Lotus Evora

[NickCats]

Saw this yesterday in a magazine at the gym :

http://www.leftlanenews.com/lotus-evora.html

Looks like a decent competitor for the Cayman.

( 276 hp / 250 torque for around $65k )

Nick

[ekam]

It uses a Toyota Camry engine, I suppose it won't explode on you but still.

[Lil bastard]

It looks like it'll be a pretty nice car.

But why Lotus didn't just go with the Lexus IS350 version of the same V6 (306hp right out of the box - before the Lotus tuners get their hands on it) is a mystery...
Unless Lotus is avoiding moving the mid-market model too up-market where it would compete with the upcoming new Esprit (similar to Porsche's longstanding philosophy).

The Evora and Esprit will share the same platform (though modded for the Esprit), and supposedly also future Astons - the VVA (Versatile Vehicle Architecture).

Like most things Lotus, it's sure to be something interesting. Probably mid-summer before any are in stateside showrooms.

[Jeph]

I would own an Elise if I could fit in one. I hear these are going to be larger on the inside. That would be nice. These look good, but I think the Elise looks a little better. I can't wait to see them out in the wild.

[yellowboxster01]

That's a good looking car, kind of has some Ferrariesque lines.

Lotus has tried this before back in 06 with one called the Europa S. It failed straight out of the gates. Admittedly this is a lot better looking car and the Elise craze is slowly dropping off.

Side story, my friend owns an Elise and let me drive it a month or so ago. I am 6'4" and was the most uncomfortable I've ever been in a car and that includes sitting in the back seat of an old 911. But, I had the most fun I've had on four wheels outside of driving an Atom.

Why does Lotus now use Toyota motors? Are they owed by the same?

[ekam]

Originally Posted by yellowboxster01

Why does Lotus now use Toyota motors? Are they owed by the same?

Lotus has been using Toyota Celica 1.8L motor on Elise/Exige for quite a while now.

Lotus has a working relationship with Toyota previously:

"Lotus was responsible for the suspension calibration of the Toyota MR2 Mk. I, the Toyota Supra Mk. II and Mk. III."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Cars

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by yellowboxster01

Why does Lotus now use Toyota motors? Are they owed by the same?

Lotus has only produced one motor of it's own in it's 60+ years of existance- the Twin Turbo V8 used in the '96 and later Esprits - the 918 engine.

Understand that for most of it's history, Lotus rarely produced more than 1,000 cars annually (vs Ferrari which produces about 8,000/yr.), and you see that it doesn't make a lot of financial sense to make engines from scratch.

Prior to that, all Lotus cars used someone else's engines.

The Formula Two cars built by Lotus in the late '40's/early '50's used a Riley engine. The Formula One cars used a Coventry Climax FWMV V8.

The Lotus Indy cars used first the Cosworth V8, and also the Turbine 'STP' cars (Lotus Chassis). There was even one Porsche powered Lotus 11 (until the Lotus 'demolished' the Porsche factory cars, whereupon Porsche cancelled their contract to supply engines).

The Sevens and Elites used a british Ford L-head (or side valve) engine later replaced by the BMC series-A motor, or optional Coventry Climax engine.

The Elans and Europas used a Kent (english Ford) based motor. Even the '77-'95 Esprits used an engine, though cast by Lotus, was based on the Kent.

The M-100 Elan of the early '90's used an Isuzu Gemini engine.

Even the 1st Gen Elise used a reworked Kent engine ROW - only with the US Market Elise in '04, was a Toyota engine used because it had already passed EPA (Lotus initially wanted the Honda VTEC engine, but Honda could not meet demand, most of the motors needed for internal use) , and Lotus expected market didn't warrant the expense or work of getting the Kent motor certified.

Now, Lotus often produced the Head and much of the internals, tailored the intake/exhaust, and/or re-mapped the software for each of these engines.

Lotus certainly never lacked the expertise to build their own engines - Lotus designed the famed Corvette LT5 engine (hand-built by Mercury Marine), and it was rumored that GM bought Lotus ('84-'95) specifically for their engine and suspension engineering expertise, which GM used extensively in the both the Fiero and the Corvette projects.

So, it's not at all unusual, rather, it's more the 'norm', for Lotus to source their engines elsewhere.

[Jaxonalden]

Originally Posted by ekam

It uses a Toyota Camry engine, I suppose it won't explode on you but still.

Ekam,

Did you get a sex change? Your profile says "M" but that pic is not "M"

[941MXVET]

You can really tell that they build the bodies for Tesla.

Looks like a great car.

Originally Posted by NickCats

Saw this yesterday in a magazine at the gym :

http://www.leftlanenews.com/lotus-evora.html

Looks like a decent competitor for the Cayman.

( 276 hp / 250 torque for around $65k )

Nick