Lotus Evora GT430 | Spotted
Was the most powerful road-legal Lotus ever made also Hethel's last proper sendoff?
The Evora GT430 arrived in 2018 as the most powerful road-legal Lotus ever produced. Almost certainly it’ll hold that title among combustion-powered Lotuses forever. Sixty were made worldwide; 25 came to the UK, priced from £112k. This Empire Green example is one of just two GT430s finished in the colour. It is rare, then - but, viewed from 2026, it also marked the end of something.
Not long after the GT430, Hethel pivoted. The Emira replaced the Evora, which was mostly fine (to drive anyway) but Geely wanted its pound of flesh, and extracted it at scale in the shape of battery-powered luxury models. The Eletre and Emeya weren’t necessarily bad per se, but they were poorly timed and had precious little to do with the ethos that had forced the brand’s reputation. This made cars like the GT430 feel like a full stop at the end of a very long sentence.
It helped, of course, that the kitchen sink was thrown at the finale. The 3.5-litre supercharged and charge-cooled V6 delivers 436hp and 325 lb ft of torque via a six-speed manual. In time honoured fashion, its was light at 1,258kg in its stocking feet, and Lotus reckoned it would do 3.7 seconds to 60mph and hit 190mph. It was, in other words, supercar fast.
Among corners, it was quicker still thanks to Ohlins TTX two-way adjustable dampers, Eibach springs, AP Racing brakes, a limited-slip differential, and Michelin Pilot Sports. Downforce tops out at 250kg, generated by extensive carbon fibre bodywork that wasn't stuck on for show. The GT430 was developed alongside Lotus's motorsport programme, and clearly this is a car that’s meant to be leaned on - although its Evora-ness shone through with the retention of most creature comforts, including standard-fit air con.
This particular car has covered 19,000 miles across two owners. That's enough to confirm someone's actually been driving it, which makes it preferable to one with 800 miles and a quilted cover. The history sounds as impeccable as the car looks, which helps to account for the £84k asking price. But this isn’t just another fast car, or even just another fast Lotus - it is one of the small number that distilled everything that Hethel had learned, just before Geely stamped on the rudder.
Who knows where the values go from here. But there will never be any more than 60 examples, and while the Emira has been given a stay of execution - and the prospect of even more power thanks to a new mild-hybrid V6 - it will not rival the purity nor the bug-in-amber status of the GT430. Of course, Lotus boasts many high-water marks in its history, and if you prefer an alternative triumph then that’s where your money should go. But if you’re looking for the last one, this might be it.
Specification | Lotus Evora GT430
Engine: 3,456cc supercharged V6
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 436
Torque (lb ft): 325
MPG: 29.1 (NEDC)
CO2: 234g/km
First registered: 2018
Recorded mileage: 19,000
Price new: £112,500
Yours for: £83,995
If you'd have said that about a low mileage, relatively high price (circa £60k) GT410, then you might have a point as the Emira would be a few grand cheaper (although I'd prefer a late GT410 over an Emira if given the choice).
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