RE: Lotus Evora GT430 - official!

RE: Lotus Evora GT430 - official!

Saturday 22nd July 2017

Lotus Evora GT430 - official!

The most powerful road going Lotus sports car ever is now on sale - what are you waiting for?



We like the Lotus Evora at PH. The latest 400hp iteration may be a more expensive proposition than the original, but it's also a more exciting and much faster sports car. That impression was only heightened with the Sport 410, a car that stood dynamic comparison with the very best in the world.

No mistaking this for a regular Evora!
No mistaking this for a regular Evora!
And now we have this, the Evora GT430. Reviving the GT moniker last seen on Esprits, this Lotus is described as a "beautiful and pure combination of elegance and power". More power (436hp), in fact, than has ever been seen previously in an Evora - indeed in any Lotus sports car - plus the lowest weight at just 1,258kg dry. It promises to be something very special.

The mass reduction has been achieved through - pay attention now - a standard fit titanium exhaust (-10kg), carbon panels (-4.7kg), lighter interior parts (-2.5kg), a new suspension arrangement (adjustable Ohlins TTX dampers and lightweight Eibach springs, -10kg), lighter brake discs (-2kg), a thinner aluminium undertray (-1.5kg), lighter aluminium brackets (-1.3kg), a "re-profiled fluid fill system" (-2.5kg), and lightweight polycarbonate backlight glass (-500g). Now the quick amongst you will have noticed that that saves 35kg, though the total weight saving for the GT430 is 26kg: wider wheels and tyres, plus that huge rear wing, add 9kg back in. 

The aero package is worth discussing in fact, contributing as it does to a total of 250kg of downforce at the 190mph top speed. It develops the 410's maximum of 64kg at 90mph, as a point of reference. The changes comprise a new front splitter and ducts (directing air more efficiently through the front wheel cavities), front access panel, roof, and that wing - all in carbon. And look at those louvres above the wheels!

Get yourself comfortable...
Get yourself comfortable...
Other tweaks for the GT430 include wider ultra-lightweight wheels on Michelin Cup 2 tyres (245/35 R19 fronts, 295/30 R20 rears), the variable traction control previously seen on the Exige Cup 380, and AP Racing four-piston calipers at each corner. The result is that the GT430 will lap Hethel in 1:25.8, the fastest ever for an Evora and as quick as a 3-Eleven.

A two-seater only, the GT430 comes as standard with much carbon and Alcantara. But of course. The infotainment can be optioned back in, while on the cost extra list are carbon backed Sparco seats, harnesses and a titanium rear frame.

Of course the lighter, louder, faster Lotus is not a new recipe now, but it would be hard to say that the GT430 doesn't sound like an extremely appealing package. Just 60 will be made, with a price of £112,500. Which is about what a GT3 costs, if you can get one... Orders are being taken now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
Author
Discussion

Hellers

Original Poster:

134 posts

172 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
WOW!

That is just stunning!

chappardababbar

409 posts

142 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
wowowowowow

MAJOR WANT

Charlie Michael

2,750 posts

183 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
I'm having Deja vu with this car today! hehe

Looks amazing though.

anthonysjb

524 posts

135 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
all great until ... £112k...

pppppppppppppppp

169 posts

121 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
But you could get a second-hand something or other that will be just as good for a fraction of the price.





I think this looks great. It'll drive great too. Shame I just can't spend that sort of money on a car.

gashead1105

558 posts

152 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
"It's too expensive"
"Toyota engine"
"rubbish gearbox" (which it isn't by the way)
"I'm MrD, I'm in my pram, where are my toys"

Right, now that's out the way, what a fabulous looking thing this is. With a lot of luck, I might be able to afford one in 3 or 4 years time, at which point I'm hoping there will be an even fancier GT460!

Helicopter123

8,831 posts

155 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
Looks stunning but £112k?

Jesus wept.

Fetchez la vache

5,568 posts

213 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
I've taken fondly to the Lotuses of recent years, but this one... bloody hell! biggrin
Styling is spot on. Shame they removed the (somewhat small) rear seats, mind...


If only I could find the £!

LotusOmega375D

7,582 posts

152 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
For such an amazing bit of kit, that truly is a bargain price by anybody's standards!

Well done Lotus!

AmosMoses

4,039 posts

164 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
Lovely car, really nice spec on this car. I'd hate to buy this though as next week an Evora 450 will probably come out!

leglessAlex

5,384 posts

140 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
I think it looks stunning, and it’s impressively lightweight too.

I don’t think the cost is all that high either, if it’s closest competitor is the GT3 (what other track focused manual cars this size are around?) then it’s in roughly the right ball park of around £100k (the GT3 is cheaper but I imagine in reality the cars sold will cost roughly the same when options are added) and it’s power to weight ratio of 330bhp per ton isn’t so far behind the Porsche’s 350bhp per ton.

Sure, the Porsche is probably a better buy due to far higher residuals but if all you care about is buying a ‘drivers’ car then they’re perfect competitors I would have thought.

milfordkong

1,222 posts

231 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
I absolutely love it but that is silly money surely...

PHMatt

608 posts

147 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
I have no doubt whatsover that this will be better in every single measurable area than an Esprit.

But I would still take an Esprit over every other Lotus.
Logic? For cars? Never.

MrBarry123

6,025 posts

120 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
What a fantastic thing.

So much want. WOW WOW WOW WOW.

LotusOmega375D

7,582 posts

152 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
I make 430bhp and 1258kg = 342 bhp/tonne.

Anyway if Lotus thinks this is as fast around a track as a 3-11, I think it would probably beat a GT3 as well.

ben5575

6,221 posts

220 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
As discussed in the GT4 thread, the 400 in the classifieds with 6k miles on the clock for £58k is a very serious proposition.

Porsche911R said:
This GT430 is stunning. £112k maybe on a par with the GT3, but the GT3 won't drop £30k+ after a year or so unlike this one.

leglessAlex

5,384 posts

140 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
LotusOmega375D said:
I make 430bhp and 1258kg = 342 bhp/tonne.

Anyway if Lotus thinks this is as fast around a track as a 3-11, I think it would probably beat a GT3 as well.
Ah, I’m using the kerb weight that Lotus and Porsche are quoting for their respective cars instead of dry weight, the Lotus is 1299kg and the Porsche 1413kg. I’m not sure how compariable those weights actually are, but it seemed to be the fairest metric to me.

I may still have messed it up, maths isn’t my strong suit biggrin

Desert Dragon

1,445 posts

83 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
Polishing the same old t---s........they're still t---s whatever you do to them...

ForZiE23

194 posts

94 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
Looks a nice bit of kit but then the price hits you..... £112k Ooooo

British Beef

2,192 posts

164 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
quotequote all
What a car, stunning looking, far more of an event to look at than the 911 Gt3.

Price and performance on par with the GT3.

This is certainly my new aspirational car, well done Lotus.


People complaining about the price, FFS, you can pay more for a BMW 4 series today!!!!!! Which is based on just about the most common car on the UKs roads!