Friday 2nd September 2011

Lotus Evora GTE Road Car Is A Go-er

Chinese sales inspire Euro versions of racer-based Evora

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Developed for Asia, now we're getting it

The Evora GTE road car revealed at Pebble Beach recently has been such a soar-away success in Asia that Lotus is going to pitch it to punters in Europe.

According to chief exec Dany Bahar Lotus sold out all 114 examples that were destined for sale in the Chinese market within days of its announcement. "In response we decided that the only logical step from a business perspective was to increase production and widen our reach," he says.

The GTE will be shown at Frankfurt later this month. Producing over 440hp from its 3.5-litre Toyota V6, it's billed as the fastest Lotus road car ever built - but no figures are available as yet. As well as increased power, carbon fibre has been used to reduce weight by 105kgs against a standard Evora.

Lining up alongside the GTE at Frankfurt will be a trio of new models, according to firm's press latest press release. The first is the Elise S, which features a new supercharged 220hp 1.8 engine and replaces the Elise SC - and the others?

Exige rally car - it's been done before

"You'll have to wait until Frankfurt to find out about those..." says the release. "But two little hints, one of these models will be one of the quickest road cars Lotus has ever built and the other marks the return of Lotus to another adrenalin filled motorsport discipline.

We think the latter will be the Exige based rally car mentioned by the firm's motorsport boss Claudio Berro at an event back in June, which we're expecting Lotus to launch as a fully factory-prepped customer car next year.

[anonymous-user]

I like this, getting closer to the bhp it deserves..

But built for china, just shows how much the British buying public believe in it.

[Hellbound]

Wonder how many they'll sell in Europe.

Wonder what newly appointed Lotus Group advisor Gordon Murray thinks of this.

[kambites]

So the new supercharged Elise is going to be called the "Elise S"? Because that's not going to confuse anyone, is it?

[Hellbound]

black pipebandit said:

I like this, getting closer to the bhp it deserves..

But built for china, just shows how much the British buying public believe in it.

China = second biggest economy on Earth and fastest growing.

[AllNines]

Lotus rally car, you say? Hmmm, can't wait to see that.

[ali_khl]

If this is built for China, I can promise that there is no chance it will be equipped with a stick-shift - there is absolutely 0 demand for any manual sports cars in China (or Singapore now for that matter).

[Civpilot]

Would be nice to actually see the bigger picture showing the wing design... shame the Pistonheads logo totally obscures it.

Here's some further shots of the car for those that havent seen the concept...




Personally I quite like it.

[thewheelman]

Brilliant! This will sell well i'm sure

[harryowl]

ali_khl said:

If this is built for China, I can promise that there is no chance it will be equipped with a stick-shift - there is absolutely 0 demand for any manual sports cars in China (or Singapore now for that matter).

According to ph's earlier article on the car( http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?story... ) it is going to have a sequential 'box.

[thewheelman]

Not the first time Lotus has had a hand in rallying....

[johnycarrera]

Want one!
Anyone know how much it is in China?

[LuS1fer]

A GTE will always be either a Scimitar or an Astra/Manta. Is it great enough to break that association in my miind...

[Glade]

I know someone has already posted it...

...but I think I've just had a little accident!

[crazy6]

Beautiful and aggressive looking enough to make me want an evora (finally), but that wing isn't nice at all. Looks awkward and like an add on, which it is...but still. If I could get one in a year or two I'd have to rip it off and have something fabricated that was more exile like (single mount point etc..).

[EK993]

That front end is how the Evora should have looked from day 1.

[thewheelman]

LuS1fer said:

A GTE will always be either a Scimitar or an Astra/Manta. Is it great enough to break that association in my miind...

I think the GTE badge is a hat tip to this car & the LM GTE series it raced in...(i could be wrong though)


Edit. Just found this too http://www.lemans.org/en/races/intercontinental-le...

Edited by thewheelman on Thursday 1st September 20:14

[zippyprorider]

think of the stone chips.... THINK OF THE STONE CHIPS!

[Caviar]

Here is a chance for lotus to have a go at Porsche's GT3 4.0 RS, might sound ridiculous but if they put in that Cosworth 4.0 engine in, 125/hp per liter like on the 458 italia, 500hp, bare interior with only two seat...lightweight...it could be legendary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8HFFQ-wdXE listen to that!

Edited by Caviar on Thursday 1st September 20:35

[GTRene]

very nice car with that weight loss and looks.

[The Pits]

Looks great apart from the rear wing, which is awful.