Thursday 12th November 2015

Lotus Evora 400: Time For Tea?

No nonsense vid to promote a no nonsense car

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You'd have thought creating a promo video of a fast, good-looking car doing exciting stuff on road and track would be a fairly straightforward brief. Get location, recruit handy driver, book camera crew and - perhaps - a drone or chopper according to budget and fill your boots. And yet time and again we see manufacturers fall for the temptations of overly elaborate production values, over-wrought orchestral muzak, pretentious commentary and bewildering jump cuts in an effort to jazz things up. Worse still is the habit of showing off a new sports car but drowning out all-important stuff like exhaust noise and tyre squeal.

Credit to Lotus for this pleasingly straightforward video of its Evora 400 driving around local roads and its own Hethel test track. Sure, it's a promo film. And there's a nod to a contrived 'all in a day's work' testing narrative. But, thankfully, that takes a back seat to a straightforward demonstration of the car's key stats and features, scored with little more than engine noise. If a car looks sharp, goes well and sounds great what more do you really need?

Watch the video here.

 

[LordHaveMurci]

Why 4.1 to 60 yet a 186mph top speed - surely it would have been better for marketing & pub bragging rights to get the 0-60 into the 3's?

[300bhp/ton]

LordHaveMurci said:

Why 4.1 to 60 yet a 186mph top speed - surely it would have been better for marketing & pub bragging rights to get the 0-60 into the 3's?

Seriously??

[LordHaveMurci]

300bhp/ton said:

LordHaveMurci said:

Why 4.1 to 60 yet a 186mph top speed - surely it would have been better for marketing & pub bragging rights to get the 0-60 into the 3's?

Seriously??

Yes, seriously. Half of selling these cars is down to marketing surely, seems like a missed opportunity for something that must be simple to engineer.

[joncon]

I drove one of these last week . 120 miles little road trip.
it is awesome. a complete car.
and that exhaust note is so addictive.
fabulous motor car !

[300bhp/ton]

LordHaveMurci said:

Yes, seriously. Half of selling these cars is down to marketing surely, seems like a missed opportunity for something that must be simple to engineer.

People may banter about it. But I suspect reality is, they sell no cars based purely on a 0-60mph stat. It's not as if you are buying a 50p chocolate bar that is simply throw away.

[MikeGoodwin]

Good to see they finally did something with the headers to make a different noise. I do like the Exige note...

[RobM77]

LordHaveMurci said:

300bhp/ton said:

LordHaveMurci said:

Why 4.1 to 60 yet a 186mph top speed - surely it would have been better for marketing & pub bragging rights to get the 0-60 into the 3's?

Seriously??

Yes, seriously. Half of selling these cars is down to marketing surely, seems like a missed opportunity for something that must be simple to engineer.

Yes, but it's a balance. If they softened the rear end and fitted super sticky tyres, yes it would probably be sub 4 sec to 60, but that would also cause understeer and lower tyre lifespan. Most things in engineering are about given and take. Given how few people actually do nail it off the line, most sensible manufacturers won't bust a gut chasing 0-60 figures. Once you're above 30-40mph in a mid/rear engine car traction is huge anyway, so it'd be a bit pointless to improve traction to the detriment of other things.

[British Beef]

It won ECOTY 2015 (in the 2+2 division!!)

It was also the highest placed car that was not over £100k or that you can actually buy (unlike the GT4).

I think these things are terrific. Absolutely would love one as my daily.

[RobM77]

I noticed the Evora 400 didn't fair too well in Autocar's 'best driver's car' feature this week; they said it was good, but they preferred the standard Evora S. Can anyone who's driven both cars comment? Personally I've only tried the standard and S cars. I can't afford one, I'm just curious

[Boggy]

I am a Lotus Nut ! (Just so that is established)

Had a N/A Evora and to be honest it was quick enough, looked amazing, and was built to a reasonable standard.

After a couple of upgrades, Lotus Elise/Exgie alloy gear knob, de-cat, map it was out of this world !

The Evora 400 is the best car on sale in its class for sub 100k, it's a Bargain !

[Richard-G]

once I'm bored of the F type, I'm back into a lotus, this one!

[Boggy]

RobM77 said:

I noticed the Evora 400 didn't fair too well in Autocar's 'best driver's car' feature this week; they said it was good, but they preferred the standard Evora S. Can anyone who's driven both cars comment? Personally I've only tried the standard and S cars. I can't afford one, I'm just curious

The only way I can describe it is if you drive an old Exige S, then drive the Exige S V6, chalk and cheese the Evora 400 is a proper bit of kit !

Boggy

[Boggy]

Richard-G said:

once I'm bored of the F type, I'm back into a lotus, this one!

Not driven the F Type so can't comment there but I've driven a few AM's, the Evora feels a lot more than 400bhp

Boggy

[AlexHat]

That sounds amazing. I'd have one if I had the money

[RobM77]

Boggy said:

RobM77 said:

I noticed the Evora 400 didn't fair too well in Autocar's 'best driver's car' feature this week; they said it was good, but they preferred the standard Evora S. Can anyone who's driven both cars comment? Personally I've only tried the standard and S cars. I can't afford one, I'm just curious

The only way I can describe it is if you drive an old Exige S, then drive the Exige S V6, chalk and cheese the Evora 400 is a proper bit of kit !

Boggy

Crikey - so you reckon the Evora S to the Evora 400 is as big a difference as the 4cyl Exige to the V6 Exige? That's a huge step up imho.

[Boggy]

RobM77 said:

Crikey - so you reckon the Evora S to the Evora 400 is as big a difference as the 4cyl Exige to the V6 Exige? That's a huge step up imho.

Hi Rob

It's difficult to describe if you haven't driven both,

I went out with Martin Donnelly in the Evora S and hand on heart I was scared ! I didn't think the Evora could get much quicker but believe me they have moved it on big time!

Boggy

[RobM77]

Boggy said:

RobM77 said:

Crikey - so you reckon the Evora S to the Evora 400 is as big a difference as the 4cyl Exige to the V6 Exige? That's a huge step up imho.

Hi Rob

It's difficult to describe if you haven't driven both,

I went out with Martin Donnelly in the Evora S and hand on heart I was scared ! I didn't think the Evora could get much quicker but believe me they have moved it on big time!

Boggy

Sounds good! I'm constantly amazed at what Lotus can do; they just seem to get better and better with every new model launched. After seeing the Autocar comment yesterday though I was just a bit concerned that Matt Becker's departure had made itself known for the first time

[Ikobo]

If you can get in a 400 as a petrolhead and give it a few revs in loud mode without smiling, I'd be worried for you. Test drove one a few weeks back, the noise from it had me grinning like a little schoolboy.

[gashead1105]

Mate has one. The sound is amazing, I'd love to have the exhaust on my V6. Although apparently it's too loud for all UK tracks so, on second thoughts, maybe not. Also, the ride is great, the interior quality is spot on, it's rather fast, and the gear change on the demo I drove was superb. Proper proper bit of kit basically!

[mikEsprit]

RobM77 said:

LordHaveMurci said:

300bhp/ton said:

LordHaveMurci said:

Why 4.1 to 60 yet a 186mph top speed - surely it would have been better for marketing & pub bragging rights to get the 0-60 into the 3's?

Seriously??

Yes, seriously. Half of selling these cars is down to marketing surely, seems like a missed opportunity for something that must be simple to engineer.

Yes, but it's a balance. If they softened the rear end and fitted super sticky tyres, yes it would probably be sub 4 sec to 60, but that would also cause understeer and lower tyre lifespan. Most things in engineering are about given and take. Given how few people actually do nail it off the line, most sensible manufacturers won't bust a gut chasing 0-60 figures. Once you're above 30-40mph in a mid/rear engine car traction is huge anyway, so it'd be a bit pointless to improve traction to the detriment of other things.

Sure, but are they obligated to use the same tires for all testing? 0-60 has always been the #1 comparison stat for fast cars. I know it's not the best stat for many reasons, but it's easy to remember, easy to compare, and one of the few stats that can actually be relevant to every day driving.