Richard Hammond on Evora
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/cars-motorbikes/2009/03/job-well-done-for-new-lotus-se.html
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Lotus seater! Lotus could have thought of a sexier name for its new sports car but otherwise it looks like a job well done. Very well done, in fact.
How many mid-engined cars can you think of that are able to carry a couple of extra people in the back? Correct, none.
True, the back seats of the Evora are more Hammond-sized than tall adult but they're big enough for kids or for a run down to the pub. Lotus is also building a two-seat-only version that it's calling the 2+0. It's cheaper, too, at £47,500 (the 2+2 is £49,875).
These prices put the Evora firmly in Porsche Cayman territory. Lotus has been plagued in the past by a dodgy reputation when it comes to interiors. The Esprit, for example, was an absolutely fabulous car to drive but sometimes bits didn't work - like electric windows - or trim came away if you went over a speed bump.
The new car, however, should make amends - it looks just fantastic inside, with neat aluminium instrument mounts and quality plastic parts. The Evora also looks stunning from the outside - just wait until you see one in the metal.
The model is powered by a Toyota 3.5-litre V6 with 280bhp but that doesn't mean the engine has been plucked straight out of a Toyota. Lotus boffins in Norfolk have fiddled extensively with the engine to make it suitable for a proper sports car and, in the process, have managed to get its emissions down to 205g/km, which is pretty impressive for a biggish motor. But you want to know how fast it'll go, don't you? I know I do.
Lotus is claiming a zippy 0-60mph time of about 5.0sec as well as a top speed of around 170mph - plenty quick enough, in other words. But this model isn't just about tearing away from the traffic lights.
Because it's a Lotus it will handle like a racing car while also offering a ride that's not so stiff it will knock your teeth out. In fact, I can't think of a car that I'm more looking forward to driving than this new Lotus. It'll have a job on its hands to beat the fantastic Porsche Cayman.
But it's a Lotus - and it's built in Britain by British craftsman - so even if it can't out-corner a Cayman, it's still going to be a top-quality motor. And if that doesn't make you come over all patriotic I honestly don't know what will."
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