Lotus Evora

Lotus Evora by Mansory

With the Geneva Motor Show fast approaching, Lotus has announced a new version of the Evora. Made in partnership with the typically outlandish customizer Mansory, the special Evora is meant to demonstrate what the aftermarket has to offer its customers.

Little in the way of details were offered at this early juncture, but from the pair of photos released, it's clear that Mansory has outfitted the Evora with an array of carbon fiber parts and body panels.

Gallery: Lotus Evora by Mansory

Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, evora, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show, lotus, lotus evora, mansory

High-Output Lotus Evora S and Automatic to Debut at Paris Motor Show

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Lotus Evora S – Click above for high-res image gallery

Next month's Paris Motor Show will be one of the busiest events for Lotus in many years as it unveils two new variants of the Evora and at least one other car expected to be the all-new Esprit. Lotus has revealed details of the new S and IPS versions of the Evora ahead of the show. The Evora S is a higher-performance version of the recently introduced mid-engine sports car that bumps the 3.5-liter Toyota-built V6 from 276 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque up to 345 hp and 295 lb-ft.

In addition to the extra power, the S also gets an upgraded suspension for more precise handling and larger cross-drilled brake rotors to scrub off the speed when needed. A sport pack includes a driver controlled button to manage a bypass valve in the exhaust system and speed up the throttle response.

Anyone that's been paying attention to Lotus is undoubtedly aware that it mostly builds hard-car sports cars. Automatic transmissions have not been part of the Lotus lineup since the Elite was discontinued in 1982. The Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS) option adds a Toyota six-speed automatic modified with a Lotus-developed control system to the base Evora. Steering wheel mounted paddles provide the driver with full-manual control of the gearbox.

Gallery: Lotus Evora S and IPS

[Source: Lotus]

Tags: Lotus, Lotus Evora, lotus evora ips, lotus evora s, paris, paris motor show, Paris2010

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2010 Geneva Motor Show: The Anglo File

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

You'll have to search long and hard to find a British automaker that's still owned by Brits these days. Bentley? Volkswagen. Mini? BMW. Lotus? Malaysian state carmaker Proton. Land Rover, Jaguar? Indian automaker Tata. But don't think, not even for one minute, that the industry isn't still alive and striving in the UK. In fact some of our favorite automobiles come from there, even if the cashflow is traversing overseas.

With the major motor shows in the UK paling in comparison to the scope of Geneva, the annual Swiss auto salon is – much like it is for the other European carmaking nations – Britain's chance to show the world what they've got. And show us they did. Follow the jump to see how.

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Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid to Debut at Geneva Motor Show

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid teaser – Click above to enlarge

Lotus has just formally introduced a new 400-plus horsepower sportscar concept. That news in and of itself would be enough to pique our interest, but the rest of the car's spec sheet makes the Evora 414E Hybrid an astonishingly intriguing concept vehicle. As you surely surmised by now, this two-seat sportster is a hybrid, specifically an extended-range electric vehicle that features a pair of rear-mounted electric motors and a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gas-powered engine. Why not fully electric? According to Lotus:

With regard to the total lifetime CO2 emissions of the vehicle, including the energy required to manufacture and run it, the range extender solution has a lower overall CO2 footprint than a fully electric car of comparable performance and operating range running with a larger battery.

That 47-horsepower gasoline engine never actually sends power directly to the Evora 414E Hybrid's wheels. Instead – as with other cars such as the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the Fisker Karma – the mill is used to recharge the onboard 17 kilowatt-hour lithium polymer battery pack, which is centrally mounted down the middle of the car for optimal weight distribution. That battery pack can provide up to 35 miles of gasoline-free driving per full charge.

Because each rear wheel has a separate connection to its own electric motor, Lotus has programmed in torque vectoring for stability control of the vehicle. This means that a complex set of software algorithms can provide the same kind of benefits as rear-wheel steering and exaggerated toe-in without the expense or efficiency losses of a mechanical system. Each rear wheel puts down 204 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

Further, though the actual transmission has only one forward ratio, Lotus has programmed in seven artificial "gears" that the driver can row through via a set of column-mounted paddle shifters. Also included is the HALOsonic Internal and External Electronic Sound Synthesis technologies from Lotus and Harman International that pipes artificial sound to both the cabin and outside to pedestrians. Want more? There's plenty to be gleaned in the exhaustive press release that you'll find after the break. Sadly, just one lone copper-topped teaser image, which you can enlarge by clicking above.

[Source: Lotus]

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First "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Specials Fetching Big Bucks at Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

A Lotus may seem like an exotic supercar, but the superlight British machines never approach the six-figure prices you'd expect from the likes of Ferrari or Lamborghini. But even that can change in the name of good will.

The first three examples of the special-edition "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Evoras, created in conjunction with supermodel Naomi Campbell on which we reported recently, went up for auction during London Fashion Week, fetching prices in excess of GBP 300,000, or nearly $500,000 American. Campbell's boyfriend Vladimir Doronin got his hands on the first one. The remaining five examples are up for auction now at naomiforhaiti.com, with bidding ending on February 28.

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Lotus and Naomi Campbell Team Up for Haiti Relief

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

Lotus isn't the first to pitch in for the relief efforts in Haiti. And godwilling, it won't be the last. But it is the latest, and every bit helps. The British sportscar-maker has teamed up with supermodel Naomi Campbell for a limited run of special Evora sportscars that will be auctioned off, with proceeds going towards relief on the disaster-struck Caribbean island.

Each of the eight examples of the "Naomi for Haiti" edition Lotus Evora gets a special paintjob designed by Campbell and Lotus, bearing the Haitian flag, coupled with a special interior and all the options. The first example will be auctioned off live during London Fashion Week, with the seven remaining examples up for grabs at naomiforhaiti.com.

Gallery: Lotus Evora "Naomi for Haiti"