Lotus Evora 2+2
by Tim Barnes-Clay, the man behind the wheel.
Date: 01 July 2010
Much of my car addiction could be down to growing up in Norwich, only a few miles from the Lotus HQ in Hethel where THE Bond car of the seventies – the Lotus Esprit S1 was made.
The nearest I ever got to seeing my ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ dream car was on a sponsored cycle ride around the Lotus test track for the cubs.
That seemed enough for me at the time, and I soaked up the atmosphere of that windswept former airfield as though I was somehow connected to Roger Moore and his 1977 Bond car with its 'underwater' gadgetry.
I was still giddy from excitement a few years later when the new Turbo Esprit featured in the 1981 film, ‘For Your Eyes Only’. Yes, looking back, that is definitely where my addiction to cars came from.
So, you can imagine my reaction when, after months of pestering from me, Lotus rang to see if I’d like to test drive their new Evora 2+2 model.
And guess what? The model I was being offered was in white – just like the dream car I’d first clapped eyes on at the Norwich Odeon in 1977. To say I was excited would be an understatement. I was off to Norfolk in a flash.
After being shown around the Lotus factory and witnessing Evoras being skilfully and lovingly put together by local people rather than robots, I was more than itching to get behind the wheel of my 59 plate demo model. I was hooked from the moment I set eyes upon it.
Once inside the Lotus Evora 2+2 you soon realise that the world's only mid-engined four-seater is just as dramatic as its gratifyingly styled exterior. The front leather seats are very comfortable, and touch sensitive switchgear abound.
You’d struggle to get all but the tiniest baby seats to fit the miniscule rear seats, but, fair play to Lotus, the rear bench is a useful storage area and is trimmed in black leather as standard, which gives the illusion that the car is only a two-seater. The boot is even decent enough to fit in two sets of golf clubs. Brilliant!
The first thing I noticed about the Evora is how well it rides.
The 3.5-litre V6 lump is tame in town, but it’s hard to mask the rich throaty burble of the power waiting to be unleashed.
Hit the open roads and the Toyota-sourced powerplant simply pins you in your seat. The 5.1-second 0-62mph time blows you away, yet the Lotus still feels cool, calm and collected.
The car's brakes took me by surprise – they scrub off speed in a blink of an eye and yet the Evora is totally stable under heavy braking and the mid-engined layout gives the car terrific traction.
As well as the ability to turn heads and its sheer driving pleasure the Evora's combined cycle fuel economy figure of 32.5mpg is also something to be admired.
In a day, driving from Norwich via Lincolnshire to Northamptonshire, I got about 28 mpg - not bad considering I played about a little on the 100 mile journey home.
The Norfolk based company has done an amazing job on this car.
It’s utterly exciting to drive, it draws looks wherever it goes, it feels safe and it is an extraordinarily competent all-rounder.
All in all Group Lotus fulfilled my boyhood dreams by letting me drive this beautiful work of art.
It’s something I won’t forget for a long time and nor will anyone else who gets behind the wheel of the stunning new Evora.
PROS ‘N’ CONS
PROS
- Performance
- Ride and handling
- Looks
- Fuel economy
CONS
- Rear seats
FAST FACTS
- Max speed: 162 mph
- 0-62 mph 5.1seconds
- Combined mpg: 32.5
- Engine layout: Mid-mounted, V6 petrol, 3456 cc
- Power: 276 bhp @ 6400 rpm
- Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
- CO2: 205 g/km
- Price: £49,875
