The British brand Lotus has earned a high reputation for developing compact, lightweight, brutal sports cars and has spawned many enthusiasts through the years. Just recently, they showcased the most powerful electric supercar, the Evija and now, they are up for the launch of the Evora GT which will be replacing the Evora GT 400 and 410 models. It’s even lighter and faster.
EXTERIOR
It’s a tedious task for supercar makers to come out with revolutionary designs for their vehicles as the most indispensable aspect here, is to improve drivability. The new Evora GT is no exception to that. The design hasn’t been drastically evolved from the current Evora but it still continues to delight petrolheads. The curved trapezoidal headlamps are nicely integrated into the hood. There are a couple of carbon-fiber finished hood scoops to shave off weight. The bumper mainly constitutes gigantic air intakes which are necessary for its purpose.
The protruding fenders and the hunkered down stance lend it a sporty yet svelte appeal. The 19” forged aluminium wheels deserve a mention as they too contribute in shedding some weight. There are noticeable air vents near the doors and plastic cladding adds to its sportiness.
The car looks the most striking from the back with the rounded taillights and contrasting color theme. The bumper houses in a huge diffuser and a unique exhaust pipe mounted at the center.
INTERIOR
With performance being the motto, the interior is truly driver focused. Unlike other modern sports cars, the Evora GT is minimalistic and doesn’t have the drama of those. The entire dash and the seat contours come nicely covered in alcantara though Lotus might provide the option of opting for leather should need arise. The interior is barebones having analog dials for the instrument cluster and a 7” touchscreen infotainment system showing Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and navigation.
The rotund AC vents and the buttons for gear selector and traction control remind us of cars from older generations. Interestingly, Lotus might also offer a 2+2 seating version on the Evora GT.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The Lotus Evora GT makes 416 hp from its Toyota sourced supercharged 3.5 liter V6 making it the most vehement in the Evora series. We are likely to get a six speed automatic transmission though a manual might be in the pipeline. Lotus claims a torque figure of 450 Nm and a flat out 0-100 Km/h time of 3.8 seconds which means you would be driving at illicit speeds beyond your reckoning before you know about it. The Evora GT comes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The car also comes with 4 stability control modes- Drive, Sport, Race and Off which increases throttle response. The automatic weighs in at 1451 kg while the manual weighs 1440 kg.
Owing to immense use of carbon components on the rear bumper, rear wheel ducts, sill covers, etc. the Lotus Evora GT is a lightweight supercar. A carbon pack adds carbon fiber to the roof panel and tailgate. The titanium exhaust further reduces weight.
VERDICT
The Lotus Evora GT comes as a formidable alternative to the Porsche 911, Nissan GT-R and Jaguar F-type. While it might not be as solid looking or loaded with electricals as those, it has a raw feel to it which most supercars lack. It’s compact, fast and agile which means it probably has everything an enthusiast would adore willfully. Considering that it might be available with a manual transmission and a 2+2 seating configuration, it ticks all the boxes well and has the fortitude to give stiff competition to all its rivals.
