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2010 Lotus Evora coming soon to the USA
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The 2010 Evora, one of the most seductive cars ever produced by Lotus
When it comes to lightweight, high performance and affordable sports cars, few manufacturers have more clout in the segment than Lotus. Their latest car in the stable, the Evora, is set for release in 2010 and will offer a 2 + 2 seating configuration, upping the option choices for customers and allowing Lotus to nose into new markets.
Lotus, the brainchild of British entrepreneur and racer, Colin Chapman, who built his first car at home in the garage, has an association with high performance tuning and racing dating back to the 1950’s. The Top Gear test track was developed specifically by Lotus to challenge a variety of cars, so there is no doubting their pedigree and understanding of the driving experience.
Most people will be familiar with the Elise which was unveiled back in 1995 and became an instant classic. Unfortunately we didn’t see the car here in America until 2004 due to emissions and crash testing requirements demanded by US law. Fortunately, Lotus is not a manufacturer who churns out an endless stream of new models every other year and American consumers were not penalized by the models’ delayed release.
The all new Evora is an outstandingly attractive vehicle and continues the Lotus tradition. It’s so attractive in fact, that if it turns up in the next Transformers movie, Megan Fox will need a contract clause which prevents the two of them appearing in the same scenes together. “A cornerstone of the design's success was working closely with the technical team to develop a package that allowed us to get the proportions correct,” says Head of Design Russell Carr, “The asymmetric wheel sizes, the short rear overhang, long front overhang and cab forward visor screen all contribute to giving the car visual movement and an agile stance. This is incredibly important to us because we want the car's aesthetics to communicate its driving characteristics.”
Of course snazzy looks must be backed by a measure of performance and the car packs a Lotus tuned 3.5L V6 which produces 276hp and 252 lb ft of torque@ 6400rpm. Zero to 60 times are around 4.9 seconds using the 6-speed manual transmission and the top speed is approximately 162mph. Advanced modular bonded aluminum construction keeps the weight down, and Lotus engineers claim the car is light and nimble coupled with its forged aluminum suspension components and Bilstein high performance dampers.
Unlike the Evora’s cousins, like the Elise and Exige, the car is intended to deliver more everyday practicality, with a proper trunk space and significantly more room for the driver. The front seats have been raised 2.5 inches along with the reduced width of the sills to around 3 inches, allowing much easier access into and out of the vehicle.
Despite the slight compromise in pure race car experience, Lotus claim the feel of the vehicle will still please customers. As Russell Carr explains, “The flat bottomed steering wheel, figure hugging sport seats, contemporary instrumentation and ergonomically positioned controls provide an intuitive environment that instantly forms a connection between driver and car ensuring that it becomes an extension of his or her body.”
Final pricing for the US spec Evora will be revealed closer to the release date. Do expect a fairly low emissions rating and exceptional EPA gas mileage ratings for a sports car, as well as high customer demand when the vehicle finally makes its US show room debut some time next year.
For Minnesota customers, a Lotus dealer can be found through the following website where you can seek more information on current and upcoming Lotus products: www.downtownjaguar.com/. Ph: 763-222-2200
Nathan can be contacted at pricklyhedgehog@yahoo.com and welcomes your comments and suggestions. Images and specifications of the 2010 Lotus Evora are courtesy of Lotus.
For more info: http://www.lotuscars.com/
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