New Lotus "Evora"

[Murix]

It has a touchscreen too.

[erics75218]

I liked it before...when it was called the LANCIA STRATOS....BOOOOOO!!!!!!

[...m...]

Originally Posted by RoadDad

Why are there harness cut out in the seat backs?

...those are actually grommets for routing cables to headrest displays, silly man...

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by Stephen

I'm So I really don't think a sunroof will be popular in this car. A true Lotus owner really is a special person who know what Lotus is all about, and a sunroof is not part of that equation.

Wow. There are a whole bunch of Esprit owners, who bought and owned the cars when they were the only Lotus game in town for a couple of decades (with a one year side track for the M100 Elan---but those owners don't know what a true Lotus owner is because their cars are FWD), who now find themselves not knowing what being a true Lotus owner is all about because their Esprits cames with a sunroof.

Guess somebody should break the news to them.

Please forgive my sarcasm.

But Lotus cannot sustain a market selling the minimalist Exige and Elise variants. They're down to maybe selling a couple hundred a year Exige and Elise combined? The low mileage used market is taking away their new car sales. And frankly the Elise/Exige line is now priced on the high end of perceived buyer value, anyway.

Lotus has a long, long history of bouncing back and forth between street legal race cars, minimalist sports cars, and attempts at road going GT's. Their heritage is not strictly the Elise/Exige model. Take a look back at second generation Elites, Eclats and some of the European market cars, and eventually what the Esprit evolved into.

I like the looks of the new car, but it's out of my range. I've no idea if it can compete. But looking at diminishing sales, and some recent shrinking in the dealer network, Lotus has to come up with something to appeal to a different buyer group, or Lotus won't be in the US market much longer.

I'm not sure what a 'true' Lotus owner is. I've owned a bunch of them over 30 years, but I probably wouldn't qualify as a 'true Lotus owner' by some standards.

[pip]

hate the name! They should have "focus- grouped" that moniker--doubt Evora would have passed muster!

[sponge]

I am in love! it is a weird name...

[elise24fps]

Show me the rear seats !!!!!!!!

Is there a pic of the rear seats? Or are they a joke? How do you get in and out of the rear seats?

I've been a Lotus fanatic for over forty years, but I don't get why they have to build an Elise 2+2.

What's an Evora ? A singer or some place in Portugal it seems.

[Mattnshilp]

OK. I love it... No, wait. I hate it! Uh, I mean I love it. Or, well, maybe...

I need to see it in some different colors and some real life photos with real things around it. Maybe a tree or a person or something. It's lines are VERY transformers and I think the color they chose to announce it was a poor choice. I think in Canyon Red it might be a super stunner...

And while I'm on poor choices, what the hell is up with this ad campeign??? Did Lotus hire a marketing company and tell them to keep as much attention away from the new car so their enthusiasts and die hards would get first dibs? The last time I saw a marketing campeign suck this badly was when Infiniti tried to show shrubs and rocks instead of cars; and we all know how well that ad went... I see the ads and want to go buy a Blue Man Group album, not buy a car!

I also agree that it is underpowered and too heavy. But a sub 5 second zero to sixty certainly can't be ignored. So I'll wait and see... I do hope that they ramped up quality control to compete with Porsche. I can't imagine spending that much and having to worry about needing to check the rocker arm just before my warranty runs out!

As of right now, I will stick with my plan to get an Elise SC. And for $90K I think I would rather get a Noble or save up another year and get an Audi R8.

But I will still make a call tomorrow to Princeton Lotus to see when they will be getting theirs in so I can take a test drive... Maybe in person it's irresistable. It's happened before...

-Matt

[Abe]

***WARNING, SEMI LONG POST...but not as long as Stephen ***

As some of you may know, I'm now with Lotus Cars USA, Inc. after working my way up from a salesman to finally a sales manager/gsm of arguablly the largest and #1 Lotus dealership in the country.

Back in April, I was fortunate enough to drive in the new Lotus Evora and honestly folks, you guys will be impressed...if you're not already. The car handles like what we'd expect from ANY Lotus and the interior? Well, all I can think of is this That being said..or shown, Lotus won't be able to please everyone and they know this...especially the Elise and Exige customers as they have been spoiled but Lotus from the very beginning has always said their targeted market has always been one where they have been absent for decades but no more...

While in Hethel, other U.S. Lotus dealers were at attendance and these were/are dealers that are high volume dealers so it was interesting to see their expressions and comments...."When can I get one?" All were in agreement that they'd have absolutely no problems filling orders AND selling every single one. Being on the retail side of the fence, I'd have to agree...

Opinions are like...well...Toyota engines! every MY05 and up Lotus owners have one and although we can "discuss" why Lotus could have done this or that? Bottomline is that there's a lot of things that not just Lotus but EVERY car manufacturers have to consider when designing a new model and seeing that Lotus is a small car company, this makes total sense....especially when they have a budget which is remarkable.

Anyways, not to prolong my boring comments but as you may already know, Lotus will definitely have a higher horse power rating Evora AND paddle shifters which will make my wife EXTREMELY happy as knowing this, she's now a Lotus enthusiast and as Wallybyguy has stated, a convertible version soon to come.

These are exciting times for Lotus and I'm just happy to be part of it!!!!


Abe

[pip]

will the high performance model be called the Esmerelda??? We are all damn luck that Lotus does not use the letter "S" as a naming template--probably would have called it the "Schmuck"! OK, OK, I'll shut up now!

[Stormy320]

Some of those photos make it look much better than the ones that were floating around earlier. I bet it will look better in person and when they came out with the sportier version, I'm sure it will look much cooler.

No question - the inside is cool.

[melloyjaguar]

Originally Posted by BRTHTAKR

Looks like a hell of a fun way to get from A to B. And I think much more of a chick magnet than the Elise/Exige, which appeals more to boys who read car mags and homeless people.
Don't get me wrong, the trackability of the Elise/Exige is a very special thing, we are so lucky to have it. But really, this new car will be way cool for people not driven to track a car, yet want the legend and experience, with room for a girls stuff and needs (get out with a skirt on without looking like Brittany).
And of course appealing to the fairer sex as a statement of their coolness too.

It takes SKILLZ to get in and out of the others without looking like Brit. wink.

[melloyjaguar]

Originally Posted by pip

will the high performance model be called the Esmerelda??? We are all damn luck that Lotus does not use the letter "S" as a naming template--probably would have called it the "Schmuck"! OK, OK, I'll shut up now!

Oh - Evora is a major city in Portugal. Don't know the connection, but at least it's not a virus or something...

[Reddirt14]

Nice looking car...The 276 hp is cute...boost it to 500+ hp and I'm in. Good for the wife though.

In a previous post somewhat said Lotus is down to selling a couple hundred Elise and Exiges a year, combined. What country are you talking about? Iraq or Iran? I suspect their sales numbers are significantly larger than you think.

Yes they need a full product offering and this is a cute car and a good first step. As an Elise owner I will wait for the the big dog. I'm looking for the M-engine and a new car. The Elise serves me quite well. I only need one seat for my purpose and the second seat is a bonus. The only upgrade I'm considering is a supercharger. If I want to tote kids or passengers around, I'll get the Sedan. The germans still rule in the "toting" business - I won't be looking to Lotus for this.

[lotus4s]

Here's a link to more pics:

Lotus Evora: Project Eagle in Detail with 23 High Res Photos | Carscoop

I like it and I think Lotus will be able to do exactly what they intend to with this car, ie appeal to a new segment of buyers and sell all they intend to make....

[Abe]

Originally Posted by Reddirt14

Nice looking car...The 276 hp is cute...boost it to 500+ hp and I'm in. Good for the wife though.

In a previous post somewhat said Lotus is down to selling a couple hundred Elise and Exiges a year, combined. What country are you talking about? Iraq or Iran? I suspect their sales numbers are significantly larger than you think.

Yes they need a full product offering and this is a cute car and a good first step. As an Elise owner I will wait for the the big dog. I'm looking for the M-engine and a new car. The Elise serves me quite well. I only need one seat for my purpose and the second seat is a bonus. The only upgrade I'm considering is a supercharger. If I want to tote kids or passengers around, I'll get the Sedan. The germans still rule in the "toting" business - I won't be looking to Lotus for this.

Actually since this is right up MY alley, Lotus is selling about 760 cars THIS year in the Elise and Exige variants and it's 280hp. Sorry, we do not have a dealer network in the middle east...yet that is

[Mr. Know]

Here's a new website: Lotus Evora - True character in a faceless world. (may be a repost). One of the test cars in the video definitely has Mag blue mirrors .

[shokwaves]

me so hoooeney

[powerbookguy]

i like it overall but think the dash and steering wheel/column are pretty damn ugly, possible retro 80s update style?

compare new M3 or any recent porsche.

[Vishus_1]

That sure is a LOT of overhang in front of the front wheels.

And that name - EVORA - sounds like some kind of cross between Elvira and Eva Longoria - that doesn't bring good thoughts to mind.

And the faceless ad campaign.

It's all so --- goofy.

This just doesn't seem to be of the caliber that the Elise and Exige are. I'm not talking about being a purist car necessarily - but how lame this seems to be executed.