Ahead of the official unveil at the Paris Motor Show on September 30th, Lotus announce the latest evolution of the award winning Evora – the Evora S and Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option.
Lotus has taken the award winning* Evora and re-created it with a 350 PS 3.5l V6 engine to create the Evora S. Dany Bahar Lotus’ Chief Executive Officer summed it up beautifully when he said: “You don’t realise what you were missing from your driving experience until you get behind the wheel of the Evora S.”
So apart from the obvious power difference, how is the Evora S different to the standard Evora? It’s another question we put to the CEO (given that he’s spent a little time behind the wheel, we thought he’d be best placed to answer questions). This is what he said: “It’s the next level of Evora experience. It communicates with you better, the suspension setting has been fine tuned for added power and control so it responds even more to direction. It’s an instinctual car, the experience is pure.”
Due to environmental considerations Lotus will soon be quitting production of the Elise and Exige with the Toyota 1.8l 2ZZ-GE engine fitted. Euro 5 emissions regulations mean that the engine which has been used for the Elise R/SC and all S2 Exige models plus the 2Eleven is no longer an available powerplant and the final 40 build slots left will be allocated by the 27th of August this year. When supercharged and intercooled the engine would produce 260ps propelling the Exige Cup 260 from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and 0-100 mph in sub 10 seconds, quite an act to follow.
Currently the Elise production cars are being produced with a Toyota 1.6l engine in the base S model which passes all Euro 5 emissions requirements and we are unaware of what engine will power the models further up the range. Speculation of a V6 engine for the Exige has been seen online, perhaps this is something we'll see at the Paris motorshow next month along with the rumoured Evora S / Evora Auto and new Esprit.
This is the end of an era for this race proven bullet-proof engine which we're sure will be sadly missed by Lotus enthusiasts. What Lotus plan to do with their core models isn't clear, fingers crossed they're something special up their sleeves.
You can join in our discussion on the forums here.
The 'Exos* Experience by Lotus'. The Exos Experience, initiated and operated by Lotus Motorsport, is an elite club. A club in which the limited number of Lotus 125 owner drivers can refine their driving skills and challenge themselves in Formula 1™ inspired technology combined with expert one-to-one advice from former Grand Prix drivers and trainers.
The ‘Exos Experience by Lotus’ is a new concept for these most exclusive owners and members to improve their race craft and engineering prowess, learn how to set-up a car working with a race engineer, focus on mental and physical fitness and enjoy a driving experience quite literally out-of-this-world. A team of engineers, aerodynamicists, tyre specialists and experts from every field have the specific aim of delivering the optimum performance vehicle.
Lotus are the first and only manufacturer to offer such a product, this car is simply amazing!!
The Exos is a 650bhp car with unique tub and construction for accommodation similar to the Evora, it can fit drivers from 4'8" to 6'4" and all in between.
The car will be aligned with a totally unique and exclusive lifestyle package that you would only be able to find in the edges of the EXOSphere*.
*The exosphere is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere. In the exosphere, an upward travelling molecule can escape to space if it is moving fast enough to attain escape velocity; otherwise it will be pulled back to the celestial body by gravity. In either case, such a molecule is unlikely to collide with another molecule due to the exosphere's low density.
"The GGLC was proud to attend the world premier of the new Lotus Exos Type 125 at the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion today. The Lotus T125 is an F1 inspired track only car that uses Formula technology and a Cosworth V8 to provide stunning performance for the ultimate track day toy.
The first things that strikes you when you walk in is how much it looks like a current generation F1 car. The chassis is a carbon fiber monocoque both the wide front wing and the narrow rear wings of the 2009-spec F1 cars. It also has the coke bottle shape, top exit exhaust and shark fin engine covers that have been in vogue. Other technical similarities include carbon ceramic brakes and a carbon fiber pushrod suspension.
The F1 technology continues inside the cockpit there the car uses paddle shifters to control the semi automatic gearbox as well as a multi function screen on the steering wheel that allows drivers to set the various parameters on the fly.
The engine is a 3.5L Cosworth GPV8 that has been detuned to produce 650 bhp with a 10,300 rpm redline (10,800 push to pass). Weighing just 650kg the car will have a power to weight ratio just shy of 1000 bhp per ton and should be faster than anything short of a recent Formula 1 car. However unlike an F1 car this engine is designed to run 4500 km between rebuilds and has a starter motor so that you don’t need a support crew to be able to run the car at the track.
Lotus plans to make just 25 Exos next year and will be pricing then at one million dollars apiece. Apart from the car itself, the Exos program will also include 5 “driver events” at various race tracks that will allow the owners to slowly come up to speed with the performance of their new car by getting instruction and advice from a variety of current and past Lotus drivers (a little birdy tells us that Mika Häkkinen and Jarno Trulli will be involved).
For more on the Exos please watch this video of Stephen Wright from Lotus Motorsports explaining the philosphy behind the Exos."
This Saturday sees the World debut of the most exclusive and expensive Lotus since the company began in 1952.
The Lotus T125 will premier on Saturday August 7th at Laguna Seca, during Monterey Car Week, where the official name will also be annouced. Since it's earliest days the names of Lotus road and track cars have started with E and the T125 is no exception.
There is no word yet on when the car will be shown in the UK but expect it to be on display at the Paris Motor Show in October.
At the same time will be the North American debut of the Evora Cup GT4 race car where Johnny Mowlem, fresh from a successful run at Snetterton recently, will put it through it's paces on the world famous track. Johnny will be providing rides to seriously interested Evora Cup GT4 prospects.
