The Evora uses a 3,456cc V6 engine sourced from Toyota in both the normally aspirated and supercharged models. In standard form, it produces 280hp at 6,400rpm and 258lb ft of torque at 4,600rpm. Go for the Sport Pack and peak power of 280hp comes in at 7,000rpm, but torque remains unchanged.
For the Evora S with its supercharged engine, power swells to 350hp at 7,000rpm and peak torque is 295lb ft at 4,500rpm. These figures are unchanged whether you select the manual or IPS automatic gearboxes. There is also now the recently launched Evora 400, but it's too new for the remit of this buyers' guide.
Toyota engine reliable. Who'd have thought?
The supercharger used in the Evora is an Eaton Roots-type twin-vortices blower and has proved strong and reliable since the car's launch. As you might expect, the V6 engine has also been very reliable and owners report no faults with the motor or gearboxes.
However, the mid-engined layout of the engine means the manual gearbox has a cable-operated shift that threw up some problems in the early life of the Evora. With any manual gearbox model, you should check the gear lever slots through the gate easily and precisely. Any hesitation, slack or reluctance is most likely down to the cables needing adjustment or replacement. On early Evoras, it was a common fault and most should have been updated to solve this fault. While it might sound like a small irritation, a poorly functioning gear shift will be expensive to cure as it requires removing a good deal of the interior to gain full access.
Lotus's sports exhaust a popular option
Don't expect to find many Evoras that have been tuned. A remapped ECU and decat exhaust are the few aftermarket upgrades most likely to crop up. Aside from Lotus's own sports exhaust option, which is popular and desirable, the most sought after decat pipe is from 2bular.co.uk and costs around £170. The same company can also supply a full exhaust system including replacement manifolds to address one of the most common complaints about the Evora, which is the muffled exhaust note as a result of meeting worldwide emissions and noise laws.
Running costs for the Evora's engine and gearbox are reasonable for a car of this type and performance. Service intervals are every 9,000 miles, with an oil filter costing around £30, an air filter £35 and a set of spark plugs at £110. Clutches last well in the manual gearbox cars, so expect 50,000 miles from this and to pay £440 for a replacement plus fitting. Expect around 30mpg in normal driving, with the official combined quoted at 33.2mpg.
PHer's view:
"I picked up another former demonstrator from Murray Lotus - their Evora S demo. This car was an early supercharged car, and had nothing of the troubles of the earlier N/A car. The only thing it needed in 12 months of ownership was an upgrade to the 2012 gear cables as the gear change became ever more tight, and an oil pipe upgrade as part of a wider recall."
Derek Meldrum