Lotus has always been a proponent of power-to-weight trumping just big power. Lately, though, things have changed a bit with models like the Evora. While still a relative lightweight at just over 3,000 pounds, it’s far heavier than models like the Elise and Exige.
With the reveal of the Evora 400, Lotus has also introduced the concept of big power figures. While 400 horsepower isn’t mammoth by comparison to some modern sports cars like the Corvette Z06 or Hellcat twins (if you can call the Hellcats genuine sports cars), it’s still the most powerful production model ever for the UK brand.
When the Evora 400 enters production this summer, customers in Europe will be able to place orders for the car, priced at €96,000. For those of us stateside, we’ll have to wait until December to plunk down $89,000 for the 2016 model year. If you’re scratching your head about the conversion, don’t; automakers usually price models differently based on the region.
As a reminder, the Lotus Evora 400 is powered by a tuned version of the Evora S’s 3.5 liter supercharged V6, making 400 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque. More power of course does aid with power-to-weight, propelling the Evora 400 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 186 mph. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual, which has been upgraded to handle the extra power, or a 6-speed automatic (yet another recent addition for Lotus).
Besides the added grunt, the Evora 400 features a retuned suspension, larger brakes, and a reworked aluminum chassis that weighs 48 pounds less than the Evora S. As you can immediately tell from the pictures, the 400 also gets an aggressive (though not necessarily attractive) body kit with a large rear wing, bigger air intakes, and LED indicators. The package is completed with 19-inch front and 20-inch rear lightweight aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber.
While it’s not the best-looking Lotus, or the most capable on the track, if you want to keep up with the latest high-horsepower cars, the Evora 400 is your best bet from the brand.
