R&T 2020 Performance Car of the Year - Evora GT

[Julian73]

On 07/11/2019 at 15:33, The Pits said:

More modern interior gadgets are very likely, lower C of G less so. A DSG auto would be considered by an increasing number to be a step back in terms of driver engagement but would probably help sales.

Lotus' ambition to sell far more cars in the future means they will likely follow the lead taken by Ferrari and others to make their cars easy to drive for less skilled drivers. That is a common trend throughout the industry but most things I have read lately say this is coming at the expense of driver engagement. Fast cars are in general getting faster, easier, safer, but less involving. Progress for many but not everyone.

The first really all-new Lotus is still a very long way off but it's likely to be auto only and have electric steering as both are necessary for autonomous driving tech, something Geely is very into. Seems to completely miss the entire point of a Lotus to me but what do I know?

I like the idea of a longitudinally mounted V6 in an Evora chassis, quite happy with the same V6 (or a version of it) but mounted North-South and lower if possible sounds like an improvement but it would very likely be considered of little to no benefit to the vast majority of car buyers and not worth re-engineering cost. I really don't think any such thing is of any concern to Lotus at this time. Daily useability, ease of ingress/egress and interior tech are the priorities. I happen to know that it will look jaw dropping too. But a major step on as a pure drivers car? I haven't heard anything yet to suggest that it will be.

I would give up the back "seat" for the fitment of a longitudinal 3.5L V6 with dry sump to lower it; this should also open the section of transmissions, both manual and DSG

[DBG]

I love the interior of my Launch edition. Literally every surface of the interior is covered by leather with lovely visible double stitching - even the footwells! The buttons are all brushed aluminum, the steering wheel is magnesium, it has an elbow rest also covered in leather with a beautiful exposed aluminum hinge, good sized door pockets also covered in leather, aluminium door pull handles plus soft mood lighting highlighting the dash shape when the doors are opened at night. My only complaint is the design of the airbag cover. It just doesn’t cope with the Aussie sun. 

It seems a good chunk of the things people complain about these days have been introduced with the newer models - higher seating position, weird ignition sequence, plastic buttons etc.

I kind of hope the next Lotus isn’t too mainstream, I like the uniqueness. Appealing to the masses is sure to dilute the driving involvement. 

[au-yt]

17 minutes ago, Julian73 said:

I would give up the back "seat" for the fitment of a longitudinal 3.5L V6 with dry sump to lower it; this should also open the section of transmissions, both manual and DSG

And then call it the Esprit

 

DBG...I kind of hope the next Lotus isn’t too mainstream, I like the uniqueness. Appealing to the masses is sure to dilute the driving involvement. 

Sadly that’s what I’ve been told it will be but let’s hope the driver involvement remains.

[C8RKH]

You know, looking at these interior pictures I am honestly at a loss as to what people are complaining about. Lovely leather. Alcantara. Carbon fibre. And the colour combination here just looks superb to me. Even details like the red leather seat pull strap. Given the size and resources Lotus has had, prior to Geely, come on guys, this is pretty damned good and would be a lovely place to be surely?

 

[The Pits]

Certainly works for me. Armrests too!

 

[Snoopy1969]

14 hours ago, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

Never seen those red accents on a 288 GTO before. I’ve only ever seen all black interiors. Is that a factory option?

@LotusLeftLotusRight yes it was - black or red inserts were possible.

after 7,5 years in an S1 I am happy every time I enter the cabin - nearly all parts covered with leather (My 12 premium pack, imperial blue), exquisite recaro seats with long distance travel quality, sci-fi appeal analog gauges (altjough I have ro admit that the Tft display in our Golf with the map in the middle of the gauges is very good for  navigation....)- can't really understand why so many people seem to complain about the "quality" - ok if its hot the ac gas problems to cool the int down but I think that you should not forget that it is a mid-engined car producing s o m e heat.....the 400/410/430 interior for ME (personal taste) is no "plus" but if I would be in the market for buying an Evora, no reason not to buy. The problem is more in the area esp @bruss mentioned. For a satisfied s1 owner there is not much difference if you would buy a 410 or 430 (lot in Europe not sold) b u t the 'upgrade' would cost you a significant amount of money that has no relation to the grade of difference in my eyes. 60 hp more or not irrelevant in modern traffic, other bumpers matter of taste......

So lets see if there will a predecessor in some time ......if not Evora still thrills over here 😀

[C8RKH]

25 minutes ago, Snoopy1969 said:

The problem is more in the area esp @bruss mentioned. For a satisfied s1 owner there is not much difference if you would buy a 410 or 430 (lot in Europe not sold) b u t the 'upgrade' would cost you a significant amount of money that has no relation to the grade of difference in my eyes. 60 hp more or not irrelevant in modern traffic, other bumpers matter of taste......

That is always the way when you look at just about any car - the price difference to change after 5 years (a good late S1) will always be significant and do you really get that much more. Comapre to a MacLaren; an Audi R8, even a Porsche 911 or an Aston Martin Vantage - the cost to change will always be around £50k. Take a 5 year Porsche 911 you will get around £40k for it, a new one with a few "options" will be £90k - so £50k cost to change.

You can take a late model S1 "S" at £45k value, and pay £95k for a new GT410 - £50k price difference.

Audi R8, Nissan GTR, no difference really and are the newer models really that much better or different?

It just feels to me that nobody is ever really satisfied with whatever Lotus do or don't do. The cost or value of changing up from a used to a new car has always been high has it not.

[DarrylV8]

Never had a problem with buying newer Lotus cars went from an Elise 111R to an SC, Exige Cup 260 to a Roadster,  Evora S to GT430  and always enjoyed  the experience that each car gave.

[Kevin Wheeler]

On 09/11/2019 at 08:51, C8RKH said:

accountants who know nothing better 😆😜🤪

If I knew anything, I would resent that remark.

This is the ultimate interior - everything I need and nothing I don't

[C8RKH]

Petrolicious just about nailed the interior/quality aspects for me in their latest review of the Evoar GT - I know it's not like me to steer stuff back on topic but heh....!

 

 

"I’ve driven several versions of the Evora before the GT, and I can tell you this much improved over its previous renditions. There was a lot to like when sitting behind the wheel of this edition. It had everything you need and nothing extra. Seats, three pedals, a stick, and an engine right behind my head. In fact, it’s all you can see in the rearview mirror. It does have the necessary creature comforts like AC and a radio, which used to be all one needed.  Now the modern car is laden down with all levels of nanny-state features, not so with the Lotus Evora GT."

"I have been looking forward to driving the Lotus Evora GT for quite some time. After the bloggers, the podcasters, the columnists, and the influencers had a go, I finally got my chance. And guess what? Everything worked. This Lotus had been through the wringer and had emerged ready and willing for an afternoon of canyon carving. All the stories of “built in a shed” and comments about reliability are firmly buried in the past." 

[Loquacious Lew]

I'm not sure the new interior is really that different functionally from previous (4XX) ones but it has been nicely restyled and dressed up with a bit more attention to detail and if my eyes serve me properly, an incrementally improved level of fit and finish.  All US bound cars  get carbon seat backs and some carbon hard parts with those handsome contrasting seat panels that look terrific.  I think for most folks the seats have always  been comfortably form fitting without having being overly confining and that has been retained but the look has clearly been improved upon. I prefer a leather wheel but admit the Alcantara version looks good.  I find my 400's interior a perfectly nice place to be, suited for purpose as they say but  the new one is incrementally better in all visible areas.  

When you get down to it, complaints usually center around features.  Repeating the usual refrains,  there are no gauges for oil pressure, voltage, and coolant temp as we'd expect on a full featured sports car.   The infotainment systems takes the  now expected heat for a lack of full integration, etc. While (again) I'm not sure full integration (abandoning the double din approach)  is a plus in the long run, most cross shopping people will expect a bit more in that department. The door handles are plastic, a place where I think a  few ounces of nicely cast and polished aluminum would have been welcome. And so it goes.

But if like many  traditional Lotus customers one appreciates the simplicity and basic functionality of a clean cockpit  then the interior fitment and feature set won't disappoint. Unfortunately not everyone sees it that way. A lot of the griping is about feature sets rather than actual quality per se. It does seem that build quality has been improving with each new iteration.  If you're a Lotus person, this is all a plus. Yet if Lotus is looking to expand its market appeal, then the interior can be criticized for the very qualities we (the add lightness crowd) may be somewhat indifferent to.  

The new car's interior looks great with visibly improved fitment and a more generous use of color yet is still much like the one in my 400 as regards function.  But we're the Lotus Elite (pun intended) and for broader appeal we can probably expect an expanded approach in the future in respect to  feature sets.  And likely, a different manufacturing approach as well.

 Do I want more gauges ? (I do).  Do I need power seats?  Not really but such things are  viewed as "progress" and a process that is required to sell more cars.   I just hope I can reject the things I don't want (power seats, needless gadgetry, etc) while quality and functionality continues to be improved where possible and as necessary. Oh....I don't care that the car uses Ford switch gear and many common parts.  I actually see that as a plus that will likely disappear as the company further integrates all the manufacturing processes and parts acquisition.  

 

All hail the new Lotus. Just let's not fully abandon the old one in the process.  

[Beady]

I have a 400 and love it. The interior quality has improved each stage from my LE, S1 MY12 to the 400 now.

However go sit in a 911 under 3 yrs old, let alone a new one or any other comparable.

The interior in a Lotus is now great if you are used to Lotus, but trying to tempt those from other Marques it falls a long way short.

Indicator stalks, mirror controls, key (from a 20 yr old Ford?) etc etc

I love it but I really think you need to WANT a Lotus to have one.

 

[au-yt]

5 hours ago, Beady said:

I have a 400 and love it. The interior quality has improved each stage from my LE, S1 MY12 to the 400 now.

However go sit in a 911 under 3 yrs old, let alone a new one or any other comparable.

The interior in a Lotus is now great if you are used to Lotus, but trying to tempt those from other Marques it falls a long way short.

Indicator stalks, mirror controls, key (from a 20 yr old Ford?) etc etc

I love it but I really think you need to WANT a Lotus to have one.

 

True to a point, but before I settled on my 400 which fitted my budget ( it was a demonstrator), I seriously looked at 04-05 Gallardo's (engine and parts issues) and Ferrari 360's (3 year timing belts and F1 pumps and sticky bits), I also considered a backdated 911 but there a bit like a pair of old slippers, use them all the time and don't care. Gosh I even considered the new A110. The decision was a process of elimination the right ups about the 400 and because it had Toyota V6.   I wanted something special and unique and it doesn't have Lambo gold chain or the Ferrari rich bloke. stigma. I have no Idea what I would replace it with and with the way things are heading I wont. I might even replace my 7 with a Toyota powered Elise.