IPS

[CTE]

Can anyone tell me if the IPS gearbox uses the old slush box technology (so the drive is constantly slipping), or is it like the ZF set up used by BMW/Jaguar etc, where it uses a locking clutch, so that once the torque converter has changed gear, the final drive is locked by a seperate clutch. This clutch switches in and out everytime the gears are changed to give a positive drive...quite a good compromise really.

[5ltr V8]

Hi, I own one, it is the latter. It isn't as sharp as some of the latest DSG types, but it does a good job of locking the torque converter, and not slushing it's way through the gears.

Cheers. :-)

[CTE]

Great thanks...

[alex_gray255]

Works fine. Nice and crisp

[dulcinea]

I went from an IPS into an M3 with DCT. There is a difference and in comparison the IPS feels a bit slushy, albeit primarily on the way down the box. Upshifts are fun. I loved my Evora when I had it and the gearbox did not feel much of a compromise.

[CTE]

Well I took the plunge and upgraded my

[CTE]

Err do not know what happened there...but to continue...I have changed my 2011 's for a 2013 IPS SR spec. Comments have been made before about the upgrade is not worth the cost well I have to disagree, ...it for me is a vastly better car (not that the 2011 car was bad in any way...I have had some great experiences with it) and while the IPS system is not in the same league as many contemporaries, it works adequately well and is good fun when you have tuned into it. The car just seems more solid, refined, better controlled and the list goes on. I have done about 1500 miles this week and it just seems to get better with every mile, so yes I am very pleased with it and is now my daily driver!
I am in a fortunate position and also own a McLaren 12C. The McLaren is blindingly good in all respects but I have to say the Evora is absolutely superb also and at 1/3rd the new cost is pound for pound the better car. If the Mclaren had to go tomorrow I do not think my motoring life would be any less fulfilled.
Bring on the 400!

[AlanH1]

How do you think the 400 will compare with the Mclaren?

Have a longing for a mp4 but is it too much for the road? Its fantasy at the moment anyway but hey.

[CTE]

I think the McLaren will be considerably faster but I think the 400 will still be a great car and every bit as much fun, and with much lower running costs. Interestingly though time will tell what the ownership cost of both will be... I do not think the 12C will depreciate much and if anything it might appreciate...people are beginning to realise just how good they are after some negative initial press. I test drove a 458 and came away preferring my then 2011 Evora!...
When talking to a colleague today I said that if I had to give up the 12C tomorrow, I would not be too disappointed given just how competent the Evora is...the 12C is pretty special, but the Evora is still a cracking car.

[anonymous-user]

Compared to the gear box in my BMW, the iPS can occasionally feel a bit agricultural when driving normally, but I find it works better in sports mode and when pushing on. Which is how it should be, I suppose.

[CTE]

Ah yes in answer to the question "is the MP4 too much for the road?" Hmm well virtually every car can comfortably exceed the speed limits so arguably all cars are too much. The MP4 though can be very docile and relaxed...just like the Evora, but yes when you want to nip by some slow moving traffic, you`ll find that by the time you have pulled parallel you`ll be in licence losing territory, but then you won`t be too far off that in the Evora.
You are right in that the Lotus has plenty of power for the road but in truth both have too much. Which do I prefer driving?...the MP4 and the additional power has a lot to do with it...

[AlanH1]

Thanks CTE, think I will hire a Mclaren next year and try and get it out of my system.

[Hedgerley]

CTE said:

I think the McLaren will be considerably faster but I think the 400 will still be a great car and every bit as much fun, and with much lower running costs. Interestingly though time will tell what the ownership cost of both will be... I do not think the 12C will depreciate much and if anything it might appreciate...people are beginning to realise just how good they are after some negative initial press. I test drove a 458 and came away preferring my then 2011 Evora!...
When talking to a colleague today I said that if I had to give up the 12C tomorrow, I would not be too disappointed given just how competent the Evora is...the 12C is pretty special, but the Evora is still a cracking car.

There are plenty of very good reviews of the 400 out there now, including one in the new Octane magazine, by John Simister. He prefers it to the McLaren 675LT also reviewed in the same issue - "more usable, tactile fun more of the time. Lotus's rebirth has got off to a good start"

And hallelujah - not one mention of Porsche in the entire piece!!!

[XBOW]

Nice choice of car with the McLaren

Funny how easily the man maths can make an upcoming 540 seem a bargain, yet an Evora 400 is half the price and just half a sec slower to 60 !

Did try the Evora IPS but at 1.4 secs from paddle activation to gear change it was just too long for me, when car had to fulfil daily runner plus weekend hoon car. If they could fit a decent paddle shifter box the Evora 400 would seem a bargain vs competitors in my humble opinion.

[Sumsion]

At 1.4 secs it is a lot quicker than my manual gear change !

[CTE]

According to the blurb the 400 IPS change is much improved, although sadly still a bit short of the current German offerings...if only Loftus could really bottom this...still the current car is brilliant so the 400 will be even better.

[stuno1]

Apparently the 400 is 0.4 seconds not compared to the older generation 1.4 seconds which is bonkers for a sports car. My Lexus ISF which is a 2008 model shifts in 0.2 seconds.

I really wanted the automatic IPS until I heard about the time to shift gears. Autos really can offer the best of both worlds in terms of weekend blast and shopping card/traffic ease. I test drove a manual in the end and that's the option ill be going with.

[CTE]

Yes the change is a bit slow and irritating at times, but you know what, the car is so smooth and great to drive that the irritation is minor, and you adjust to it, which in some ways makes it more fun (and I think it is better in standard rather than sport...which is too frenetic most of the time). My 12C is spot on, but I did a trackday a couple of weeks ago and the car was awesome, but a friend of mine said that I did not seem to be bouncing off the walls with excitement over it. Having thought about his comment, I came to the conclusion that it was the lack of involvement in the gearchange process that took away a bit of the edge or fun...so for trackdays, whilst slower, the manual route is preferred, but for the road, auto is the better compromise by some way.
Not driven the 400 yet, but I guess it is a great drive and Octane apparently rate it above the 675LT for all round fun and usability!

[stuno1]

CTE said:

Yes the change is a bit slow and irritating at times, but you know what, the car is so smooth and great to drive that the irritation is minor, and you adjust to it, which in some ways makes it more fun (and I think it is better in standard rather than sport...which is too frenetic most of the time). My 12C is spot on, but I did a trackday a couple of weeks ago and the car was awesome, but a friend of mine said that I did not seem to be bouncing off the walls with excitement over it. Having thought about his comment, I came to the conclusion that it was the lack of involvement in the gearchange process that took away a bit of the edge or fun...so for trackdays, whilst slower, the manual route is preferred, but for the road, auto is the better compromise by some way.
Not driven the 400 yet, but I guess it is a great drive and Octane apparently rate it above the 675LT for all round fun and usability!

Having driven my ISF for 2 years, it was an absolute joy to use the manual box in the MY2012 Evora s. As you say no quality of auto box can match the fun and involvement with the car. You feel so much more a part of the machine and while manual changes are slower they feel sooooooo good!

[Mossyboy1978]

As part of my service for the Evora S today I had the latest gearbox and ECU software flashed to the car. It's been a noticeable difference. MUCH smoother in auto mode, no more clunking between P/N/R/D and much better shifting across the range. Whole car feels like a new item. Moreover, I appear to now be getting 22mpg?!? It's brilliant. So pleased with it. I would encourage anyone with the IPS gearbox to get to a dealer soon as poss and get it done.



Well done Lotus - hats off to you for continuing to develop older models when the new car is already out there on sale. Love that!