Two new Evora variants with more power and drivability.
Since its debut, the Lotus Evora has stormed onto the world sportscar stage and taken home numerous awards such as Evo Magazine’s 2009 Car of the Year, Top Gear’s 2009 Sports Car of the Year, and Car Magazine’s 2009 Performance Car of the Year. The mid-engined 2+2 brought everyday driving comfort to a balanced driver-oriented chassis that is synonymous with Lotus. The evolution of the Evora continues with two new variants set to debut at the Paris Motor Show, each branching off in opposite directions on the driver enthusiast scale. The new Evora S packs a more powerful punch and responsive chassis, while the Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) features a new six-speed automatic – a word that can only be found in the Lotus vocabulary by going back to the Lotus Excels of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
After such a successful introduction of the Evora, the next logical step for Lotus was to unveil a performance version that pushed the limits of the chassis and engine. Weighing in at only 3,161 lbs. (1437 kg), the Lotus Evora S still retains the principal of lightweight performance that Lotus is known for. “The Evora S is a natural progression for us but more than that, it’s a taste of what people can come to expect from the next generation of Lotus cars,” said Lotus Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Prillmann. “It retains core Lotus values such as performance through lightweight but it also gives more than that. It’s the perfect combination of top performance, style and comfort.”
Differentiating the Evora S from the base Evora are new, performance-oriented upgrades. For the Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V-6, Lotus has squeezed an additional 70 horsepower and 37 lb-ft. of torque, bringing the total output to 350 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. A Sport Pack also comes standard on the Evora S, which installs a sport button on the dashboard. When pushed, the sport button raises the rev-limit, opens up the exhaust bypass valves, and adjusts the dynamic stability control settings. The chassis has also been tuned to handle the increased power and provide better feedback at the limit, while new cross-drilled brakes improve cooling. The additional power and chassis upgrades result in an improved 0-60mph time of just 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 172 mph – take that Cayman S!
While the Evora S offers customers a more enthusiastic driving experience, the new Lotus Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) takes the drivability and comfort not found in the rest of the Lotus model line, and improves it with a new automatic transmission. While hearing the phrase “automatic transmission” and “Lotus” may come as a shock to enthusiasts, the option opens up the Evora to a larger market. The new six-speed automatic still retains much of the Evora’s dynamic character, allowing drivers to select either full automatic or manual paddle shift control. At the touch of a button, drivers can also select the “sport” mode, which gives the driver more control over the car and transmission. The Evora IPS will come standard with the Evora’s 280 horsepower, and make the 0-60 sprint in 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph.
The new Evora S and Evora IPS variants will make their debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show on September 30th. Both models broaden the market for not only the Evora, but for Lotus as well. So, while an “automatic” Lotus may seem blasphemous, the Evora S only shows that the automaker has not lost its way. Don’t forget, by Lotus selling more cars it allows the automaker to fund projects like the new Esprit and Seven!
Lotus Evora S and Evora IPS Gallery
Lotus Evora S and Evora IPS Specifications
Lotus Evora S:
Engine: Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 liter DOHC V-6 VVT-I
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Chassis: Modular lightweight bonded aluminum structure
Steering: Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension: Forged aluminum double wishbone suspension
-Bilstein high performance gas dampers
-Eibach coaxial coil springs
Vehicle Mass (unladen): 3161.4 lbs (1437kg)
Performance:
Maximum Horsepower: 350 HP at 7000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 295 lb-ft. at 4500 rpm
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 4.8 seconds
Top Speed: 172 mph
Lotus Evora IPS:
Engine: Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 liter DOHC V6 VVT-I
Transmission: Electronically controlled six-speed automatic
Chassis: Modular lightweight bonded aluminum structure
Steering: Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension: Forged aluminum double wishbone suspension
-Bilstein high performance gas dampers
-Eibach coaxial coil springs
Vehicle Mass (unladen): 3159.2 lbs. (1436 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Horsepower: 280 HP at 6400rpm
Max torque: 258 lb-ft. at 4700rpm
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 5.3 seconds
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 5.5 seconds
Top Speed: 155mph
Source: Lotus
What do you think of the new Evora S? What about Lotus introducing an automatic transmission? Leave a comment and let us know!
