New Lotus "Evora"

[Murix]

Thinking of positive points, what the Evora does have going for it is a very clean engine, an easy path for a hybrid motor for an even cleaner motor (though more weight) and what should prove to be really good fuel mileage. The 3500lb Camry is rated at 22/31 with the same motor. In the lighter Evora it should be a bit better. With all the advertising around mpg it should prove to be a positive. This will prove to be a very environmentally friendly car.

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by LARRY

Lotus needs to figure out an advertisement to help people remenmber the name EVORA.

It's a bit hard to remember.

"Want a car to ADORA? Then it's the EVORA!"

"It's no SNORE-A. It's the EVORA."

"You want a car with MORE-A? It's the EVORA."

"Want to top the guy NEXT-DOOR A?" Get the EVORA."

That's why I'm going to remember it as the Elvira.

[viacondotti]

Originally Posted by Murix

....In the lighter Evora it should be a bit better. With all the advertising around mpg it should prove to be a positive. This will prove to be a very environmentally friendly car.

It should be better, but when I drive a Lotus somehow I get really crummy gas mileage. I wonder why?

[fitfan]

Originally Posted by LotusFamily

Here is what Evora has to be afraid of in it's market:

The Cayman GT3-Rs (coming to a driveway near you, soon, at the same cost, and with lots more power then 280)

porsche hasn't built a real RS is a very long time - damn them!!!
"rs" has become more like "m" and "amg" branding... imo...

[Frips_Girl]

I like the front, but the sides seem a bit bare.

[erics75218]

Can anyone tell me why Lotus keeps doing what they aren't good at? They have an amazing track record for light, efficient cars that are fun as hell to drive. I don't know the ENTIRE history of our marque *ducking* but as I see it, they make their name with the Elan. Then tank the company with the Espirit. They come back STRONG with the Elise...........and now this thing....?......if the past is any indication of the future.............uh........................maybe we should stock up on Elise/Exige parts while we can!!!!

Why do they keep trying to play the Porsche/Ferrari game?

[designer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7520679.stm

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by erics75218

Why do they keep trying to play the Porsche/Ferrari game?

Because they'd like to make money?

[Stephen]

OFF TOPIC, SORRY

Originally Posted by fitfan

porsche hasn't built a real RS is a very long time - damn them!!!
"rs" has become more like "m" and "amg" branding... imo...

So very true. I almost sold my 2008 GT3 a few months back so that I could buy a used RS. Thankfully that didn't work out and I came to my senses and bought a Lotus instead!

The RS, especially the US version, is almost identical to the GT3 save for a few minor differences. But most importantly, it basically weighs the same! It is only slightly lighter due to the LWFW and lack of sunroof (best part of the RS). The LWFW is a fairly easy conversion which I have already done on my regular GT3.

It should be at least 150 lbs lighter if not 200 which Porsche could have easily done without taking out carpeting. I have removed about 200 lbs from my GT3 without any hardcore mods.

A true RS should split the difference between a 997 Cup car and a regular GT3.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by wallabyguy

OK, I was going to let it go but here is more fuel to my arguement about the moonroof since it has become a focal point in discussion.

If this car is strictly aimed at the traditional Lotus buyer then why does it have Navigation and a paddle-shift automatic gearbox available? Obviously Lotus sees this car as a push into new market segments. These type of options are not supposed to appeal to A-Typical Lotus buyers but to traditional American luxury buyers. Lotus knows to survive, it needs to have vehicles that appeal to a wider variety of clientele. The beauty of the Evora is that because it exists, the Elise/ Exige can stay small, light and focused. They don't need to add features (and weight) to appeal to the more casual driver.

BTW, while I was working at Lotus of Greenwich, the Porsche dealer in town always complained to me that they couldn't sell Caymans and one fo the biggest problems was, "The car cost more than a Boxster and we can't even order a sunroof in the damn thing!" Not my quote, the SM there. It definitely hurt sales. The reality is that Porsche has struggled to sell the Cayman here (see the incentives placed on the cars) and the SM hit the nail on the head.

I remember the outrage that was expressed on this very forum that we couldn't order an Elise without AC or without a Radio in 2005. As a result, in 2006, Lotus offered a delete option. Would you like to know out of 1,800+ 2006 models, how many were ordered with the delete option? 6. 6 cars. All the complaints aboutthe added weight and the hardcore nature of the car and six people ordered it without AC. And if you want to see the long term implications of such an option, look at the aspen white car that had the AC delete option and sat here on the forums for sale for months and months. The owner contacted me at Lotus of Greenwich looking to sell it and I couldn't get Mark Starr to even consider it. And that was Mark Starr, Mr. Lotus Hardcore in the US (at least as far as dealers were concered).

Also, please note that the Esprit added a sunroof in the 80's because of demand. So did the Elite (Riviera model) and the Excel. These 4 seat models are precursors to the Evora.

I'm sorry to say it but the vocal minority is wrong here from a business perspective. From a drivers perspective you are right. But the market, on the whole, expects certain features on a car once it enters a segment. Oddly enough, you would have a better chance getting away without a moonroof if the car cost $200,000 plus then you do at this price point.

I agree with everything you wrote.

I did say in at least one of my posts that if it is an option, why not? Then it is best for everybody.

However, I just don't want Lotus to make it standard without a delete option, that I would not like.

My other point is that I am not sure that they can do it with the design of the car. Again, the same reason the Cayman and BMW Z4 Coupe do not have them. The roofline may simply not allow for it. Now if they made it a fully removable roof panel as in the Elise and Exige, then I think that would work; AND, I would be all over that option!

Choices are always good and they should have as many as possible. But please just leave them as CHOICES.

Your comment on the AC delte is so true. A green GT3 RS with this option is not selling because of this option (or lack of this option). If it had AC it would have been snaped up long ago.

And to support your comments on the lack of a sunroof, and how it can hurt sales, you are also correct.

Back a few years before BMW had the sunroof as optional; you had better order it with one if you expect to get a good trade-in value or wish to resell it privately. Without one you were all but doomed! Almost the same could be said for a 911 in the US. But as you climb the performance ladder and get into something likea GT3 it starts to turn around and with an RS, you better not be caught dead with a sunroof (luckily Porsche did not even allow this).

In my opinion I equate the Evora with the higher end ultra performance segment and see it as a car that can get away without a sunroof and for the die-hards you may need to order it that way.

But I totally agree it should be a choice. And with the Nav in the car, you are absolutely right that they are targeting upscale "comfort" if you will.

I hope that made sense, and I apologize for any confusion before. I do get emotional about certain options on American cars that I don't want and can get the car that way in Europe. But with the US version I am forced to buy it based on "popular" demand.

Just like you think it should be an option to have a sunroof, I just want to make sure I get the option NOT to have a sunroof; thats's all.

[Dominick22]

Right on Lotus,
Great lines which express form and functionality.

It looks to me as though the evora will have a "more usable" rear seat than any current porsche model.

Everyone keeps saying underpowered-but at an expected 0-60 of less than 5 seconds...I think that is pretty damn fast for such a spacious car...and I think the hadling will be keep with Lotus tradition.

The Toyota engine...This is a point which rather draws me even closer to the Lotus. They are using proven engines and come on-its Toyota.
Reputation wise, they are at the top of everyones list for reliability.

I think on this site, we have a tendancy to be over critical. Me included.

Dominick

[Simba]

Sexy car, and double plus kudos to Lotus for making it with a manual gearbox, and only a manual gearbox, in the face of silly industry trends to the contrary.

As for underpowered, I'm sure blower kits will be on the market shortly after it's released, and popping something like a Lexus 1UZFE or similar V8 in there shouldn't be too hard. De-hippie-fying newer Toyota engines has become something of an art, thanks largely to Lotus.

[exarkun1178]

did lotus widen the chassis for this car? or is the tub just as wide as the elise is? i read it was a lengthened tub.... so, is the tub the same? or completely new and larger (wider, and longer)?

[Bob Dz.]

Rear bench seat??? That what it looks like from some of the pics.

Based on this shot, hope it's big enough, it appears that an adult in the back seat will need to put their knees about 2 inches into the back of the driver. So Lotus has solved the 5th dimension issue (must have been watching the new Dr. Who) where you can have two items of matter in the same spot at the same time. AWESOME!!!!

Seriously, they don't expect 4 adults in this car do they? Would have been better marketing showing a kid in a car seat in the back.

[viacondotti]

Originally Posted by Bob Dz.

Rear bench seat??? That what it looks like from some of the pics.

Based on this shot, hope it's big enough, it appears that an adult in the back seat will need to put their knees about 2 inches into the back of the driver. So Lotus has solved the 5th dimension issue (must have been watching the new Dr. Who) where you can have two items of matter in the same spot at the same time. AWESOME!!!!

Seriously, they don't expect 4 adults in this car do they? Would have been better marketing showing a kid in a car seat in the back.

The drawing clearly shows that you simply remove the front seats and lean back against your passengers' knees. Brilliant solution!

[exarkun1178]

heres another question.. the guy said during the unveiling that the evora chassis is 250% stiffer then the elise. is it just because of a roof? didnt the cut the sills down a bit? by cutting the sills would it not be less stiff?

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by exarkun1178

heres another question.. the guy said during the unveiling that the evora chassis is 250% stiffer then the elise. is it just because of a roof? didnt the cut the sills down a bit? by cutting the sills would it not be less stiff?

It's a totally different chassis. This is the first production application of the VVA architecture.

[exarkun1178]

can you link me to vva?

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by exarkun1178

can you link me to vva?

http://www.grouplotus.com/engineering/niche.html

[exarkun1178]

didnt see anything with VVA.. or maybe i did but dont know it... is it the same tech used on the elise tub? if so wouldn't the elise have been the first with such tech in production?