First launched in 2009, the Evora was Lotus's great hope for reaching a premium customer base beyond that of the Elise and Exige derived cars. Nominal 2+2 seating, a six-cylinder engine and more mature character were all heralded as significant updates but the car launched into the teeth of the financial meltdown and has never quite set the market alight as Lotus would have hoped.
Like the Elise the Evora uses extruded aluminium architecture upon which unstressed panels are fitted. The 350hp supercharged Evora S gains 70hp and 37lb ft over the naturally aspirated Evora (280hp and 258lb ft) and both share a mid-mounted version of Toyota's all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6. There is a choice of six-speed manuals on the normally aspirated car - long or optional short 'Sports Gearbox'. The S gets the short-ratio 'box as standard. There's an automatic gearbox, too.
Unlike the Elise-derived cars it is possible to exit the low-silled Evora with dignity intact. The driver's seat is supportive although its position is offset. The dashboard is neatly styled but details, such as sunlight reflections on dials, aren't right. The cabin feels spacious and upmarket, though rear headroom is restricted and you'd expect more standard equipment.
Lotus claimed 5.1 seconds for the base Evora's 0-62mph sprint and a top speed of 162mph; the S does the same in 4.6 seconds and hits 172mph, the Sport button raising the rev limit 400rpm to 7,200rpm.
The Evora rides with more comfort than many superminis. Passively damped and always millimetrically controlled, composed and predictable, it has a stupendous fluency to both its primary and secondary ride. It steers beautifully, too, with most of the involvement and feel of the (unassisted) Elise's system. On the limit it is as sublime as you'd imagine.
Once you've climbed out of the driver's seat and stopped grinning, issues such as the Evora's questionable perceived quality, poor standard spec and a price that puts it among some more practical and really quick sports cars may have you thinking twice about ownership. Furthermore, the residual value of an expensive Lotus is unlikely to match a mid-level Porsche.
The Evora asks its buyer to accept compromises in exchange for its excellence in other areas. The Evora S is a more attractive proposition than the naturally aspirated model, though it's still hampered by lacklustre ergonomics and an inadequate manual gearshift. Just as well there's no car with superior dynamic ability.
- Dealers say colour choice doesn't impact value so if you can find one in a brighter shade like Krypton Green go for it!
- Most are the standard - if cramped in the rear - 2+2 option though some buyers opted for the cheaper 'Plus Zero' version
- Check for options packs - Tech (£2,495 new, included parking sensors, cruise, etc), Sport (£950 new, standard on S, includes drilled discs and Sport button) and Premium (£2,495 new included leather, ambient lighting) offered; Launch Pack combined all three
- Aluminium/fibreglass construction means rust isn't an issue but check panel gaps and paint - should be consistent all round
- Early air-con condensers troublesome - look red dot on condenser to mark it was changed under warranty; check passenger footwell for damp from misrouted condenser pipes
- Door handles weak on early cars; should have been fixed by now
- 9,000-mile/annual service regime needs to be adhered to for warranty
- V6 uses a timing belt, not a chain - check when it was last done
- Short ratio gearbox was a £1,495 option on Evoras, standard on S - offers tighter ratios from third onwards, desirable among buyers but CO2 and fuel consumption worse
- Noisy gear cables replaced by Lotus under warranty - check it's been done
- IPS automatic option available from 2011; not as attractive as dual-clutches in rivals
- Post September 2011 cars have improved gearshift, low inertia flywheel
- September 2011 revisions also included adoption of S's thicker rear anti-roll bar and bushings on the standard Evora
- Simple, proven design so simply check for knocks, clonks and correct alignment
- Standard Evora runs 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels, the S 19s/20s and both using Pirelli rubber as standard, though don't be surprised to see Yokohamas too - check for matching brands
- Check alignment and tyre wear
LOTUS EVORA/EVORA S
Engine: 3,456cc V6/supercharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual (6-speed auto optional)
Power (hp): 280@6,400rpm/350@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@4,700rpm/295@4,000rpm
MPG: 33.2*/27.7 (Evora IPS 32.1, all NEDC combined)
CO2: 199g/km*/239g/km (Evora IPS 208g/km)
Price new: £49,875/£59,750
Yours for: £30,000 upwards
*31.0mpg and 215g/km with Sport Gearbox (Evora only)