Now that the somewhat docile Moscow motor show is out of our minds, what everyone should be looking forward to is the epic design-fest that is the Paris Motor Show. While I’m definitely looking forward to Citroen’s usual insanity, there will be “normal” cars there, too. Take, for instance, these ‘Loti’.
The performance model is simply called the Lotus Evora S, and it doesn’t have nearly enough old-school Lotus graphics for my taste. However, what it lacks in vintage what-what, it makes up for with that big, curvy letter which signifies the car’s supercharged status. With the blower on top of its Toyota-sourced (i.e. fairly reliable) 3.5 liter V6, its puts down a very Esprit-esque 350-horses.
In what seems like a marketing blunder, or an attempt to piss off current Evora owners, Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says, “You don’t realise what you were missing from your driving experience until you get behind the wheel of the Evora S.” Glad I held onto original Evora deposit, otherwise I’d be looking like a real sucker.
Extra features on the new Evora S include that supercharger, a standard sport package (with a sport button that adjusts throttle response and engages the exhaust’s bypass valve), and a killer rear diffuser with a wide-mouth center-exhaust outlet. There’s also a heads-up display and cross-drilled rotors, but hey, that’s the kind of stuff one expects in a car like this anyway.
The other Lotus making its debut in Paris is the Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift). Let’s see how easily this one can be described: automatic Lotus. Done.
It packs 280 ponies and runs them through a 6-speed auto which has “Lotus-developed transmission control”, and then it’s also GOD I’M BORED ALREADY. It’s got sport mode and paddle shifters and meets every requirement out there for people – Lotus says Asia, the Middle East, and America – who want a sports car but would rather cruise around without actually needing to know what that mysterious third pedal is for.
By Phil Alex
_____________________________________________________________Evora S Technical SpecificationModel Evora SEngine – Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-IEmissions see below due to wheel optionsTransmission – 6 speed manualChassis – Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structureSteering – Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steeringSuspension – Forged aluminium double wishbone suspensionBilstein high performance gas dampersEibach coaxial coil springs
Performance dataStandard wheel optionFuel consumption – urban 14.5 l/100kmFuel consumption – extra urban 7.4 l/100kmFuel consumption – combined 10.0l/100kmCO2 Emissions 235 g/km19/20″ wheel optionFuel consumption – urban 14.6 I/100kmFuel consumption – extra urban 7.6 I/100kmFuel consumption – combined 10.2 I/100kmCO2 Emissions 239 g/kmMax power – 350 PS / 257.5 kW @ 7000 rpmMax torque – 400 Nm / 295 lb ft @ 4500 rpm0-60 mph – 4.6s0-100 km/h 4.8sMaximum speed – 172mphVehicle mass (unladen) – 1437kg
Evora IPS Option Technical SpecificationEngine – Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-IEmissions – 208 g/kmTransmission Electronically controlled 6 speed automaticChassis Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structureSteering Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steeringSuspension Forged aluminium double wishbone suspensionBilstein high performance gas dampersEibach coaxial coil springs
Performance data Fuel consumption – urban 12.6 l/100kmFuel consumption – extra urban 6.6 l/100kmFuel consumption – combined 8.8 l/100kmCO2 Emissions 208 g/kmMax power – 280 PS / 206 KW @ 6400rpmMax torque – 350 Nm / 258 lb ft @ 4700rpm0-60 mph – 5.3s0-100 km/h – 5.5sMaximum speed – 155mphVehicle mass (unladen) – 1436 kg