Lotus brings out its fastest car yet

Lotus, a byword in the world of lightweight sports cars, has just released its fastest and most powerful car till date, the Evora 400. The engine, as the name suggests, produces 400bhp of maximum power from a mid-mounted supercharged 3.5 litre V6 unit, and a peak torque of 410Nm. This results in a dramatic zero to 100kmph time of just 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 300kmph.

The new Evora is a whooping 6 seconds faster than its predecessor and about 22kilograms lighter. Traction settings can be altered via a driver-selectable switch through ‘Drive‘, ‘Sport' and ‘Race' modes. The settings are designed to allow the driver better vehicle control before any electronic intervention is required by the ECU. Both ‘Sport' and ‘Race' settings increase throttle responsiveness.

A new aluminium chassis incorporates a new interior and the lightweight composite body has changed significantly both front and rear. The weight reduction is even more surprising when you consider that the new model has more power and higher standards than before. Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer, Group Lotus, says “A requirement for all Lotus cars is to be a benchmark for handling, to be the quickest car from A to B and to provide the driver with a pure and involving driving experience. The Evora 400 is the fastest road-going Lotus that we have ever produced, possessing performance that can only be matched by cars costing significantly more. It delivers supercar looks allied to supercar performance.”

In spite of all the luxury fittings and equipment expected of a modern supercar, Lotus remains true to its lightweight appeal. The new Evora 400 tips the scales (un-laden) at just 1,415 kilograms (automatic: 1,419 kilograms), amounting to a reduction of 22 kilograms (automatic: 23 kilograms) against the outgoing Evora.