RE: Evora S Sports Racer: Intro

[Dave211]

Reckon it looks better in Chrome Orange though





Must admit the car gets a lot of attention, and to date all of it positive Much more so than my previous 911's.

Not going to get into Cayman vs Evora argument, as both excellent cars.

Just my 2p worth.

Dave

[RedAndy]

I love Loti, but why wouldnt I buy an evora even if I had the cash?

it ticks all the boxes of low, wide, pointy, muscular arches etc... but the whole is less than the sum of the parts. ... it looks like a hyundai.

The headlights are generic, the tails are too small, the roof line atop the side window is terrible, it has a big forehead, the roof/side/door area is too fussy where the panels meet and the shut lines cut across, the spoiler is badly done, it looks too tall from the front cos there is no visual bulk on the front chin area, and it's slab sided. It just looks a bit also ran.

However the wide body racer version looks absolutely spot on. Tiny tweaks, massive impact. Lotus need to ditch the standard body shape and just do the wide body one. Put the tail lamps from a MiTo on it, and add in a nicer spoiler and it'l sell better.

[scenario8]

It is interesting the influence of looks have on the appeal of cars. Look at the accompanying threads to pretty much all new car articles in this very publication and you'll see a huge chunk of the comments surround the aesthetics. Quality, engineering, feel, durability and the like all seem to feature long after the looks are discussed.

[ESOG]

I LOVE the white with black color scheme and the S spec sounded wicked and strong in the 17second video. It looks fantastic, how a Lotus would look for 2014 IMO, the style of Lotus has/is evolved nicely, especially the interiors. I was VERY concerned about styling and the familiar DNA family look when whats his face was running the show and unveiled the eventual 5 year future line up. IMO they all looked like st and too generic, like a friggen matchbox car with no actual company attached to it. Also, they all looked MUCH to similar. However, Lotus should still go ahead with the Elan in the form they presented it.

The Esprit, there was nothing to it. Too generic looking. The only thing that made it slightly stand out was the way the A-pillars swept up and sloped down to reveal a beautiful roof line. But then I laid my eyes on the rear of the new Esprit and HOLY st! I didnt know whether to laugh or cry. So I did both. I cried for Mr. Chapman and I laughed at how stupid Danny Bahar was to green light its revealing at the Paris Motor Show, as if any one on the Lotus Engineering/Styling/Marketing Team who had been with Lotus since the Chapman days would ever approve of such an ass on any of their vehicles, but especially not on the flagship car.

Yeah I know, I went a bit off course with topic. By the way, the article must have been written and submitted either on a Friday afternoon with minutes left in the workday or any day but with seconds to spare for submission because I am sure most of you have caught the multitude of errors in it? Missing words, misspelled words, fragmented sentences etc Not that it matters, but it always seem that when it comes to Lotus nothing is ever done quite right... right down to the articles.

I am quite interested however to read the writers thoughts at the end of the 3 weeks.

Shall we open the window to bets? Will the Evora get through 3 weeks without any mechanical failure or some sort of quirky mishap that can and seems to only happen to a Lotus? Or will the final article reveal a happy motorist and positive conclusion?

[ESOG]

RedAndy said:

I love Loti, but why wouldnt I buy an evora even if I had the cash?

it ticks all the boxes of low, wide, pointy, muscular arches etc... but overall in my opinion looks like st

I fixed that for you. I think that is what you meant to say, or rather did say in the next sentence of your post when you trashed its styling cues, which incidentally, everything you mentioned from the spoiler to the square window meeting the roof line, to the small rear lights and low bulk front end happens to be ALL the main styling aspects of the Evora. So you basically just went against yourself in two paragraphs of the same post. :ROFL: Think about it for a second; take away all the styling points you mentioned and what are you left with?

[anonymous-user]

Evora was screwed by its pointless 2+2 packaging. Combine that with an engine which stands tall above the rear axle - stick a supercharger on top for good measure - and it ends up a bit of a mess. Absolute tragedy.

[ESOG]

5 USA said:

Evora was screwed by its pointless 2+2 packaging. Combine that with an engine which stands tall above the rear axle - stick a supercharger on top for good measure - and it ends up a bit of a mess. Absolute tragedy.

After reading one of your other Evora hating reply a few pages back and now this I have to reply to you. You sound as if your a teenager who has a big displacement American made sports cars only hard-on mentality. You have no idea what you are talking about in this post, admit it. How is the Evora anywhere near a "mess" let alone an "absolute tragedy?"

[Sway]

What's this constant commentary about how flawed the engine position is?

Surely if that were the case we'd have concrete examples of negative impact on handling...

A mess? I'd love to hear of an alternative that handles better at a similar price.

[Clivey]

I really like the aesthetics just the way it is. - The extra seats, in reality are just extra storage space and that's a massive boon if you want to go touring in it. Yes; they could have used a different engine but I think I'd rather them concentrate on getting the rest of the car right in terms of quality and reliability, then worry about the engine (it's hardly terrible) when they get chance.

£65k though is too much...but then again you can spec a Golf to over £40k these days and some can afford to and will pay the price for exclusivity.

[LotusEspritTurbo]

Give me an Evora over a Porsche any day. Porsche's are as ubiquitous as it gets, an Evora is something special.

[anonymous-user]

ESOG said:

After reading one of your other Evora hating reply a few pages back and now this I have to reply to you. You sound as if your a teenager who has a big displacement American made sports cars only hard-on mentality. You have no idea what you are talking about in this post, admit it. How is the Evora anywhere near a "mess" let alone an "absolute tragedy?"

Well, who knows, perhaps you're right. Which just leaves the question of why customers are staying away.

By the way - that orange looks good! Proper colour for a sports car.

[RedAndy]

ESOG said:

RedAndy said:

I love Loti, but why wouldnt I buy an evora even if I had the cash?

it ticks all the boxes of low, wide, pointy, muscular arches etc... but overall in my opinion looks like st

I fixed that for you. I think that is what you meant to say, or rather did say in the next sentence of your post when you trashed its styling cues, which incidentally, everything you mentioned from the spoiler to the square window meeting the roof line, to the small rear lights and low bulk front end happens to be ALL the main styling aspects of the Evora. So you basically just went against yourself in two paragraphs of the same post. :ROFL: Think about it for a second; take away all the styling points you mentioned and what are you left with?

no, no you misunderstand, so I'll simplify. it SHOULD be a great design because it has all the "right bits", but the end product just doesn't use those bits to full effect. I never said it's st, and I dont think it is. it's just a damp squib, unlike the GTC version which looks fantastic.

and just for clarity, I'm not a fan of the Porsche!!

[M1KEY]

Hedgerley said:

My sixpenneth worth on Lotus dealers - as has been said already I can't fault MMC here in Scotland. Others have had honourable mentions as well. Service, sales and support has been outstanding in the 10 years I have been dealing with MMC. Hell, Brandon even managed to sell me a Volvo!!! They are actively involved with all the owners and clubs and last month hosted our regular breakfast meet, opening up the showroom on a Sunday for over 110 guests. Its no coincidence that they have I think sold more Evoras than any other dealer in Europe, many of them to ex-Porsche owners.

There is currently a 4-6 month waiting list for new Lotus' and MMC struggle to fill their showroom with new/used as they turn them around so quickly. So Lotus (and MMC) must be doing something right, at least here in Scotland. But I don't get this Lotus vs Porsche mentality. They both make great cars that we love to drive. Ultimately its a personal and probably emotional choice rather than for any logical reason. If it was we would all be driving bland euroboxes.

Whilst this is a defense of Lotus, it should not be taken as a dig at Porsche. I'm sure many owners Porsche owners have had similar experiences. We should just be glad we have such great choices and should just get out there and enjoy them.

Re: Lotus dealers and MMC in Edinburgh, I totally agree with the above. I bought an Elise from them nearly 5 years ago (still got it) and have always used them for servicing and they've been very good. I normally don't tend to use main dealers for servicing but with MMC I've had no reason not to, great service and fair prices. The car also has proved to be extremely reliable over the last 30,000 miles.

[Sway]

5 USA said:

ESOG said:

After reading one of your other Evora hating reply a few pages back and now this I have to reply to you. You sound as if your a teenager who has a big displacement American made sports cars only hard-on mentality. You have no idea what you are talking about in this post, admit it. How is the Evora anywhere near a "mess" let alone an "absolute tragedy?"

Well, who knows, perhaps you're right. Which just leaves the question of why customers are staying away.

By the way - that orange looks good! Proper colour for a sports car.

I think I can be fairly confident that it's not because they look at it and think 'oh dear, that engine is mounted way too high, not worth even test driving'...

I think the problem is that they're just not known about amongst the general masses. Everyone knows the name Lotus, but outside places like here the image is very much one of having to put up with it in return for blistering handling - which the masses couldn't give a st about.

How many Cayman/911 drivers are really enthusiasts? Or track day drivers? Not that high a percentage I'll bet. They're viewed as as easy to live with as a Golf, but with an aspirational badge and high performance.

My director has a 911 C2. I guarantee that thing gets taken above 3k rpm once a month if that, and it's his daily driver. Why he bought it I don't know, but have a feeling it was led by image, not engine mounting position!

[sutats]

Perhaps it's the cable shifter. It's a tight race for the purest and most engaging sports car.

[shoestring7]

bencollins said:

Olivera said:

I do like the Evora (and Exige) a lot, however I can't help but notice how high the engine sits when compared to another bespoke designed chassis like the MP4-12C

Evora:



MP4-12C:

Great post and photos but heartily disagree with your conclusion, most of the weight in an engine is low down and the packaging on the Evora is excellent and proves that the transverse, al la muira, is the best installation for rear drive unles you want to add 0.5m to the wheelbase and forget luggage. The packaging on the Cayman is even better with two boots a la 914.

Engine low down? Really? It looks to be up by the legless passenger's shoulder to me, with a significant chunk behind the axle line:



Here's a Cayman x-section with all the mass of the engine clearly down by the driver's hip:



SS7

Edited by shoestring7 on Sunday 6th April 12:15

[Sway]

Read it again SS7, he said most of the weight in an engine is low down...

[ravon]

...and your cutaway isn't an "S", so it's missing the 40kg of supercharger mounted on the top of the engine !

[M5Fan]

5 USA said:

Evora was screwed by its pointless 2+2 packaging. Combine that with an engine which stands tall above the rear axle - stick a supercharger on top for good measure - and it ends up a bit of a mess. Absolute tragedy.

Can you elaborate on 'absolute tragedy'? Have a look at these videos, they both comment on the superb handling. Jeremy Clarkson isn't usually shy about slating a car when he thinks it's no good !

The 2+2 looks a good option for people with young children (that's why I could justify an Evora over an Elise as we could all go out in it) Admittedly I wouldn't want to sit in the back myself

Top Gear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHcLP0wvENQ

Autocar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ664uE48WY&fea...

[kambites]

shoestring7 said:

Engine low down? Really? It looks to be up by the legless passenger's shoulder to me, with a significant chunk behind the axle line:



Here's a Cayman x-section with all the mass of the engine clearly down by the driver's hip:



SS7

I don't think anyone would deny that the Cayman has the engine in a better place. However, rightly or wrongly, the Evora has rear seats so the sensible comparison is with the 911. The 911's engine is, of course, also set very low down, but it's also set outside the wheel-base... which is better of those two positions is open to much more debate.

To be fair to Evora that big, wide, blue bit at the top of the engine in that diagram is mostly plastic and/or pipes. The vast majority of the mass of the engine is below the top of the rear wheel.

I suppose the simple fact is that Lotus didn't have much choice. Given that they only had access to Toyota's engine/gearbox combinations, it was always going to be a transverse installation.

Edited by kambites on Sunday 6th April 14:35