Coming this fall to the U.S., the Lotus Evora 400 made its official debut at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show.
The Evora 400 gets its name from the horsepower generated by its supercharged 3.5-liter V6, which also throws down 302 lb-ft of torque out of the back through a six-speed manual or auto. The figures are 55 horses and 7 lb-ft over the previous Evora thanks to a new supercharger and water-to-air intercooler, and a revised engine management system.
Zero to 60 is achieved in 4.1 seconds, with speed topping out at 186 mph. Braking is improved as well, while 19- and 20-inch wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Super Sports maintain contact with the road. The Evora 400 is also 1.4 inches longer than the original — coming in at 173 inches now — and weighs 49 lbs. less.
Europeans will get theirs this summer, while those in the U.S. will be able to take one home as a 2016 model in the fall. No price of admission was announced at this time.
If I could own any semi exotic car, it would be a lotus. I would even own one over a super or “hyper” car. I just love their cars and brand and would love to support them.
I agree. I think the new Evora 400 will be one of the most fun to drive cars under 100k.
AT only? The a used first gen Evora is on my “lost my mind and spent too much money on a toy” list.
I’m pretty sure it’s still supposed to have a 6MT as a choice
Absolutely. For the first couple of model years—if I remember correctly—an automatic was not even available on the Evora, and the take rate seems to be higher for the manual-transmissioned version.
2013 the automatic was first introduced as an option on the Evora S.
I really want Lotus to succeed and I know this is a make or break car for Lotus. The car is really a glorified refresh. I just wonder if it is enough. Ingress and egress from the prior Evora was horrendous. I’ve heard reports that the door sills have been narrowed to help address this issue. As well as improving the interior.
But the car faces far more competition this time around. There is the F Type and C7, the GT4, and probably a new TT RS as well. In addition to a very competitive market segment, there is a question of pricing and limited dealer network.
I’m rooting for Lotus, but I have my doubts
Actually Lotus had a good sales year, just not in the USA.
All I hear is that lotus is doing well. They are practically unmatched in driver experience from most cars on the road.
Lotus is not doing well, it is doing better. The company states that it is still about 2 years away from making a profit. Sales were up around 50% last year, but the company still sold less than 1600 cars world wide. The Evora 400 is a make or break car for Lotus.
This is still a company fighting for survival
I really want Lotus to succeed and I know this is a make or break car for Lotus. The car is really a glorified refresh. I just wonder if it is enough. Ingress and egress from the prior Evora was horrendous. I’ve heard reports that the door sills have been narrowed to help address this issue. As well as improving the interior. However, having “LOTUS” emblazoned just above the head unit is just tacky.
But the car faces far more competition this time around. There is the F Type and C7, the GT4, and probably a new TT RS as well. In addition to a very competitive market segment, there is a question of pricing and limited dealer network.
I’m rooting for Lotus, but I have my doubts
Competitors? C7, F-type, barely, but I certainly wouldn’t. Definitely not a TT RS or any Audi for that matter. More like an Alfa 4C and a Boxster/Cayman S. The GT4 doesn’t fit on your list. It’s in a whole different class from the rest of your competitors.
This is just the sport cars that inhabit the area between $50K and $100K, which is where the new Lotus is likely to fall. What i was trying to convey is that it is a fairly crowded field right now and Lotus will have to carve out a segment within the field. Not sure what the Evora will directly compete with, especially since we don’t have prices for the car. But the old Evora started around $75K, so we can probably assume that the new one is probably going to start around $80K. All the cars I mentioned fall or will probably fall into that price range.
What the Lotus will compete with largely depends on what you value. For example, I personally would never cross shop a 4C against the Lotus because the Evora is a FAR more practical car. But if all you car about is performance, I could see someone cross shopping these two cars.
On the other hand, I could see cross shopping it against a GT4. If you look at the Evora’s back seat as storage space more than passenger space, these cars are similar in terms of practicality and both probably offer a more focused driving experience that is lacking in the other sports cars in this segment. All depends on what you value and how you see the market.
I expect that most buyers in this class could care less about practicality.
I’ll give it to you. If you want to compare purely on price point, there are many competitors. I’m in the enthusiast crowd. For me this would be a third car and I have high expectations on what I receive from a driver’s experience and what might serve duty on the track. That narrows the scope considerably. To me the GT4 is the next level and compares better with a 911 GTS or an R8. I personally shopped a 4C launch edition and a Lotus in my top 3 for some time.
For me, the Lotus would be a second car. My expectations on the practicality front center on being able to accommodate a set of golf clubs someplace in the car other than the passenger seat. That excludes the 4C, but not the GT4 (assuming it has the same rear space as the other Caymans) or the Evora.
I would also cross shop the Lotus against used cars that fall in the $80 price range even though I suspect most people would not. For the out the door price of the Lotus, you could probably get a used GTS or R8.
We all look at this differently.
That’s the first time I’ve heard someone suggest that a Lotus was practical.
We are talking sports cars, the bar is not set that high! lol! The Evora has a rear trunk behind the motor AND a rear seat that is probably better suited for carrying packages than people. That is about a much space as you will see in this segment.
Never heard practical and lotus in the same sentence before either. :)
This car is looking a little 2000&late.
This makes it even more desirable.
What are parts/maint costs like on a newer Lotus? I see the Evora use a Toyota powertrain so its maintenance should be fairly inexpensive but the rest of the car I imagine is custom to Lotus?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Evora
“Practical” sports car: a sports car that can accommodate at least one golf bag (need not be a big bag like a cart bag) and/or enough luggage space for a weekend getaway for two (packing light)/light shopping trip. Given this definition (mine), the Lotus Evora qualifies while cars like the Elise or 4C would not.
Not asking for a lot of practicality, but enough so that I can do more than just drive the car!
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f3/golf-clubs-13320/ Clubs go for weekend drives all the time, even folks in the Seven have no problem.
The passenger seat does not count, otherwise all sports cars would be practical! lol!
The back seat is more like a luggage shelf than a place for actual, err, people-like things with moving limbs.
Ugh. I can’t get myself to like that body kit. For my semi-exotic I want a budget-Pininfarina look, not a Civic Type R.
The original Evora looked so much better.
Rear seats? Is this car a mid engine or rear engine? Maybe it competes with the Porsche Carrera, not the Cayman?
It is mid engine. The engine and transmission are basically Toyota transverse units, so it is MR much like an old MR2. The Cayman is MR with a longitudinal driveline.
Maybe incorporating Toyota’s hybrid technology as an option would increase sales.
I think we forget how small Lotus is. I was reading an interview with one of their execs on the Evora 400. Their fiscal year ends in April. For this past year, they expect to sell around 2000 cars. With the Evora 400, they expect to sell 3000 cars through next fiscal year. They also plan to expand their world wide dealer network to 200.
All their cars are hand built and they are hiring around 40 additional people to help ramp up production. If I recall correctly, he said that Lotus sold about 400 Evoras in the US last year.
Was reading an interview with the Lotus CEO. The new Evora will reach the US in Fall, 2015 as a 2016 model. Lotus hopes to sell 500 in the US and 700 once the roadster version is introduced.
The current Evora is not exactly flying off lots. Do people think Lotus has made enough changes to the Evora that Lotus can meet these goals???
Personally, I think they have tried to address many of the faults of the prior Evora, but the sticking point for me would be fit/finish and reliability. For what this car is likely to cost, this has to be addressed or the new model will sit on lots.
Has anyone else notice the distinctly different roll out of the Porsche GT4 and the Evora 400? Porsche announced the car with pricing, there were reviews of the car available and the car is sold out most markets. The Lotus? There is a range of pricing, no set prices in England and no pricing in the U.S. Reviews? None, just the claim that the car is 6 seconds faster around their track.
Put it all together and my guess is that Porsce announced a finished product at Geneva. The Lotus was still in final development at the time it was announced and Lotus is scrambling to get everything done in time to start shipping in August. Would not be surprised to see further delays.
Been reading comments on the pricing for the Evora. Most make comparisons to the GT4 which I think is mostly due to both cars being introduced at the same time. It is also completely wrong.
1) the Lotus will not compete with the GT4 because that car will be sold out in most markets long before the Evora is on sale
2). The Evora is a 2 plus 2 and the Cayman is a 2 seater. This car is aimed and priced to be competitive with the 911. I seriously doubt Lotus priced the car in competition with the GT4. The Evora would have to be priced under the GT4 to be competitive
3). The GT4 is a track focused car. The Evora is Lotus’ version of a GT car. The car have different foci.
None of this means that Lotus will have an easier time competing with the 911, but it is at least priced well under that car. The concerns about build quality, reliability and limited dealer network remain. The 911 is certainly the safer choice