Geneva 2011: Lotus Keeps its Evora Debuts Simple but Significant with Mansory in the Mix

After Lotus blew its proverbial head gaskets all over the Paris stage with a futuristic lineup consisting of a sedan and no less than four coupes, simplicity was the name of the game for the 2011 Geneva motor show. Lotus brought two special edition Evoras, a relatively low-key showing in stark contrast to its behavior in France last year.

Before you roll your eyes thinking, "Christ, another special edition blah blah blah," one of these two new Evoras is very different than another special edition Mustang or Bugatti.

The Mansory Evora comes from the union of two weight-conscious companies; Lotus prides itself on keeping its vehicles trim, while Mansory "provides valuable insights and an intuitive feeling for [high-end customisation]" while also offering "state-of-the-art carbon components".

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Geneva Preshow: Lotus Joins Forces with Mansory to Tune the Evora

Mastering the fine art of tuning is a complicated process and, judging by the sheer number of overkills one can see on the web every day, it’s clear that only a few have what it takes to do a good job. For Lotus that special someone is Swiss tuning firm Mansory, which is responsible for the creation of an Evora concept that will be presented at the Geneva show in the beginning of March.

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Lotus Evora Tries Out Police Uniform in the UK

Lotus has loaned a brand new Evora to the boys in blue at the Central Motorway Police Group (CPMG). The police-liveried version of the British sports car was officially revealed at this week's Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC. Once its show duties are over, the sports car maker will hand the keys of the Evora to West Midland's police officers who will then trial the car for a two week test period.

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Lotus reveals Supercharged Evora S with 350HP and clutchless Evora IPS before Paris

Now that the somewhat docile Moscow motor show is out of our minds, what everyone should be looking forward to is the epic design-fest that is the Paris Motor Show. While I'm definitely looking forward to Citroen's usual insanity, there will be "normal" cars there, too. Take, for instance, these 'Loti'.

The performance model is simply called the Lotus Evora S, and it doesn't have nearly enough old-school Lotus graphics for my taste. However, what it lacks in vintage what-what, it makes up for with that big, curvy letter which signifies the car's supercharged status. With the blower on top of its Toyota-sourced (i.e. fairly reliable) 3.5 liter V6, its puts down a very Esprit-esque 350-horses.

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Lotus Cutting Prices from $10,000 to $18,500 in Australia

Following the Australian government's move to reduce import duties earlier this year, Lotus Cars of Australia has announced significant price reductions across the model range, with savings of up to $18,500.

Lotus Cars Australia Managing Director John Startari explains: "The government's import duty reduction at the start of 2010 has offered some assistance, whilst favorable foreign exchange rates have been a further catalyst to these announced price changes."

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First Lotus Evora Delivered in the United States

The man you see pictured above is Bruce Rice, or in Lotus' books, the first North American customer to receive the keys to the firm's new mid-engined Evora sports coupe. Rice took delivery of the red-colored Evora earlier this week at John Eagle European's Lotus of Austin dealership in Texas.

In the States, the 2+2 seater Evora is priced from $73,500. It features a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 producing 276 horsepower that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

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James Bond Style Lotus Evora Captured Filming in the Alps

Courtesy of Carscoop reader Allison P. coming straight out of my home town are these pictures of a probably-rocket-equipped Lotus Evora captured during a ski trip in Chamonix in the French Alps.

Here's what Allison had to tell us about her encounter with the Evora and the film crew:

"I'm just on a skiing holiday now in Chamonix in the French Alps and have seen loads of commotion around a film set. I watched an action stunt scene being filmed with tons of crews and papparazzi swarming! I especially noticed a flashy new Lotus Evora being used in the filming. Is there any way that this could be for the new James Bond film?"

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Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid Debuts at the Geneva Motor Show

[Updated with New Photos] Lotus is officially throwing its hat into the "hybrid sports car" ring. Hot on the heels of Porsche, the British featherweight world champion is going to be debuting its own plug-in racer based on the Evora's Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) platform, the Evora 414E. In their own words, they consider it a "high performance technology demonstrator". Sounds cool.

The purpose of this 414-horsepower hybrid is to showcase the latest in Lotus hybrid tech, something the 414E does in spades. First off, those 414 horses come from two electric motors powering each rear wheel (at 207 PS / 204 hp each).

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2010 Geneva Show: Lotus Evora Carbon Concept

At the Geneva Salon Lotus rolled out a demonstrator concept car called the Evora Carbon that may very well be offered as a special edition version in the near future. As implied by its name, the prototype model boasts heaps of carbon fiber inside and out.

The study is finished in a unique water-based white pearlescent paint that contrasts with the carbon fibre found on the roof top, rear-window surround, rear diffuser and front splitter. The diamond cut forged 19-inch alloy wheels shod with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires size 235/35 up front and 285/30 at the rear round off the exterior package.

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Lotus Reveals New Evora Cup Racer with 400 Horsepower V6

Having already launched the road-going Evora 2+2 mid-engined sports car, Lotus has now turned its focus on the development of a competition version that will be eligible for racing in the FIA GT4 category and a special one-make Evora Cup series.

Finished in Epsom Green with a Solar Yellow stripe down the centre, the Evora Cup racing car is powered by a modified version of the stock model's Toyota sourced 276HP 3.5-liter V6 engine enlarged to 4.0-liters. The result is more than 400HP and 400Nm of peak torque.

The mid mounted V6 engine is mated to a Cima six speed sequential paddle shift dog gearbox, designed for international motor sport.

Other tweaks include adjustable motor sport dampers and six piston front brake callipers, with two piece aluminium belled brake discs, while the car also gets electrical cut off, fire extinguisher and traction control.

Lotus says that it has managed to reduce the car's weight to 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs) or 200kg (440 pounds) less than the production model by using numerous high performance parts and materials and deleting parts not required for motor sport.

In addition, the Evora gets a Dallara developed aero package that includes a number of updated carbon fibre parts and is said to significantly improve downforce and cooling.

The British firm said that the final design and specifications of the Lotus Evora Cup Racer will be presented at the Geneva Motorshow in early March 2010.

Lotus Evora Priced from $73,500 in the States

The all-new Lotus Evora mid-engined coupe will hit U.S. showrooms in early 2010 with prices starting from $73,500, the British automaker announced today. That's 12 grand more than the 320HP Porsche Cayman S ($61,500) but $5,500 less than the entry-level Porsche 911 with RWD and 345HP ($77,800).

The Evora is powered by a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 producing 276 hp at 6,400 rpm and 258 lb./ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm that drives the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission.

Lotus says that the 2+2 seater is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed 162mph (260km/h) while also delivering over 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

The U.S. market Evora will come equipped with several standards fetures including bi-xenon headlamps, air-conditioning system, leather seats, Alpine audio system and a flat-bottomed leather and magnesium steering wheel.

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Lotus Evora Optional Equipment Pricing

2010 Lotus Evora 2+2	$73,500
Premium Package	$1,990
Sport Package	$1,275
Technology Package	$2,995
Sports Ratio 6-Speed Gearbox	$1,500
Premium (IMPRINT) Audio	$695
Reversing Camera	$495
Power Folding Mirrors	$450
Stealth Grey Cast Alloy Wheels	$475
Silver Forged Alloy Wheels	$1,750
Anthracite Forged Alloy Wheels	$2,125
Metallic Paint	$590
Lifestyle Paint	$1,200
Limited Paint	$3,300
StarShield	$995
Destination	$1,175

First Lotus Evora Coupe Delivered to Customer, Full Production to Start in November

Matthew Melling of Twickenham, UK, is the first customer to take delivery of the all-new Lotus Evora. He received the keys to the mid-engined 2+2 coupe from Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, at the British firm's Hethel headquarters in Norfolk where the sportscar is hand built.

"I was determined to be the first in the world to get my hands on an Evora so with Stratton Motor Company's help, I laid down my deposit within seconds of the order books being opened last year," said Meling. "I have read all the press reviews of the Evora and am so excited about getting behind the wheel – what a great start to September!"

Lotus said that many dealers around the world have already received their demonstrator Evoras and that so far, the company has taken enough orders to cover production for the next five months.

Top Gear: First Episode of Season 13 goes Online

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard that the new season of Top Gear went on air this past weekend. The highlight of the show was when former formula one world champion Michael Schumacher supposedly revealed himself as the man behind "The Stig's" racing helmet, although many suggest -and we tend to agree- that it was merely a publicity stunt. The first episode also includes a first test drive of the Lotus Evora, the Stig races the Ferrari FXX while Clarkson, Hammond and May set to find out what Top Gear may have been like sixty years ago. Watch the video after the jump.

Via: Streetfire - Thanks for the tip Alesandro!

New Lotus Evora Priced from $149,990 in Australia

Lotus has confirmed Australian pricing for its all-new Evora sports car a few months ahead of the coupe's market launch scheduled for the third quarter of 2009. The entry level two-seater version of the Evora will be priced at $149,990 AU (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges) which is about $119,000 US or €85,000. Bizarrely, there seems to be some kind of a new law in Australia that prohibits official websites from publishing new car prices -we're not kidding- so unfortunately we can't compare the Evora's price to other sports cars sold Down Under.

Along with the Evora 2+0, Lotus will also sell a 2+2 seater version of the coupe that will be priced from $156,990 (again, recommended price before statutory and delivery charges). Rear seats aside, this version adds a host of luxury appointments both standard and optional including Alpine audio system, reversing camera and cruise control.

Both models are powered by a Toyota sourced 3.5-liter V6 engine producing an output of 206kW (that's 276 in good ol' horsepower) and 342Nm of torque. The naturally aspirated V6 is matted to a 6-speed manual gearbox while Lotus also offers a sportier, close-ratio transmission. For those that insist on buying a sports car for all the wrong reasons, an automatic version is in the company's future plans.

With the stick shift, the Evora goes from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in just over five seconds while returning an average fuel consumption of 8.7l/100km (combined highway/urban cycle).

VIDEO: Lotus Evora V6 3.5 276HP Test Drive in Scotland

Here's one of the first videos of the Lotus Evora sports coupe that was filmed during the official press launch event in Scotland earlier this month. The first truly-new Lotus in almost 15 years is powered by a mid-mounted, Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 that cranks out 276HP at 6,400 rpm and 252 lbs-ft or 342Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm launching the coupe from rest to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 260 km/h or 162mph.

Priced between the Porsche Caymen and the 911, the Evora is offered as a strictly two-seater as well as a 2+2. European sales are set to start in late May with North America following in early 2010.

Merci for the link Maxime!

Lotus Evora Sports Coupe: Updated Photo Gallery, New Details

With the delivery of the first examples of the all-new Lotus Evora in Europe only weeks away in early June, we thought we'd update our album of the mid-engined British sports coupe with the latest batch of photos that include static shots as well as images from the building process. Initially, the sports car will be offered with a mid-mounted, Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 rated at 276 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 252 lbs-ft or 342Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm.

Toyota has also provided the vehicle with a six-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels. Buyers can also opt for close ratio version of the stick shift while an automatic transmission is planned for the near future.

Lotus claims that with the six-speed manual the Evora can sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in just over 5 seconds and has a top speed in excess of 260 km/h or 162mph. Thanks to its lightweight construction, the Evora boasts a relatively low fuel consumption figure for this type of vehicle with an average of 8.7 liters/100 km which is the U.S. equivalent of 28.1mpg.

As well as being sold in a 2+2 configuration, the car will also be available as a two-seater, the space in the rear being allocated to luggage storage. The British sports carmaker has also revealed that it is planning to introduce other derivatives of the Evora in the next few years including a convertible and more hardcore versions. In North America, the Evora will arrive in the beginning of 2010.