Evora news

Evora news

Author
Discussion

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,289 posts

240 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2009
quotequote all
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/234380/lotus_evo...

This time evo caught pistonheads napping.

Not much we didn't already know but I think the Exige S has taken a backwards step in styling terms. I'll reserve final judgement based on seeing it in real life but it's hard to see it as any sort of improvement from the pic here.

Throw in the worse (and more ordinary) interior and I'm starting to think the Exige peaked a while back.



LotusACBC

2,591 posts

284 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2009
quotequote all
Wow, for a quick moment I thought you posted the wrong link! The Evora in that colour looks damn similar to the M250!

LivinLaVidaLotus

1,626 posts

201 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2009
quotequote all
So much for all the neigh-sayers, "It'll be £60k without options, mark my words, blah blah blah..."

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,289 posts

240 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
This from Bell and Colvill's email, recieved today.

"The Lotus Evora Launch Edition

The first 200 cars for the UK will be built to a high level standard specification which includes the following equipment:
2+2 seating configuration
Tech Pack
Premium Pack
Sport Pack
6-Speed Manual Transmission
Silver Cast Alloy Wheels
Bi-Xenon Headlamps
Alpine Imprint Audio System
Reversing Camera
Electric Powerfold Mirrors
Total - £58,460

In addition to the above, customers will have the opportunity to personalise their Evora with their choice from the four wheel styles, the wide range of paints in the Solid, Metallic, Lifestyle and Premium pallets and the option to have the door handles colour coded.

Following on from these first 200 Lotus Evora Launch Edition sportscars, customers will have the opportunity to spec to a more personal level - but of course they will not be part of the select few who will be among the first to own Britain`s latest sportscar and one of the most anticipated cars of the year. Each 'Launch Edition` vehicle will also include a numbered build plaque, signed Official Evora hardback book and the opportunity for the customer to collect their car from Hethel, with a personal handover from a key member of the Evora project team."

I love Lotus cars with a passion but this seems very unrealistically priced to me. Not many will pay more than a Nissan GTR for an Evora. You can also get a the new 500bhp Jaguar XFR for that money. It's a very different sort of car I know, but still. As mentioned Lotus have tried to copy the germans outrageous pricing strategy of a reasonable base cost with extortionate extras. I just don't think it's going to work during a recession.

Base car with 2 + 0 seating: £47,500

2 + 2 seating: £49,875

Painted door handles: £295!

eek

LivinLaVidaLotus

1,626 posts

201 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
Extortionate extras? The extras are actually reasonably priced if you ask me, the packs are very well priced, especially compared to the likes of Porsche - Okay, so the painted door handles is one where they are taking the pee a little.

GT-R is a very different kind of car, there's a great many who wouldn't touch one if they were given one, and now the issues around warranty are concerning a lot of people that it's more fragile than Nissan would like to admit - Especially with the pre and post checks after track days - WTF?

£59k for a fully loaded Evora that you know will handle fantastically and still stays out the highest road tax band (okay, so it's not a major thing right now, but it's a few tanks of fuel when it goes up). Jag as you admit, isn't really in the same market, sure it's v. nice, but not the same target market.

Stu_00

1,529 posts

219 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
I used to think the GTR would be a good car. Know I think it would be dam fast, but lack any driver feel etc. I always like having something slightly different and think the Evora would fit that.

Just have to figure out how to buy one in the couple of years now lol.


The Pits

Original Poster:

4,289 posts

240 months

Wednesday 4th March 2009
quotequote all
I'd rather have an evora to a gtr too, despite it's relative underendowment but I'm surely in a tiny minority. But even I am not going to pay more for an evora. The maths just don't add up for me.

bobo

1,702 posts

278 months

Tuesday 10th March 2009
quotequote all
Total - £58,460!!!!!!

JESUS H!

911C2S

689 posts

240 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Dam thats a good looking car... Would I swap it over a 911? I'll have to wait to drive it first.

Stu_00

1,529 posts

219 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
If you buy it, People will defently let you out of turnings LOL

911C2S said:
Dam thats a good looking car... Would I swap it over a 911? I'll have to wait to drive it first.
Edited by Stu_00 on Friday 13th March 15:09

Andrew.

9,968 posts

192 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
firstly, i'm a life-long lotus fan
but, sitting in that very car at geneva on tuesday, i was totally underwhelmed
the styling had no wow factor, was overly fussy ( esp around the rear 3/4s ) and was almost totally anonymous
the dashboard and interior were smart enough and better finished than some, but the car absolutely stank of fibreglass and glue
the rear seats were a waste of time, and the front seats were so far forwards that it was tricky to get your feet in
the total price as seen was shocking
i hope, and suspect, that it drives like a true lotus, but...
just my 2p

The Crow

9 posts

182 months

Friday 13th March 2009
quotequote all
Cannot comment beyond pictures I have seen but I have to agree with the last poster.

Very weak design, ungainly from some angles - No drama.

Interior is OK but the 2plus2 aspect is a joke.

Pricing is very subjective but I suspect it will be an issue for more peeps than Lotus will admit to.

Needed to be £39999 car with little to add. 20k more !!!!


Andyt25

1,182 posts

248 months

Saturday 2nd May 2009
quotequote all
The Geneva car is at Williams Lotus in Bristol this week. Nice colour and the wheels look better than the ones on the original cars. Lovely car inside as well..those seats are brilliant.

Scuffers

20,887 posts

274 months

Saturday 9th May 2009
quotequote all
bobo said:
Total - £58,460!!!!!!

JESUS H!
no st, (although to be fair, it was always going to be around this)

to put this in context,
Cayman S is £44,107.00 - 320Bhp, Unladen weight 1,350 kg
911 Carrara is £61,744.00 - 345Bhp, Unladen weight 1,445 kg

now, clearly the Evora is heavily spec'ed up at this, but you get the point...



andy_s

19,400 posts

259 months

Saturday 9th May 2009
quotequote all
Quite a bit more though once the porkers get the sat nav, leccy windows etc though?

Scuffers

20,887 posts

274 months

Saturday 9th May 2009
quotequote all
andy_s said:
Quite a bit more though once the porkers get the sat nav, leccy windows etc though?
true enough, but £14K difference pays for a lot of toys, including PDK/PASM etc...

dom180

1,180 posts

264 months

Saturday 9th May 2009
quotequote all
Scuffers said:
andy_s said:
Quite a bit more though once the porkers get the sat nav, leccy windows etc though?
true enough, but £14K difference pays for a lot of toys, including PDK/PASM etc...
To be fair, the first batch of Evora's are heavily spec-ed - a standard 2+2 plus say the Sports pack (better value than Porsche's chrono option) and metalic is a lot less. Throw in a healthy dealer discount once the "desperates" have bought all the launch cars, and there won't be a lot in it between a lightly optioned Cayman S.

Lotus and the mk 3 Elise have more to worry about with Porsche's sub-boxster Sportscar.

CTE

1,488 posts

240 months

Tuesday 12th May 2009
quotequote all
Seen the Evoras on a factory visit etc. In the right colours they look good, but in the wrong colours, you want to like them but....I am sure the car will sell to a loyal few, and given Lotus id a relatively small company, it may just work for them, but as has been said before, the car is not special enough. If I were to have £50,000 cash to blow on a car, I doubt it would be one of these.

Lotus should have moved the goal posts on with the Elise...make a simple efficent road/track sports car, which can corner even faster than the current crop. Whats the point in making yet another junior supercar, which may be very good (competitive) dynamically, but does not drastically move the goal posts?

Tuna

19,930 posts

284 months

Tuesday 12th May 2009
quotequote all
CTE said:
Lotus should have moved the goal posts on with the Elise...
As has been said on other threads, the Elise is a diminishing market and Lotus have moved the goalposts for all-out sportscars with the 2-11. The Evora is a GT and designed to be comfortable and practical rather than hardcore. If you want small and light, get an Elise, Exige or 2-11. If you want the fastest possible sportscar, wait for the Esprit replacement.

The Evora is something you can drive to work without being ashamed to give the boss a lift, or drive down through Europe without ending up deaf and unable to stand straight.

Hedgerley

620 posts

268 months

Friday 22nd May 2009
quotequote all
I think the naysayers on this thread need to invest in a couple of the June/July issue magazines and check out the online reviews and videos from the Evora's launch in Scotland over the last two weeks.

I accept that styling is very subjective (and I still prefer my Esprit V8, but then I'm old and biased) but as for the driving dynamics, I've never known a car be so well received by the motoring press. CAR has it trouncing a 911, Evo has it beating the Cayman S and Farbio(!) and they even prefer it over the first UK spec Nissan GT-R. They all believe that Lotus has set a new benchmark in chassis balance, steering, NVH etc. for sportscars that leaves the likes of Porsche "in awe".

Most of the reviews are here - http://www.evoraforum.com/forums/index.php?s=f7e0c...

Porsche chuck out 100k cars a year, Lotus 2,200. They only expect to produce 2,000 Evora's a year, for worldwide sale. On the budget they have available I think the Evora is a remarkable achievement, as does every magazine and online editor out there (except Top gear, but I lost faith in them years ago)