British manufacturer Lotus is generally known for lightweight performance cars that punch above their weight on road and track, but aren’t the last word in refinement or build quality. That’s perhaps why the technically impressive Evora – a 2+2 GT Coupe with mid-mounted V6 engine that scales the strengths of the Elise up for longer distances and occasional family use – remains a rare sight on Britain’s roads against comparably-priced and capable cars from Porsche, BMW and Alfa Romeo.
Since the launch of the Evora in 2009, Lotus has gone through some changes in ownership and direction, meaning the promising car has been neglected in both development and marketing to an extent. This really doesn’t matter to most Lotus buyers, who know and want the exceptional accuracy of steering and accomplished blend of ride quality and handling that defines the brand’s historic and current models. However, Lotus is now part of the confident Geely group, also owners of Volvo and LEVC – the company behind the London Taxi – and so far that Chinese parent firm has demonstrated no fear of supporting and improving low-volume British firms and global premium marques alike.
2020 GT410 – £82,900 and well equipped
For the new decade, the Evora’s entry-level price is £82,900 – £3,000 less than the track-focused GT410 Sport, and both models are slightly more affordable than the previous entry level of £88,065. Included in the GT410’s price is a road-optimised suspension package with softer damping and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S all-season tyres, extra sound insulation in the cabin, Sparco sports seats and fully-trimmed doors with armrests and storage bins.
Further equipment includes DAB radio, infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and air-conditioning – upgrades also included on the lightweight GT410 Sport.
Performance is unchanged, which means 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 189mph from the 410hp supercharged, Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine. You can choose between automatic or manual models, and the low-volume build means there are plenty of opportunities to customise the Evora to your taste, including whether you want the rear seats which are more suited to small children – or shopping – than adults.
Some of the technology has been extended to the Elise range, marking the return of Touring and Sport option packs to the smaller two-seater Lotus.
What does this mean for me?
If you want a high-performance GT with exceptional handling and balance, and don’t want to end up parking next to another one in the motorway services, these upgrades make the Evora easier to live with day to day, and is slightly more affordable too.
Geely’s investment in the Norfolk-based firm may also mean a more polished customer experience – and certainly a reason to have more confidence that Lotus will still be here when the warranty runs out.
It’s a very rewarding purchase if you really enjoy driving. Lotus takes chassis design beyond technical competence and into the realm of artistry, yet their cars are relatively easy to live with and retain strong resale values, so these upgrades make it less of a compromise and better value overall. Despite the high price and smaller dealer network, the Evora’s a good choice financially too, whether you want to sell after three years or keep for a longer term.
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