Evora GT410 Sport launched

[The Pits]

Yes I think that’s how it’s meant to work. The 400 has never looked so reasonably priced! Does that still come with the stereo as standard too?

[TheKevlarKid]

Quote from JMG in the latest pistonheads interview.

"The Chinese firm has made commitments over new models, including the inevitable SUV but also more sports cars (which will be revealed in three to four months, he says). "

 

So there you go. Push as much out the door as possible...

[TheKevlarKid]

Lol, lotus have a real knack of pissing on thier latest and greatest customers. What, the 125k evora 430 is not poster worthy?

"So maybe it's time for another Esprit? "For brand building Lotus needs something above the Evora," he agreed. "It needs a poster car again.""

[The Pits]

I don't think you interpreted the first quote correctly. 

Seems pretty clear to me that he meant the plans for the new sports cars will be revealed in the three to four months. Not that new sports cars will be launched in three to four months.

As for the second one, that's some pretty spectacular spin to twist a quote about a possible new 'supercar' and turn it into an insult on the Evora, which wasn't actually mentioned at any point!

I'm personally far more upset about the need for an SUV. Totally admire McLaren's stance on it, massive respect them flicking two fingers at the band wagon. If money can be made without SUVs then why bother?

[TheKevlarKid]

The plans for new models have been on the cards for years, they've desperately needed new models but they've had no money to carry them out until now. To me it was blatantly obvious what was going to happen when Geely bought them, you don't buy a company like lotus if you don't have plans to move it forward asap. They were never just going to let it bimble along as it has done. 

 

And yes, he clearly refers to needing something above the evora which is 'poster worthy', it's right there in black and white.

[Barrykearley]

Christ on a bike - Lotus announce a new model or the possibility of a new model and time and time again - folks on here Bitch and whine.

maybe they should just have stuck to 7s and the elan

I for one and excited to see the brand expansion, new jobs in the uk and a new uk built Sportscar

[TheKevlarKid]

Two new sports car models Barry by the sounds of it. Don't know who you refer to but the only bitchin and whining I'm doing is the fact I've got to wait for them to arrive.. Not that they are coming, bring it on, sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.

[Bruss]

Yeah, I'm bitching and whining. I've been buying Lotus since 1973. I bought my first Evora an S as a stop gap in 2011 on the promise that a new Esprit was just around the corner. I'm still waiting. Meanwhile we get either warmed over versions of what we already have, or massive price increases for small developmental changes.

 

[The Pits]

So how much would you pay for a new Esprit and what would it need to have in order to justify that price?

[Bruss]

23 minutes ago, The Pits said:

So how much would you pay for a new Esprit and what would it need to have in order to justify that price?

I'd pay Mclaren prices if it competed with Mclaren. It'd need to have 2 variants, track and GT. Track optimised one, road driveable. GT full comfort mode with a radio that worked not just next to the mast at Hethel.

[Bruss]

I guess for me having lived with Lotus for a long time, I've been fortunate enough to work through their range over the years. I'm now in old man with a few quid mode and want to move up to something better than the Evora. The 430 looks to be a cracking car but it's too much for me to want to pay for a very small improvement over the exsisting range. 

The ideal car for me if I was younger and not so cash rich would be the Elise  sub 40k, then on to an Evora sub 80k, then on to a halo model 100-150 k. Any of those could then have specials at extra cost in the range. That's where my sportscar history has been with Elan, plus 2,  Esprit etc. I just see Lotus as having no strategy, just a scatter gun approach scrabbling for anything that'll sell rather than building a loyal base.  It's a shame.

Edited January 27, 2018 by Bruss
Fumble fingers

[The Pits]

If I thought McLaren had all the answers I’d just get one of those. What do you think an Esprit could potentially do better?

No room for another me too supercar like the Bahar concept in my view. Needs to be distinctive, bold and innovative. I like the reference to a poster car because Lotus needs to make a statement if they’re going into that territory.

We have at least two GT430 owners here who also own McLarens, perhaps they can explain why they felt the need to buy a ‘warmed over’ version of a 10 year old Lotus design.

 

[Barrykearley]

What I find intriguing @The Pits is that with the old esprit - Lotus apparently had to make it a v8 - the market demanded it apparently. Yet if you look at the numbers it never really sold in the numbers they previously did and sadly the production ceased. 

I would say that for 20odd years Lotus did a simply amazing job with the esprit. There’s still model development in the Evora for sure. Bloody hell - Porsche have managed to wring decades out of a squashed beetle

[Stirling_Villeneuve]

3 hours ago, Bruss said:

I'd pay Mclaren prices if it competed with Mclaren. It'd need to have 2 variants, track and GT. Track optimised one, road driveable. GT full comfort mode with a radio that worked not just next to the mast at Hethel.

No problem McLaren radio's aren't what you'd expect!  

[Trevsked]

1 hour ago, The Pits said:

If I thought McLaren had all the answers I’d just get one of those. What do you think an Esprit could potentially do better?

No room for another me too supercar like the Bahar concept in my view. Needs to be distinctive, bold and innovative. I like the reference to a poster car because Lotus needs to make a statement if they’re going into that territory.

We have at least two GT430 owners here who also own McLarens, perhaps they can explain why they felt the need to buy a ‘warmed over’ version of a 10 year old Lotus design.

 

Stupidity probably.

I bought the Mclaren believing it yo be what Lotus would make if they had the funds. It's pretty close to my idea of exactly that but pretty close isn't close enough. It's a fabulous car but the Lotus involves me more, it's a car I come back from a drive in and can't wait to get back in for some more. Leaves me with a smile on my face and makes me wonder how Lotus do it. 

Trevor.

[NedaSay]

Should Geely do things properly I think the next gen Evora will be more than enough for most people as far as sports car can go. But If I look at the current Evora GT, I'm red with envy. I believe the car has never been better. It is not for every one and the naysayers will say it's not good enough, but if you look beyond the spec sheet the car is nothing short of superbe.

Should Lotus get another Esprit out ? Yes, I believe they should get another lust worthy poster car out, but it better be something very special and by special I mean out of this world, cause the current crop of exotic supercars makes very very good supercars (Honda NSX, Audi R8...) look simply pedestrian. So if they do it they better do it right.

Time is playing in funny ways, if the investment is significant Lotus should have no problem coming with a stunner. I guess we could see a prototype of the car sometime in July... Unveiling the design and concept early would give Lotus enough time to correct course if they need to. Powertrain will be the focal point...  4cyl hybrid or V6 twin turbo or something else (V8?). Reason calls for the 4cyl, heart want a V8 if investment is real, it is all possible. But a return to a 4cyl would be a nice nod to the origins of the company.   

I believe the design team that is working on the next generation of cars is led by a very capable if underrated chief designer... Russel Carr has worked wonders on the Elise latest refresh, the Exige and the Evora GT and the SUV patent drawing looks very convincing and cohesive to me. The design should not be a problem.

In terms of electronic and cabin tech the future Lotus will literally leap forward and it will not please everyone eventhough I don't know many who are happy with the current level of cabin tech. Ergonomics and the long time weakest link that was the loom will be history. Bye bye old GM and Ford bits, hello customized Volvo parts bin

Waiting for that I think the Evora GT in 410 Sport, 430 Sport of 430 is the heck of an offering. 

Also it is kind of funny to see how much drama the refresh of the Sport410 has been especially when you consider the price of the new car.   

[The Pits]

Yes V8 Esprit seemed to make many people appreciate the 4 cyl more. I like both personally but currently happy to own a four. Again I don’t subscribe to the view that new automatically = better.

I’m personally more interested in the last and ultimate versions of the current cars as I don’t believe we’ll see their like again. They are already unique among sports cars. The days of supercharged petrol V6 sports cars are seriously numbered. From one recent JMG interview:

“High-end sportscars will need some form of electrification. There will be combustion engines in them for the next 10 years, but it will switch at some point. We need to be prepared and we will be prepared. We have it in our plans because sportscars will transition to electric, and they will do so more quickly than some sportscar makers believe.”

Part of my justification for the GT430 came with the realisation that I may only buy one more new sports car from here because of the direction cars are going in. No point in saving for future cars that won’t be of interest. Don’t like autos, no interest in hybrids (however fast) for recreational use. If you’re buying an expensive petrol car now, make sure it has track ability. Going forward they’ll always have some use and value if they’re good to drive on track. It won’t be too long before that’s the only place you’ll be allowed to enjoy the internal combustion engine.

 

[DarrylV8]

8 hours ago, Barrykearley said:

What I find intriguing @The Pits is that with the old esprit - Lotus apparently had to make it a v8 - the market demanded it apparently. Yet if you look at the numbers it never really sold in the numbers they previously did and sadly the production ceased. 

I would say that for 20odd years Lotus did a simply amazing job with the esprit. There’s still model development in the Evora for sure. Bloody hell - Porsche have managed to wring decades out of a squashed beetle

I could never see the rationale for the V8 twin turbo the 4 pot was circa 300horses and the V8 only 50horses more (yes I appreciate chassis may have paid a part) and yet a substantial weight increase

as others have said the GT430 is an excellent sports car, not an Esprit in name but for me certainly the “halo” car, congrats to all those who had the wisdom to put their money into one 

and yes I would like to see a 460 Evora or even a (wide version Evora) new model with 600bhp, but for today the GT 430 is my dream Lotus 

[jonnyboy]

I happened to flick youtube on today and watched the Evora megafactories thing with Mr "you know who"  featuring heavily. 

A bit of you cant help but wonder what that drive and vision could have become with a bit of cash. 5 cars n 6 years was never realistic but 2 or 3 would have been great and all of the early concepts looked compelling. 

Geely have an almost impossible task ahead but hopefully they will actually make the investment and we will see something.  Mr "you know who" had a stated aim of returning Lotus to be a premium sportscar manufacturer and that aim it seems to me is still just as relevant now.  

[Bibs]

1 hour ago, jonnyboy said:

what that drive and vision could have become with a bit of cash

He managed to get through close to £285m in a couple of years, that's quite a bit of cash and very little actually came of it. 

[C8RKH]

Yes. How fickle peoples memories are. If he had spent less on his office, helicopters and the like then who knows maybe the new Esprit would be here. And the Motorsport department and key engineering teams would all still be operating fully.

What a fantastic own goal and missed opportunity.

Out of interest @Bibs there are few interior shots of the GT410. Any ideas on what seats come as standard? Same carbon race seats as the 410 Sport?

[Bibs]

https://www.thelotusforums.com/latest-news/lotus-cars-news/lotus-evora-gt410-sport-revealed/

Quote

As with its Evora stablemates the Evora GT410 Sport cabin includes Lotus’ beautifully detailed carbon race seats (2+0 configuration only) and carbon door sill inserts. The steering wheel, dashboard, door panels, transmission tunnel, centre console and instrument binnacle are all trimmed in black Alcantara®, complemented by contrast twin colour stitching. Optional Sparco race seats are available in both 2+0 and 2+2 configurations

Obvs the optional Sparco's in the press release shots. 

[C8RKH]

Thanks @Bibs. That's the only real interior shot I can find anywhere and it seems that only the launch photos are really out there and many look photoshopped as opposed to real car.

[Bibs]

I should be getting mine in a week or so, I'll take all the pics you like

[Barrykearley]

9 hours ago, Bibs said:

He managed to get through close to £285m in a couple of years, that's quite a bit of cash and very little actually came of it. 

He did refurb a v8 after all...