2009 Lotus Evora

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Lotus has always been known for producing extreme little sports cars that are nimble on and off the racetrack. But the 2009 Lotus Evora is bringing the small British manufacturer into an unknown segment, 4-seater sports cars. Yes you read correctly, the Evora will be a 2+2 coupe pumping 276 horsepower and will have the same power to weight ratio then a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. Ready for some fun?

Specifications:
ENGINE:	3.5 liter V6	0-100km/h (62mph):	under 5 seconds
ASPIRATION:	Normal	TOP SPEED:	257km/h (160mph)
HP:	276hp	WEIGHT/HP:	4.89 kg/hp
HP/LITER:	78.9 hp/liter	1/4 MILE:	-
TORQUE:	252 ft-lb	1 KILOMETER:	-
WEIGHT:	1350kg (2976lbs)	PRICE:	=

(the Lotus Press Release said)

Style or function? Have both…
Designed ‘in-house’ by Lotus Design, the sleek and athletic shape uses fluid forms
and crisp surfaces to communicate velocity, agility and sophistication. Low and wide
with modern cab forward proportions, muscular rear haunches and function-optimized
side air intakes; this is clearly a serious mid-engine sports car that skilfully hides the
practicality of its two-plus-two capability. Elsewhere, aerodynamic considerations for drag, downforce and cooling had significant but positive influence on the overall form and details such as air intakes. A desire to create balanced downforce, that increases cornering performance, led to the adoption of the now Lotus “signature” top exit radiator vent, race car inspired diffuser and “floating rear wing”. Drag limitation, drove the dramatic tear-dropped cabin layout and the curvaceous plan view has given the car a more muscular rear shoulder that conveys a level of sophistication appropriate to this market segment. “We believe that our designs should be honest as well as dramatic and so we are really pleased with the fact that these iconic features all do a real job” says Steven Crijns, Design Manager. This inherent understanding of the relationship between the technical and the aesthetic paid dividends the first time a full-scale model of the Evora was wind tunnel tested – only minimal adjustments were required to the car’s aerodynamic package to meet the targets for downforce and stability. Steve Crijns continued, “Overall the design language shows a clear DNA link with its Lotus siblings, while also establishing its own distinctive and contemporary theme. The undulating shoulder line is brilliantly mirrored in the lower part of the body side by the cutaway sill that creates a torso-like muscularity.”

Moving right inside…

The design language of the interior reflects that of the exterior – simple, fluid surfaces, soft forms and crisp feature lines wrap around the cabin cosseting the occupants. Unlike recent Lotus products that use a race car inspired, technical minimalism, the Evora employs a softer approach that utilizes premium quality materials and finishes to create a contemporary but luxurious ambience that is unique to Lotus products. It is, according to Head of Lotus Design Russell Carr, “A huge departure from what people might expect based on Lotus’s recent past. We wanted the Evora’s cabin to feel special and to be surprising as well as sporty. Precision engineered metal inserts and quality edge-lit switches are brilliantly juxtaposed against soft hand-stitched leather surfaces to give a modern interior with a classic twist.”

High-tech treats

Contemporary technology also features in the Evora’s cabin. A newly developed Alpine multi-media system with a 7-inch touch-screen provides advanced audio, satellite navigation, video, Bluetooth® hands-free telephone and iPod® connectivity functions. The screen also serves as a monitor for the Evora’s optional reversing camera. The satellite navigation element of the system is removable, allowing you to program it from the comfort of your home, or take it with you to continue your journey in an unfamiliar pedestrian location.
The Alpine audio set-up is one of the most sophisticated automotive systems in the world. Called IMPRINT and using MultEQ sound enhancement technology, it is able to cancel out sound imbalances caused by the cabin window glass, for instance, creating echoes, while carpets suppress mid-range frequencies – resulting in amazingly crisp, clear, undistorted sound reproduction wherever you are seated in the car. A bespoke air-conditioning system developed by Bergstrom is standard on all models, and has been designed for the hottest climate or highest humidity to help provide maximum occupant comfort. Lotus traction control and onboard tire pressure monitoring will also be available.

One size fits all

The leather clad front seats are very supportive with a lightweight manual adjustment mechanism for fore and aft, rake and lumbar. The rear seats of 2+2 versions of the Evora are intended for children and smaller adults. There will also be a two-seater derivative with a luggage shelf in the back. To maximize comfort in the rear, there’s a decent amount of foot room under the front seats, while both back seats also feature ISOFIX mountings for secure child seat fitment. When unoccupied, the rear seats provide a convenient stowage area, adding to the Evora’s appeal as an everyday car. The 5.7 cubic foot trunk, which ingeniously features a fresh air cooling system to reduce the effect of any heat ingress from the engine bay, will also accommodate a full set of golf clubs.

The chassis: Production Low Volume Versatile Vehicle Architecture

The Evora’s chassis is an evolution of the Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) from the Lotus APX concept vehicle previously showcased at the Geneva Motor Show, and allows for the development of a range of vehicles up to a gross vehicle weight approaching 4,200 lbs. This architecture has been designed to be more applicable to mid-volume vehicles by utilizing our low capital investment manufacturing processes. The Evora structure progresses the Lotus ‘bonded and riveted’ technology used in the Elise family of vehicles with unique extrusions and folded panels, while providing contemporary ease of ingress/egress, build modularity and lower repair costs. The low volume VVA architecture has been designed so that it can be extended in width, length and height. The strength and stiffness of the low volume VVA chassis can be modified cost effectively by varying the wall thickness of the extrusions, without altering the exterior dimensions. The ability to lengthen or shorten extrusions with the option to tailor the chassis stiffness, vastly increases the number of vehicles that can be developed from this vehicle architecture. Front and mid engine installations have been considered, as well as hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) applications. The Lotus Evora employs a composite roof as a stressed structural member to give an exceptional vehicle stiffness of 26,000 Nm per degree, thanks in part to the seatbelt anchorage frame’s secondary function as a roll over structure, and partly because the high-tech composite body panels are stressed items. However, despite this high stiffness, the complete chassis and modules weight just 440 lbs. (prototype weight), helping to keep the weight of the whole car to just 2,976 lbs. (prototype weight).
To deliver this high performance structure, bonded and riveted high-grade aluminium extrusions and simple and elegant folded sheet elements are used in the lower structure, building upon award winning research projects in this field. Lotus pioneered the technology of bonded aluminium extrusions for use in road vehicles and has successfully developed high performance cars for other car companies around the world. The central tub is attached to an extruded aluminium subframe at the front and a lightweight welded steel subframe at the rear. These subframe modules also offer advantages in terms of convenience and low cost of repair. During manufacturing these subframe modules can be brought to the production line fully assembled, ready to be attached.

The V6 Engine - dual VVT-i (‘intelligent’ variable valve timing)

The exceptional working relationship that Lotus has enjoyed with Toyota for many
years, combined with the overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception for the company’s
four-cylinder powerplants in the Elise and Exige, guaranteed the Japanese giant’s
inclusion on the shortlist for the Evora engine supplier. The final choice was Toyota’s
all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 DOHC, with dual VVT-i (‘intelligent’ variable valve timing). Lotus has painstakingly developed its own T6e engine management software for this engine to optimize its compatibility with the unique requirements of the Evora to give a peak power output to 276 hp at 6400 rpm, while boosting its maximum torque to 252 lb. ft. at 4700 rpm (prototype figures).
Changes to the engine management and exhaust systems also allow the V6 to rev more freely and provide rapid throttle response; feedback from the development team suggests that the strength of the engine’s mid-range torque means that gutsy performance will be easily accessible without having to thunder through to the redline. This makes the Lotus Evora a thoroughly satisfying car for everyday road use and a rewarding one when you just want to drive.The 2GR-FE V6 engine is mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, again Toyota sourced. A close-ratio version of this gearbox is also currently under development for the even more sport-focused driver. Many Lotus owners enjoy the blend of unique performance and efficiency that the brand’s cars offer. True to the Lotus value of “performance through light weight” CO2 emissions are expected to be a class leading sub-225 g/km (prototype figures) while testers report fuel consumption in the region of 30+ miles per gallon on the highway (pending formal homologation testing).