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Lotus Evoras are starting to roll down the assembly line in Worcester UK. As we get closer to the car’s UK launch in May, the company has released a list of standard and optional equipment that will be available. Lotus will equip the mid-engined 2+2 with enough features to make it competitive with other coupes like the Porsche Cayman.
Billed as a Lotus you can live with, the Evora offers a far more upscale interior than the Elise and Exige. Entry to the cabin will prove to be “a less athletic undertaking” according to Lotus. The cockpit boasts driver-focused instrumentation and leather surfaces. Driver and front passenger get adjustable Recaro black leather sport seats while additional passengers must squeeze into a pair of jump seats in the back. The Evora can also be ordered with a luggage rack that takes the place of the tiny rear seating area.
Power comes from a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter transverse-mounted V-6 good for 276 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual is standard and there is a “sports ratio” option. Lotus says a six-speed automatic will be available in the future. Zero to 60 mph sprints are expected to take only 5 seconds and the top speed should break 160 mph. The Evora manages 27 mpg on the European combined cycle so expect about 22 mpg here in the U.S.
The Evora will wear standard silver 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels that sport Yokohama Advan tires. There will be three optional wheels available in the same staggered sizes. The independent suspension features forged aluminum control arms and Bilstein dampers with Eibach springs. Traction control will work with the electric locking differential to maintain traction, while four-piston AP Racing calipers will bring the car to a halt.
Options include a Tech pack containing an Alpine 7-inch LCD multimedia system, lightweight amp and subwoofer, rear parking sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The tech pack can be upgraded with a backup cam and enhanced sound staging provided by Alpine’s IMPRINT digital audio processor. Customers can also choose to swathe the cabin in leather with the premium package that offers four leather seat color choices, accent lighting, and premium floor mats.
Enthusiasts will want to opt for the sport pack. It includes enhanced throttle and response and a higher RPM limiter, sports traction control mode with increased yaw and slip thresholds, cross drilled brake discs, and a sports diffuser.
Although the specifications listed here are for the UK spec cars, Lotus says the U.S. spec cars will be similarly configured. Customers in Europe will be able to purchase the Evora in May 2009 for £45,000. North America will get its shot at the new coupe when it comes stateside in early 2010. Pricing for those models will be announced this fall.
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