RE: Lotus Evora 400 Hethel Edition
Discussion
Impasse said:
The Cortina and Carlton engine projects were funded by the respective parent companies. Not likely to happen with the Toyota engine and Proton, however the current supercharged application is very effective in the 400.
Proton sold Lotus several years ago. A Lotus-developed tuning package for the Toyota V6 could have benefits for Toyota too.Now, I haven't actually driven an Evora - but I've seen and stood next to a running 400. I've heard it accelerating away (jolly quickly). For God's sake, my E39s make more spine-tingling snarls. I've never heard a sports/supercar that's so bloody quiet! All the noise is rumble from the exhaust - the engine itself is barely audible. The owner I spoke to agreed - it didn't help that a 997 GT3 was a few spaces away, starting up and howling off into the distance. Later the same day I also saw and heard an Aston Martin DBS V12. I realise packaging a 12-cylinder into an Evora is a non-starter, but it did sound so much better.
I should add, although I have little interest in Toyotas and Japanese cars in general, I know that Toyota themselves have a fine record of making interesting-sounding engines. The old Lexus IS200 made a lovely noise, closely comparable to the BMW 320i of the time, and of course there have been various interesting-sounding high-performance models, right up to the LF-A. I just don't think a stock saloon car engine is the right engine for a sports car - and I'd say the same if it were a Jaguar, Audi or M-B V6. Jaguar puts the same engines in the F-type and XJ, but they're tuned very differently, so the F-type is much louder and more visceral... even though it doesn't actually make more power.
RoverP6B said:
Impasse said:
Umm, what?
Lotus got sold to another consortium of Malaysian investors a while back.Edited by kambites on Saturday 14th May 07:11
Impasse said:
RoverP6B said:
Lotus got sold to another consortium of Malaysian investors a while back.
Nope. It's almost like you're just making stuff up. Proton and its umbrella company DRB Hicom have been the custodian of Lotus for quite some time now. Impasse said:
RoverP6B said:
Lotus got sold to another consortium of Malaysian investors a while back.
Nope. It's almost like you're just making stuff up. Proton and its umbrella company DRB Hicom have been the custodian of Lotus for quite some time now. Instead of bashing the Evora, go and drive one. I had 30 minutes in a 400 a couple of weeks ago. After just 100 metres I turned to the passenger and said, "Jesus, this is really good." It takes no more than 100 metres to realise it. To drive, it's sublime. If you genuinely like driving (in preference to gizmos and soft touch plastics that you can impress the neighbours with) then I don't think there's much else to compete at its price point.
RoverP6B said:
Impasse said:
The Cortina and Carlton engine projects were funded by the respective parent companies. Not likely to happen with the Toyota engine and Proton, however the current supercharged application is very effective in the 400.
Proton sold Lotus several years ago. A Lotus-developed tuning package for the Toyota V6 could have benefits for Toyota too.Now, I haven't actually driven an Evora - but I've seen and stood next to a running 400. I've heard it accelerating away (jolly quickly). For God's sake, my E39s make more spine-tingling snarls. I've never heard a sports/supercar that's so bloody quiet! All the noise is rumble from the exhaust - the engine itself is barely audible. The owner I spoke to agreed - it didn't help that a 997 GT3 was a few spaces away, starting up and howling off into the distance. Later the same day I also saw and heard an Aston Martin DBS V12. I realise packaging a 12-cylinder into an Evora is a non-starter, but it did sound so much better.
I should add, although I have little interest in Toyotas and Japanese cars in general, I know that Toyota themselves have a fine record of making interesting-sounding engines. The old Lexus IS200 made a lovely noise, closely comparable to the BMW 320i of the time, and of course there have been various interesting-sounding high-performance models, right up to the LF-A. I just don't think a stock saloon car engine is the right engine for a sports car - and I'd say the same if it were a Jaguar, Audi or M-B V6. Jaguar puts the same engines in the F-type and XJ, but they're tuned very differently, so the F-type is much louder and more visceral... even though it doesn't actually make more power.
HeMightBeBanned said:
Instead of bashing the Evora, go and drive one. I had 30 minutes in a 400 a couple of weeks ago. After just 100 metres I turned to the passenger and said, "Jesus, this is really good." It takes no more than 100 metres to realise it. To drive, it's sublime. If you genuinely like driving (in preference to gizmos and soft touch plastics that you can impress the neighbours with) then I don't think there's much else to compete at its price point.
Spot on. I have an n/a evora. Before I test drove it I had a Cayman S and 997s for 3 days each. I couldn't decide. Then on the off chance I drove the evora (purely because I drove past lotus Silverstone after visiting the Porsche centre). Within half a mile it was a no brainer that as a driver the evora was the only choicesaaby93 said:
That was a Celebration run out of a standard car. It was never as green as it looks in that photo, as it was black lacquered. Black with a hint of green 
This looks like a sprint stripe on not even the top of the range model
What's to celebrate
It doesn't really matter. For a firm like Lotus, special editions are a brilliant and massively cost effective way to regularly grab headlines, obtain free marketing and sell cars. They haven't the budget to buy front pages nor do they produce enough new models etc to get the media talking so 'special editions' do the job perfectly. This looks like a sprint stripe on not even the top of the range model
What's to celebrate
Indeed.
Funny how there was never a 'Cheshunt' edition. Sounds far more embarrassing than 'Hethel'!
Most modern cars seem to sound bland, except for farty sports exhaust versions. The Toyota lump is reliable and efficient. If that it's slightly bland is the Evora's worst feature, it just shows how good the rest of it is. I've not driven the 400 yet, but even the non-S was a lovely drive.
Funny how there was never a 'Cheshunt' edition. Sounds far more embarrassing than 'Hethel'!
Most modern cars seem to sound bland, except for farty sports exhaust versions. The Toyota lump is reliable and efficient. If that it's slightly bland is the Evora's worst feature, it just shows how good the rest of it is. I've not driven the 400 yet, but even the non-S was a lovely drive.
zebra said:
Impasse said:
RoverP6B said:
Lotus got sold to another consortium of Malaysian investors a while back.
Nope. It's almost like you're just making stuff up. Proton and its umbrella company DRB Hicom have been the custodian of Lotus for quite some time now. 
ks in a way as though it's fact. Just check his post history for any thread related to the resurrection of TVR for some laughs.He's a dreamer with zero first hand experience of any marque he opines about, beyond perhaps taking a selfie next to one.
stuckmojo said:
It's disappointing that the Evora wasn't a huge success.
I love the car and I'd have one.
However, I'm not sold on the new looks. I prefer the original design with smaller grill, it had better "flow", if you know what I mean.
i agree, the only thing holding me back buying one. the very strange 'asian' styling ... they clearly need a new stylist that can have a clean sheet. this one, although more aggressive has just imported some of the awkward lined of the original and made them worse.. I love the car and I'd have one.
However, I'm not sold on the new looks. I prefer the original design with smaller grill, it had better "flow", if you know what I mean.
lotus needs to learn they have a styling mandate that porsche dont have and they should get themselves someone who can capitalize on that. they keep missing the trick, styling sells not just performance.
bobo said:
i agree, the only thing holding me back buying one. the very strange 'asian' styling ... they clearly need a new stylist that can have a clean sheet. this one, although more aggressive has just imported some of the awkward lined of the original and made them worse..
lotus needs to learn they have a styling mandate that porsche dont have and they should get themselves someone who can capitalize on that. they keep missing the trick, styling sells not just performance.
It's all in the eye though, I think it looks great, it's a lot fresher than any Porsche for instance.lotus needs to learn they have a styling mandate that porsche dont have and they should get themselves someone who can capitalize on that. they keep missing the trick, styling sells not just performance.
Can't please all the people all the time.......
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