Joined
·
87 Posts
Apologies in advance. I have a tendency to ramble, so no offense taken if you decide to ignore this thread now, or as my musings continue. I've been reflecting this evening on some of the recent strings discussing the Evora and how it compares to say, a new AMG tuned 4 door sedan. Or whether or not it is a "supercar". These are valid questions by thoughtful participants in our collective dialogue. It seems to me, however, that the discussion could be turned upside down. Instead of us putting the Evora in the context of other vehicles, lets give some consideration to why this car is so special. I will offer that it could easily be described as exhilarating. Why? Here goes, in a not-so-well-crafted order of importance:
- The Evora was conceived to be something unusual if impossible to create. A glorious 2+2 mid-engine marvel.
- It was designed and executed by a small number of committed professionals. Who work at a company that has a history of doing things based on a rather unique philosophy and guiding principle. At the end of the day a Lotus is all about what the driver feels and experiences. That is paramount. The intent was not to try and create a vehicle that is everything to every driver/buyer.
- Lotus doesn't have visions of conquering the automotive world. Sure, they want to survive and be successful, but I think we all agree that there are few manufacturers that are as focused and relatively uncompromising (whether by intent or as a consequence of their financial realities) as Lotus.
- The Evora looks great. It is a small package. Cleverly designed so that the body appears shrink-wrapped over the chassis. The 2+2 concept is pushed to its practical limits. I have 2 young kids and use the rear bench on a regular basis. But lets acknowledge that if it was any smaller, the +2 designation would seem to be a false statement.
- I love that the front of the car contains zero space for storage. The radiator is positioned at a 45 degree angle. Air flow is directed for a purpose. Its great that Porsche does this with the current 911 RSR, yet the street cars contain a conventional layout and useable trunk. Box checked for Lotus. Why? Its about the drive, not what you need to take on the drive.
- I love that the Evora S comes delivered with bespoke P Zero Corsa rubber. I don't mind that the tires have modest tread wear. I applaud the engineering focus that went into making the decision to pair this car, this chassis, with a specific tire that allows for the vision of the engineers to be achieved. This is so much more important to me than the size of the navigation screen or the number of speakers or the comfort of the car upon exit.
- Superb view from the cockpit. Rounded glass. A single rain wiper. Fantastic. Who wants a car with a flat rectangular windscreen and pedestrian wipers. Kudos to Lotus for making the car comfortable. The leather looks and feels great, buttons and knobs are tactile friendly aluminum. Sure, the ergonomics aren't conventional, but who cares, the ergonomics are effective for driving! Too often I think people conflate being different vs being bad. In my mind the Evora is different. It's also well designed and executed.
- Engine. Ok, it wasn't made by someone named Hans or Enrico (of course, I could be wrong). But it is a tested and reliable power plant. And that's ok. Why?
- Because this car is all about the chassis and suspension. Everything else, and I think this is a fair statement, takes a back seat to the primary importance of the chassis and suspension in delivering a driving experience that stands alone. Double wishbones all around? Expensive in aluminum? Bonded 3 part chassis? Tested and tuned and tested and tuned by individuals. Not by a committee. The result- simply one of the best platforms to propel a driver down a road or racetrack that one can find on a dealership floor today. Bravo.
- I love that among the dealers are individuals who are passionate about these cars and pair their passion with knowledge and professionalism. A niche, hand-made car requires a select dealer phenotype.
- I love that there is a committed group of owners who simply adore their cars and want nothing else. I love that BRGELISE preps and tracks his Evora (and now the S) and routinely shares his perspective in unambiguous terms. I love that there are passionate owners who share their experiences on issues big and small. Who drive in the elements in Canada or the heat of Arizona. Who drive 6 speeds or IPS cars. NA or supercharged. Daily or on the weekend when the weather is nice. Its all good. And I trust the vast majority who have made the decision to care for an Evora find the experience exhilarating. At least I hope they do. So far I certainly do.
So is the Evora the fastest car on the road? Hardly. Is it the most exclusive? Of course not. Is it the best value? Nope. But is it simply exhilarating to drive? Indeed.
Apologies for my extended rambling. Blame it on the state of exhilaration induced by my Lotus!!!
Cheers to all,
Rob
- The Evora was conceived to be something unusual if impossible to create. A glorious 2+2 mid-engine marvel.
- It was designed and executed by a small number of committed professionals. Who work at a company that has a history of doing things based on a rather unique philosophy and guiding principle. At the end of the day a Lotus is all about what the driver feels and experiences. That is paramount. The intent was not to try and create a vehicle that is everything to every driver/buyer.
- Lotus doesn't have visions of conquering the automotive world. Sure, they want to survive and be successful, but I think we all agree that there are few manufacturers that are as focused and relatively uncompromising (whether by intent or as a consequence of their financial realities) as Lotus.
- The Evora looks great. It is a small package. Cleverly designed so that the body appears shrink-wrapped over the chassis. The 2+2 concept is pushed to its practical limits. I have 2 young kids and use the rear bench on a regular basis. But lets acknowledge that if it was any smaller, the +2 designation would seem to be a false statement.
- I love that the front of the car contains zero space for storage. The radiator is positioned at a 45 degree angle. Air flow is directed for a purpose. Its great that Porsche does this with the current 911 RSR, yet the street cars contain a conventional layout and useable trunk. Box checked for Lotus. Why? Its about the drive, not what you need to take on the drive.
- I love that the Evora S comes delivered with bespoke P Zero Corsa rubber. I don't mind that the tires have modest tread wear. I applaud the engineering focus that went into making the decision to pair this car, this chassis, with a specific tire that allows for the vision of the engineers to be achieved. This is so much more important to me than the size of the navigation screen or the number of speakers or the comfort of the car upon exit.
- Superb view from the cockpit. Rounded glass. A single rain wiper. Fantastic. Who wants a car with a flat rectangular windscreen and pedestrian wipers. Kudos to Lotus for making the car comfortable. The leather looks and feels great, buttons and knobs are tactile friendly aluminum. Sure, the ergonomics aren't conventional, but who cares, the ergonomics are effective for driving! Too often I think people conflate being different vs being bad. In my mind the Evora is different. It's also well designed and executed.
- Engine. Ok, it wasn't made by someone named Hans or Enrico (of course, I could be wrong). But it is a tested and reliable power plant. And that's ok. Why?
- Because this car is all about the chassis and suspension. Everything else, and I think this is a fair statement, takes a back seat to the primary importance of the chassis and suspension in delivering a driving experience that stands alone. Double wishbones all around? Expensive in aluminum? Bonded 3 part chassis? Tested and tuned and tested and tuned by individuals. Not by a committee. The result- simply one of the best platforms to propel a driver down a road or racetrack that one can find on a dealership floor today. Bravo.
- I love that among the dealers are individuals who are passionate about these cars and pair their passion with knowledge and professionalism. A niche, hand-made car requires a select dealer phenotype.
- I love that there is a committed group of owners who simply adore their cars and want nothing else. I love that BRGELISE preps and tracks his Evora (and now the S) and routinely shares his perspective in unambiguous terms. I love that there are passionate owners who share their experiences on issues big and small. Who drive in the elements in Canada or the heat of Arizona. Who drive 6 speeds or IPS cars. NA or supercharged. Daily or on the weekend when the weather is nice. Its all good. And I trust the vast majority who have made the decision to care for an Evora find the experience exhilarating. At least I hope they do. So far I certainly do.
So is the Evora the fastest car on the road? Hardly. Is it the most exclusive? Of course not. Is it the best value? Nope. But is it simply exhilarating to drive? Indeed.
Apologies for my extended rambling. Blame it on the state of exhilaration induced by my Lotus!!!
Cheers to all,
Rob
