Lotus Evora GTE
Discussion
Beedub said:
wow!!! that looks special!
so what exactly is the GTE spec?? it looks FAST! lol
The Evora GTE has an unusual story. Back in 2011/2012 the flamboyant then MD proposed a halo Evora based loosely on their GTE Le Mans entrant. The road car version was intended for sale to the Far East (i.e. China). The standard Evora bodywork was widened by about 4 inches and the track to suit. Really the only common body panels with the standard car are the roof and doors. The styling work was handed to Mansory who came up with one of their more tasteful offerings, with various carbon fibre parts too. These are: front splitter and bumper details, front bonnet vents, barge board sills, engine cover, rear diffuser and that impressive rear spoiler.so what exactly is the GTE spec?? it looks FAST! lol
Mechanically things were very different too. A third party tuned supercharged Toyota V6 producing around 430bhp, an automated manual gearbox and centrelock wheels.
Anyway things went a little sour at Boardroom level and the MD left the company (he had a dark blue GTE as his company car) and the project was canned after only 30 cars had been laid down. Just a couple left the factory in the above format. The rest were parked up adjacent to the factory awaiting their fate. Anyone who attended a test track day at Hethel could see them sitting their mournfully.
Forward fast to the Summer of 2014 and the new incoming MD also spotted the vehicles and discussed them with Lotus Motorsport. Motorsport agreed to re-build the 20 best cars for sale and break the other 10 for parts. The only way they could offer a reliable (short!) warranted road car was to replace the old untried third party engine and automated manual gearbox with standard Evora S components (i.e. 350 PS and 6 speed manual or flappy-paddle auto gearbox). They also reverted to standard 5 stud hubs. Since this was to clear up a project initiated by his predecessor this would all be done low key and without any publicity or fanfare. Even the name "GTE" was avoided in company correspondence.
Anyway word was leaked out to dealers and Lotus owners alike and the first cars started being delivered from the second half of 2014 onwards. The format and (to a certain extent) colours were predetermined from their original configuration (i.e. LHD or RHD, 2+0 or 2+2, light colour / dark colour), so choice was limited. For example, I only wanted a 2+2 manual and they were only building one, which was this black left-hooker (#4). This car was originally expected to go to Italy but the buyer pulled out (presumably due to the weakening Euro exchange rate), so I jumped in. The interior in my car is from the Evora Sports Racer.
Most of the cars have now been allocated (maybe one or two left-hookers still available), with some still in build.
Regarding performance, clearly the straight line speed is similar to a normal Evora S, but the Motorsport guys say that the wider GTE handles better round the corners. It is also relatively simple to achieve the original 430 PS by investing about 5 grand in a Komotec tuning upgrade. At least two GTEs have so far been treated to this and it makes them seriously fast. I will wait until my warranty expires before considering that option.
I'm still carefully running mine in but am already very impressed. Of course the most impressive aspect of the car is the way it looks. Everyone stops and stares at it!
Wow
Saw one of these at a car show a few weeks ago at Hexham with a price tag in.
I sat in it and thought it was sublime.
I was never a fan of the evora but that GTE kit doesnt just improve it, it makes it as appealing as a 458 in my eyes in fact more!
Love exclusive cars! And that's very special, thanks for sharing
Saw one of these at a car show a few weeks ago at Hexham with a price tag in.
I sat in it and thought it was sublime.
I was never a fan of the evora but that GTE kit doesnt just improve it, it makes it as appealing as a 458 in my eyes in fact more!
Love exclusive cars! And that's very special, thanks for sharing
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