Geneva 2011: Lotus Keeps its Evora Debuts Simple but Significant with Mansory in the Mix

After Lotus blew its proverbial head gaskets all over the Paris stage with a futuristic lineup consisting of a sedan and no less than four coupes, simplicity was the name of the game for the 2011 Geneva motor show. Lotus brought two special edition Evoras, a relatively low-key showing in stark contrast to its behavior in France last year.

Before you roll your eyes thinking, "Christ, another special edition blah blah blah," one of these two new Evoras is very different than another special edition Mustang or Bugatti.

The Mansory Evora comes from the union of two weight-conscious companies; Lotus prides itself on keeping its vehicles trim, while Mansory "provides valuable insights and an intuitive feeling for [high-end customisation]" while also offering "state-of-the-art carbon components".

Mansory's Lotus is dubbed the Lotus Bespoke Concept and is kind of a big deal because it establishes a relationship between a respected manufacturer and well-known tuner. You may recall Mansory from their various efforts tackling high-end vehicle customization. If all goes well, we just might be witnessing the next in-house tuner coming around.

Lotus calls the Mansory Evora an "Individualization Concept Car"; with it, the industry's resident featherweight hopes to develop its own "Exclusive" / "Individual" program for customer's seeking a coachbuilt feel. The other Evora isn't as significant consumer-wise as the Mansory model, but is important nonetheless.

The Evora Enduro GT concept is an evolution of the current Lotus Evora GT4 Endurance and will serve as the platform from which FIA and ACO GT2/GTE racers will be built. That means we'll likely see this at a variety of upcoming 24-hour enduros including the Nürburgring, Spa, and Silverstone.

By Phil Alex

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Geneva Preshow: Lotus Joins Forces with Mansory to Tune the Evora

Mastering the fine art of tuning is a complicated process and, judging by the sheer number of overkills one can see on the web every day, it’s clear that only a few have what it takes to do a good job. For Lotus that special someone is Swiss tuning firm Mansory, which is responsible for the creation of an Evora concept that will be presented at the Geneva show in the beginning of March.

The automaker released two pictures of the special version 2+2 sports coupe, while also stating this:

“Let’s be clear on this: contrary to media reports, what you’ll see in Geneva is NOT an Evora facelift. It’s a taste of the future of Lotus product customisation. Merely the first toe in the water and a showcase of the potential future.”

From what we can tell, the modified Evora features a new front bumper with bigger air intakes and inserts, which appear to be made out of carbon fiber. The same lightweight composite material seems to have been used for the side vents, mirror housings, side skirts, greenhouse, rear spoiler and oversized diffuser. The 10-spoke alloys with a glossy black finish are also new.

While we can’t say that the Evora is our favorite Lotus, overall the bodykit looks nice and it seems that the Brits are really on to something good here.

By Csaba Daradics

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Lotus Evora Tries Out Police Uniform in the UK

Lotus has loaned a brand new Evora to the boys in blue at the Central Motorway Police Group (CPMG). The police-liveried version of the British sports car was officially revealed at this week's Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC. Once its show duties are over, the sports car maker will hand the keys of the Evora to West Midland's police officers who will then trial the car for a two week test period.

Gino Rosato, Director of Corporate Operations at Lotus comments: ‘Lotus is proud to take part in this and similar initiatives to help create a safer road culture for our customers and other road users. We believe that you do not have to compromise fun for speed and to that effect we build sportscars that are fun to drive within legal limits! We will be working with Officers from CMPG to teach them how to get the best from the Lotus Evora at our test track to ensure that any high-speed activity is as safe and effective as possible.”

PC Steven Rounds from, CMPG said: “The Lotus is a visually stunning machine which offers us the opportunity to engage with the public, reinforce and promote the life-saving messages of road safety.”

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Lotus reveals Supercharged Evora S with 350HP and clutchless Evora IPS before Paris

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 Specification

Model Evora S
Engine - Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I
Emissions see below due to wheel options
Transmission - 6 speed manual
Chassis - Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure
Steering - Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension - Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension
Bilstein high performance gas dampers
Eibach coaxial coil springs

Performance data

Standard wheel option
Fuel consumption - urban 14.5 l/100km
Fuel consumption – extra urban 7.4 l/100km
Fuel consumption - combined 10.0l/100km
CO2 Emissions 235 g/km

19/20" wheel option
Fuel consumption - urban 14.6 I/100km
Fuel consumption – extra urban 7.6 I/100km
Fuel consumption - combined 10.2 I/100km
CO2 Emissions 239 g/km

Max power - 350 PS / 257.5 kW @ 7000 rpm
Max torque - 400 Nm / 295 lb ft @ 4500 rpm
0-60 mph - 4.6s
0-100 km/h 4.8s
Maximum speed - 172mph
Vehicle mass (unladen) - 1437kg

Evora IPS Option Technical Specification

Engine - Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I
Emissions - 208 g/km
Transmission Electronically controlled 6 speed automatic
Chassis Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure
Steering Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension
Bilstein high performance gas dampers
Eibach coaxial coil springs

Performance data

Fuel consumption - urban 12.6 l/100km
Fuel consumption – extra urban 6.6 l/100km
Fuel consumption - combined 8.8 l/100km
CO2 Emissions 208 g/km

Max power - 280 PS / 206 KW @ 6400rpm
Max torque - 350 Nm / 258 lb ft @ 4700rpm
0-60 mph - 5.3s
0-100 km/h - 5.5s
Maximum speed - 155mph
Vehicle mass (unladen) - 1436 kg

Lotus Cutting Prices from $10,000 to $18,500 in Australia

Following the Australian government's move to reduce import duties earlier this year, Lotus Cars of Australia has announced significant price reductions across the model range, with savings of up to $18,500.

Lotus Cars Australia Managing Director John Startari explains: "The government's import duty reduction at the start of 2010 has offered some assistance, whilst favorable foreign exchange rates have been a further catalyst to these announced price changes."

The British automaker's range starts with the facelifted 2011 Elise, formerly known as the Elise S, that's priced from AU$69,990. The 2011 model year Elise R and SC as well as the Exige S and Cup 260, all see a AU$10,000 base vehicle price reduction, while the 2-Eleven, an AU$18,500 drop.

The Evora flagship sportscar is also reduced by $10,000, in both 2+0 and 2+2 versions, and now starts from AU$139,000.

Furthermore, Lotus' Australian arm has also announced adjustments to retail pricing for all Option packs, stand-alone Options and Metallic, Lifestyle and Premium paint throughout the Lotus Elise and Evora platform.

First Lotus Evora Delivered in the United States

The man you see pictured above is Bruce Rice, or in Lotus' books, the first North American customer to receive the keys to the firm's new mid-engined Evora sports coupe. Rice took delivery of the red-colored Evora earlier this week at John Eagle European's Lotus of Austin dealership in Texas.

In the States, the 2+2 seater Evora is priced from $73,500. It features a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 producing 276 horsepower that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

Tipping the scales at just over 3,000 pounds, the Evora goes from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 162mph (260km/h) while delivering over 30 mpg on the highway.

James Bond Style Lotus Evora Captured Filming in the Alps

Courtesy of Carscoop reader Allison P. coming straight out of my home town are these pictures of a probably-rocket-equipped Lotus Evora captured during a ski trip in Chamonix in the French Alps.

Here's what Allison had to tell us about her encounter with the Evora and the film crew:

"I'm just on a skiing holiday now in Chamonix in the French Alps and have seen loads of commotion around a film set. I watched an action stunt scene being filmed with tons of crews and papparazzi swarming! I especially noticed a flashy new Lotus Evora being used in the filming. Is there any way that this could be for the new James Bond film?"

Well, there are three possibilities as to what this ski-bearing tastefully-trimmed Lotus Evora is doing in the Alps: 1) it's the new 007 Bond car, 2) it's a Bond-themed Lotus ad campaign, or 3) some dude (or hopefully super-fine Geneva model...call me!) with a ton of cash just really likes attention.

Any thoughts?

- By Phil Alex / Thanks for the pics Allison!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid Debuts at the Geneva Motor Show

[Updated with New Photos] Lotus is officially throwing its hat into the "hybrid sports car" ring. Hot on the heels of Porsche, the British featherweight world champion is going to be debuting its own plug-in racer based on the Evora's Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) platform, the Evora 414E. In their own words, they consider it a "high performance technology demonstrator". Sounds cool.

The purpose of this 414-horsepower hybrid is to showcase the latest in Lotus hybrid tech, something the 414E does in spades. First off, those 414 horses come from two electric motors powering each rear wheel (at 207 PS / 204 hp each).

Next, the torque: 295 lb-ft. Per wheel. Each motor sends torque through its own single-speed transission (the two are combined in one housing), while the power is stored in the only place Lotus would ever store a battery pack: dead center in the car, for balance's sake. Now you can see that Lotus is serious. But how is it a hybrid?

On pure electricity, the car will zoom around for 35 miles, and that's just plain no fun. After those 35 miles, the Lotus Range Extender engine kicks in (if you're thinking Volt, you're spot on) offering a total driving range of 300 miles or 480 kilometers.

An 85-kilo 1.2 liter 3-cylinder that puts out 48 PS (47hp / 35 kW), its only purpose is to charge the motors (meaning it never directly drives the vehicle). When the batteries need to be charged, it'll be an overnight process.

As for performance, Lotus claims that the Evora 414E Hybrid can sprint from standstill to 60mph (96km/h) in less than 4.0 seconds.

The best part: all that tech isn't just the power/drive train. There's so much more cool stuff. For the car's look, Lotus Design has put together a unique copper-tinted paint scheme to evoke the idea of "electrical systems". Neat, but how does it feel different than a Lotus-derived Tesla? Glad you asked.

First, there's the previously-mentioned one-speed transmission. A computer system synthesizes the feeling of driving a pseudo-manual transmission; to the driver, it's going to feel like driving a paddle-shifted seven-speed DCT.

Then there's a system called HALOsonic (co-developed with Harman International) which supposedly simulates the sound of various engines (V6, V12, "futuristic", etc.) to the driver and people outside the car.

The Lotus Evora 414E: a hybrid sports car that offers people to adjust how it sounds and feels. An automotive mood ring. The way of the future? Who knows...

- By Phil Alex