CarBrandLogos archive · Lotus · 2009

LotusLotus Evora

The first all-new Lotus in a decade, and the last to be sold as a usable everyday car.

Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0

The story

A defining chapter in Lotus history.

Explore the ideas, engineering and context that shaped the Lotus Evora, then continue into its specifications and place in the marque's lineage.

Origins

The Evora, launched in 2009, was Lotus's attempt to build something you could live with. Everything the company had sold for over a decade was derived from the Elise, which was uncompromising to the point of impracticality. The Evora used the same bonded and extruded aluminium chassis principles, scaled up to take a transversely mounted V6, a proper boot, and optional token rear seats.

Lotus Evora Clay · Brian Snelson · CC BY 2.0

Design and engineering

The engine came from Toyota, a 3.5-litre 2GR-FE which brought reliability and a service network Lotus could never have provided on its own, and which was later supercharged in the S, 400, GT410 and GT430 versions as the car was progressively sharpened. Russell Carr's shape was clean and slightly anonymous, which was arguably the point.

Lotus Evora Interior Red · Konrad Andrews · CC BY-SA 2.0

In production

Road testers were unanimous about the ride and steering, which were among the best available at any price, and equally unanimous about the interior quality, the gearchange and the driving position, which were not. It was aimed at the Porsche Cayman and was beaten by it on everything except how it felt through a corner. Just 6,117 were built by the time production ended in 2021, and the Emira took over.

2012 Italian GP - Carabinieri · Francesco Crippa · CC BY 2.0

At a glance