Lotus Evora
2009-present
THE EVORA WAS the first all-new Lotus in 15 years when it launched in 2009, and immediately romped to our Performance Car of the Year award. Two basic variants were available: one with a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre Toyota V6 making 276bhp, and a supercharged S version with 345bhp. Transversely mid-mounted, the engine location also provided space for optional +2 seats, which most owners specified. The majority of UK cars are manuals, but the IPS auto was offered from 2011.
Pricing starts from the high £20ks for an early naturally aspirated model, but the S we’re driving recently sold at Bell & Colvill for £35,995 with 32k miles. The Evora is a much more mature, more usable machine than Elise-based Lotuses. It’s easier to climb in and out of, more comfortable and refined too, but it also takes Lotus out of its pared-back comfort zone – the more luxurious cabin introduces more complexity, after all, and some of that shows in the fit and finish. The leather Recaros are world-class, though, both in terms of the hide and the manner in which they hold you.
The drive, too, still shines. There’s less immediacy than the Elise/ Exige due to extra weight and power steering, but there’s still benchmark delicacy to the chassis and steering, plentiful urge from our car’s supercharged V6, and an agility and precision to the way the Evora flows down even a badly surfaced B-road. It’s also a far better daily driver than the Elise and Exige, explaining why Evoras generally wear higher mileages.
Early ‘launch edition’ naturally aspirated manuals had acceleration-blunting fourth and fifth ratios, but a sports ’box with lower ratios was available soon after, and is fitted to all S models.
Key options included the Sport Pack (sharper throttle, increased rev limit from 6800 to 7200rpm, slackened stability control) and the Tech Pack (sat-nav, reversing sensors). Both are must-haves, but the Tech Pack can be retro-fitted.
The Evora has since been overhauled with a frankly bewildering array of 400, GT410, GT430 and GT430 Sport derivatives, but almost a decade on an early Evora is still a great drive and a compelling alternative to the default 911.