RE: Lotus Evora Roadster 400 confirmed

RE: Lotus Evora Roadster 400 confirmed

Monday 13th July 2015

Lotus Evora 400 Roadster confirmed

Open Evora is coming to chase US sales - here's what we know so far



Another one here from the 'why wouldn't they?' school of product strategy. There will be a Lotus Evora Roadster, as Jean-Marc Gales has strongly hinted at in recent interviews. The Evora 400 Coupe begins production from next month and the Roadster will follow a year later.

So it's this, without a roof. Sounds good!
So it's this, without a roof. Sounds good!
It's arguably the model the Evora range has been crying out for since 2009. Not only does the segment love a cabrio (see the amount of drop-top 911s, R8s and F-Types you come across), but the Evora also has the advantage of that bonded and extruded aluminium tub. It means no additional strengthening is required from closed roof to Roadster, offering significant weight benefits. As Gales as said: "There's no impact with the roof off". We don't know yet whether it will be entirely unchanged but it's a great start point.

What it won't be, however, is as luxurious or simple as something like a 911 Cabriolet. The Evora Roadster will have removable carbon roof panels that are stored behind the front seats. One-touch electric divas look elsewhere! How that will be received in this market remains to be seen, particularly in America where the Roadster is aimed most strongly at. Over there 50 per cent of the 911-segment sports cars purchased are cabrio/roadster versions...

The mechanical specification of the Roadster is expected to be identical to the Evora 400, with the same supercharged V6 and six-speed manual. As for a price, it would only be reasonable to expect a slight premium over the coupe; given that is £72,000 shall we conservatively estimate £80K? Let's see. And if that's out of reach, Gales has promised a new Exige and Elise are in development too.

[Source: Autocar]

Author
Discussion

vz-r_dave

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

217 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
It actually looks better than the roadster, removes the awkward lines.

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
About time, really.

Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Doesn't look as good as the coupé, but if it helps them to sell more cars I'm all for it. I love the Evora, and I don't think it's really given the credit it deserves among it's competition.

Frimley111R

15,538 posts

233 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Is an electric roof really that expensive to design? I am not sure many Evora level customers want removable roof panels.

wemorgan

3,578 posts

177 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
Is an electric roof really that expensive to design? I am not sure many Evora level customers want removable roof panels.
Mega money by comparison, plus it's more difficult to package to an existing design.

SeeSaw

39 posts

159 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
To my eyes that looks infinitely better than the coupe banishing almost all pf the awkwardness of the fixed top design. However whether the buyers of an £80K sports car what to phaff with roof panels is another matter.

dibblecorse

6,872 posts

191 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
SeeSaw said:
To my eyes that looks infinitely better than the coupe banishing almost all pf the awkwardness of the fixed top design. However whether the buyers of an £80K sports car what to phaff with roof panels is another matter.
Boxster Spyder drivers don't seem to mind a faffa and they often exceed 70k with options !!!

CTE

1,488 posts

239 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Lamborgini Aventador uses two roof panels that need ot be manually removed and stored...cannot remember where...but it is quicker for me to remove and refit my Exige roof! They get away with it on a £300k car?

herebebeasties

666 posts

218 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
The text mentions it'll keep the rear seats whereas that image clearly has none. It's a dodgy Photoshop job from Autocar; I doubt it's going to look anything like that in real life.

https://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/15/81/s2-... has a carbon roof for the Elise which is 4.5kg including the fittings. Two 3kg panels won't be much bigger than that. I'm expecting more of a T-top-style thing than a proper convertible.

Edited by herebebeasties on Monday 13th July 13:16

Huskyman

653 posts

126 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
I think they will, as has been stated elsewhere he new boxster spider is a manual roof. The bit at the end of the autocar article is the one I like: On Lotus’s finances, Gales said: “We will be cashflow-profitable in this financial year and profitable in the financial year beginning 1 April 2016 for the first time in 60 years.”

Impasse

15,099 posts

240 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Huskyman said:
The bit at the end of the autocar article is the one I like: On Lotus’s finances, Gales said: “We will be cashflow-profitable in this financial year and profitable in the financial year beginning 1 April 2016 for the first time in 60 years.”
That's not entirely correct either. Lotus has been in profit before this. JMG is either mistaken or has been "Autocar-ed", a bit like the picture and other details.

RTH

1,057 posts

211 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
In 1974.

bencollins

3,486 posts

204 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
3rd week of July.
Not including Sunday

Vee12V

1,329 posts

159 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
CTE said:
Lamborgini Aventador uses two roof panels that need ot be manually removed and stored...cannot remember where...but it is quicker for me to remove and refit my Exige roof! They get away with it on a £300k car?
But that's style over substance plus a longitudinally positioned V12. Can't compare both lay-outs.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Don't forget that in a lot of states the owners will remove the panels and not need to put them back on for 6 months... Especially if used as a fairweather car.

daytona365

1,773 posts

163 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Seems like they've finally got things right. Also electric roofs add extra weight, complication, cost and reliability issues, etc....Mr Chapman would not be happy !

chickensoup

469 posts

254 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
So it will be a targa top rather than a convertible, with the same uncomfortable looks as the Exige roadster - shame

BibsTLF

790 posts

206 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
The panels will be stored behind the front seats, not the rear seats as stated...

(And Impasse is correct, Lotus made a profit under MJK - http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/19754-l...

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
I assume there wont be any rear seats?

Matt Bird

1,450 posts

204 months

PH Reportery Lad

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
BibsTLF said:
The panels will be stored behind the front seats, not the rear seats as stated...

(And Impasse is correct, Lotus made a profit under MJK - http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/19754-l...
Sorry, just had that mistake pointed out. Monday malaise I think! Corrected now.