lotus evora s

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

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