Cars in the Fast Lane

 The “Project Eagle” development has finally been revealed as the Lotus Evora, proclaimed as the first mid-engined 4 seater in production that gives Lotus a step into a different and larger market.

Contrary to it’s minimalist hardcore track image, Lotus has given the Evora amenities and creature comforts such as airbags (no way!), leather seats, air-conditioning, Alpine multi-media system, satellite navigation, on-board tyre pressure monitoring, video, Bluetooth hands-free telephone and iPod connectivity functions, reversing camera and more.

This tags the Evora as more of an everyday vehicle instead of the race-inspired purist car that Lotus became famous for. However, Lotus promises once you’re seated behind its flat-bottomed steering wheel, it feels every bit as exotic and sporting as you would expect a Lotus to be.

Despite the extras, Lotus has somewhat compensated with a light weight inner body structure which weighs just about 400 lbs (the prototype weight), which helps to keep the weight of the whole car down to less than 3,000 lbs.

Toyota again chips in with an engine with an all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 producing 276 HP, which allows it to scorch from 0-60 in less than 5 seconds with a top speed of 160mph while still being able to maintain 30mpg. It also comes superb track amenities such as Bilstein/Eibach suspension, Lotus AP Racing 4 piston calipers with vented and cross-drilled brake discs.

All of this allows the Lotus Evora to be an every day car for the track enthusiast.