First: New Lotus sports cars
Meanwhile, Lotus has announced details of its new range - the new sunrise. These are covered in fast-autos at Lotus_new_range. However, here are brief details and images of the Elan and 2015 Elise.
Lotus Elan
Available as either a two-seater or 2+2, like the Evora, the Elan brings up memories of the original lightweight two-seater sports car, copied by Mazda, and the Lotus front-wheel drive disaster of the 1980s. Still this is a great name, and naturally enough, this two-seater is mid-engined.
Powered by a 4.0 liter V-6, producing 440 bhp, and with the rev limiter set to 7,800 rpm, this will be a real flyer, claimed to be capable of getting to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. This is clearly the successor to the Evora, and will be around £75,000; that is going up-market.
A new seven-speed dual-clutch sequential automatic/manual transmission will be standard. In addition, a KERS hybrid energy storage system will be offered as an option on the Elan, and the weight is 2,850 lb (1,295 kg), which sound quite good. Thew car is expected to cost about $120,000 (£75,000).
Lotus Elise 2015
In 2015, the existing Elise range will be replaced by the new Elise, and no doubt in the meantime the Elise will get an overhaul to make it look more like its successor and go a bit up-market.
The new model will have a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine, pressure-charged to develop 315 bhp. This should be a true Lotus, weighing in at 2,410 lb (1,095 kg), and capable of hitting 60 mph in 4.32 seconds, and racing up to 167 mph (270 km/h). Note, no 155 mph (250 km/h) governors here. The entry level model of the new range will be about $60,000 (£35,000).
Lotus Evora S
Thanks to Lotus supercharging, the Evora S has a top speed of 172 mph, which is up 12 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, which would have rated a supercar rating a few years ago. So rapid is development these days that we still rate the Evora S as a sports car, and a very quick one at that.
Not the least reason for this is that Lotus has now given outline information about the new range, which will include some real supercars, and they will start coming on stream quite quickly. Find out more about Lotus supercars here.
The Lotus Evora has already won numerous awards for it superb handing and ride which is coupled with good performance, and the advantage of a 2+2 layout, which is unusual in a mid-engined car.
Supercharged V-6 to 345 bhp
Mechanically, the car is very similar to the Evora, but thanks to the use of Lotus' approach to supercharging, the power output is increased from 276 bhp at 6,400 rpm to 345 bhp at 7,000 rpm, while maximum torque is up from 252 lb ft (342 Nm) @4,700 rpm to 295 ( 400 Nm) at 4,500 rpm, an increase of 17 per cent, which will give the car plenty of mid-range acceleration. It also looks the part, with air intakes above the rear fenders, and a large diffuser at the back.
As with the supercharged engine in the Elise, the V-6 revs higher than the naturally aspirated version, which should give it the feel of a real sports car. It is coupled to a manual six-speed gearbox, in unit, and mounted with the engine across the frame as is the case with all the small Lotus models.
Standard on the Evora S is a sports pack, which is actuated by a button to raise the instantaneous rev limit and open a valve in the exhaust to make the exhaust note more sporty. In addition, the settings on the stability control are changed to suit more aggressive driving.
Overall a good addition to the Lotus range, with much better performance and no doubt a tauter feel. On the other hand, the weight has gone up to 3,163 lb (1,436 kg), almost as much as the all-steel Mercedes-Benz SLK 350, which has a heavy folding steel roof, (3,227 lb/1,465 kg), and more than the steel Porsche Cayman. I don't call that 'adding lightness', and it is to be hoped that this is not in the philosophy of the new management.
