The new Evora 400, Lotus’s fastest and most powerful production car ever, is set to hit the roads this August with a price tag of around $113,000.

Launched at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the new supercar combines high performance with the legendary Lotus benchmark handling and is faster and dynamically more capable than the previous Evora, leading to greater agility and a more involving drive.

Maximum speed is 186 mph (miles per hour),  or 300 kmph, and acceleration 0-60 mph is just 4.1 seconds (0-100 kmph in 4.2 seconds). This enables the new car to lap the challenging test track at the Lotus headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk,  UK, a scintillating six seconds faster than the previous model.

Over two-thirds of the Lotus Evora 400 is new, including its supercharged and charge-cooled mid- mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 400 hp and 410 Nm of torque. A new aluminium chassis incorporates a new interior and the lightweight composite body has changed significantly both front and rear.

Not only is the new Evora 400 faster than the previous model, it is also 22 kg lighter. This weight reduction is even more impressive considering that the supercar has more power and a higher standard specification than before, the British carmaker points out.

The Evora 400 exudes a visual appeal that is perfectly in line with its supercar status. It has a bold, front end and bumper design incorporating larger cooling apertures and attractive daytime running lamps, along with a new rear bumper, lightweight composite rear diffuser and three-element rear wing. It also has two new lighter weight wheel designs (both forged and cast options) and a new door mirror design.

The overall effect is of a car with a more aggressive stance, that appears lower, wider and more planted on the road, despite no increase in width compared with the previous Evora. The approach angle has been reduced from 11.5 to 10 degrees to aid aerodynamic downforce.


ERGONOMICS

The aluminium bonded and extruded chassis has been redesigned to improve both entry to and exit from the new cockpit. Ingress, egress and cockpit space are further improved with the introduction of higher quality, lighter weight and narrower door inner panels.

All new front seats are lighter and provide greater support for both driver and front passenger. As an option, rear passengers are also catered for, with the rear seats being 280 mm wider than the previous Lotus Evora.

As a handcrafted sports car, the bespoke feel is carried across three new trim levels, including trim upgrades in full Alcantara, or Scottish leather, with each featuring specific trim detailing.

Both comfort and ergonomics have been improved, with a new HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system that provides greater airflow and operator control, within a new dashboard layout.

The cabin features a lightweight forged magnesium steering wheel with a red race-inspired position stripe and a revised instrument cluster that possesses simple clear dials (white on black graphics). Switchgear haptics and ergonomics have also been improved significantly, the latter through location to the upper-central dashboard and, for the first time, a new engine start-stop button has been fitted to the car.

Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus, says the new Evora 400 will remain core to Lotus’s product line-up for many years to come, with “more exciting derivatives planned within the next few years”.

The new car, which is expected  to compete with the Porsche 911, enters production for European markets in the summer and deliveries commence in August. The price of the car in the UK has reported at £72,000 ($113,220).

North American markets will receive the Evora 400 as a 2016 model year presentation in the autumn. 

A wholly owned subsidiary of DRB-HICOM, Group Lotus is based in Norfolk and has three operating divisions: Lotus Cars, Lotus Engineering and Lotus Motorsport.

Lotus Cars builds world-class, high-performance sports cars including the award-winning Evora, the iconic Elise and the stunning Exige.