London Motor Show 2008: Lotus Evora

True character in a faceless world… slogans, advertising lines and assorted adornments that accompany new models tend to be purely decorative and without a clear basis. With this one, the Lotus Evora is the exception.

Not only for its clever way of presenting it, with those faceless men walking around the stand. No. It is the description that best fits this new lightweight 2+2, with mid-engine layout and name Lotus.

The Evora, formerly known as Eagle, was unveiled at the London Motor Show with a great deal of anticipation. That is why it is one of the few cars that arrived at the ExCeL with few announcements or photographs, and, even better, the ones there were generated even more curiosity.

I have nothing but good words and praise for it. They say its design shares many similarities with the Tesla Roadster at the front; well, it is low and its lights have a similar shape. It was also said that the Audi TT looked like a Ford Focus; time has sealed those remarks through sheer beauty.

An enveloping, black, stylised cabin that extends until it meets the rear window over a bodywork tuned for aerodynamics. It is compact, as a good Lotus should be, and its proportions speak of “poise” at first glance.

That poise will be essential so that its 3.5-litre DOHC V6 VVT-i does not waste a single horsepower of the 280 it develops. Torque of 342 Nm at 4700 rpm pushes it from a standstill to 100 km/h in under five seconds, five seconds in which only some of its six-speed manual gears are engaged.

The aluminium modular chassis will clearly move with ease given this calling card; it weighs only 1350 kg. To stop it there is ABS for when things get difficult, as well as ventilated discs of 350 mm at the front and 332 mm at the rear, each with four pistons.

To complete the mechanical side, the aluminium suspension incorporates parts developed by Bilstein and Eibach, and the steering is hydraulically assisted. The front wheels are 225/40 ZR18 on 18″ rims, while the rear ones are 255/35 ZR19 on 19″ rims.

This is where the strictly Lotus part ends, to talk about less purist details. Inside, with four seats (the two rear ones are optional), Recaro seats at the front and standard ones with ISOFIX at the back, leather plays a special role. It features an Alpine multimedia system with a 7″ touchscreen, DVD, GPS, Bluetooth hands-free and iPod connectivity.

In addition, it can be fitted with air conditioning, electric windows, tyre pressure monitoring and a steering wheel with a flattened bottom.

It will go on sale in summer 2009. It is quite unlikely that one will reach our hands in the meantime, but we are more than eager for someone to put it through its paces on a circuit and squeeze out its potential. It is destined to be a true thoroughbred.

Photos | Highmotor