotus Exige. The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar is from the same unique stable and we expect it to be a competitive racecar when we enter various endurance races next year.”

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director for Group Lotus Plc said, “Every Lotus car is designed to be at home on the race track as well as the road, and the Evora is no different. Designed primarily as an everyday road car, the Evora’s lightweight and stiff structure, its aerodynamics and performance means that it is perfectly suited to taming race tracks around the world, and we are looking forward to seeing the new Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar line up on the grid for the 2010 season.”

The racecar is expected to compete in a number of endurance races in 2010/ 2011 forming part of a factory-supported race program. The races that are targeted are: The 2010 ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours (Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany) in May 2010, Merdeka Millennium 12 Hours (Sepang, Malaysia) in August 2010, BritCar 24 Hours (Silverstone, UK) in October 2010 and the Dubai 24 Hours (Dubai Autodrome, UAE) January 2011.

2010 Lotus Evora

Lotus has planned to release the Lotus Evora during 75th Melbourne Auto Show. Evora is powered by a Lotus-tuned all-alloy 3.5 litre (Toyota derived) V6, with variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust cams. Its 2+2 seating configuration includes child seat capability in the back, and the practicality carries through to a 160 litre boot to accommodate a full set of golf clubs.

Some others features are include to the car as well such as cruise control and parking sensors, top-end stereo and multi-media systems, satellite navigation, reversing camera and active noise cancellation, switchable suspension and upgraded brakes. As Lotus freely admits, Evora has been designed to be as much a luxury coupe as a high-performance sports car.