2010 Lotus Evora

On Sale:
Summer 2009
Expected Pricing:
$80,000-$90,000s

A new sports car called the Lotus Evora is expected to be introduced in U.S. in 2009, likely as a 2010 model. A larger car than the Elise, the Evora will be the first totally new Lotus in nearly 15 years.

To considerable media and public acclaim, Lotus revealed the upcoming Evora sports-GT at the July 2008 London Motor Show. Appearing on the show stand was a deep-silver two-door, 2+2, mid-engine coupe featuring a variety of longstanding Lotus design cues, to the point observers instantly recognized and appreciated Lotus DNA. The family lineage was seen to continue under the skin, where Evora's bonded and riveted aluminum platform, composite body panels and Toyota drivetrain are all trademark Lotus. As with all Loti, Evora extracts the most from the least, with agile dynamics and high performance coming more from advanced structures and weight control than outright engine power.

Evora is the first all-new Lotus in more than a decade, the last all-new model having been Elise Series 1 back in 1995 that spawned the current Elise Series 2, Exige, the 2-Eleven track car, and the non-USA Europa S. The basic Elise platform has also been used for non-USA Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220 models, as well as the recently introduced Tesla Roadster pure-electric vehicle.

Evora is larger and significantly more luxurious than other models in the current Lotus lineup. It is also much roomier and more accommodating, as needed for commercial success in today's demanding marketplace. The Evora's size results in higher weight than the Elise-based models. Think of Elise and Exige as pure sportscars, and Evora a (still pure) GT.