NEWS

Lotus unveil the Evora

Lotus unveiled its future to the world and stole the show with its all-new 2+2 four-seater sports car.

The iconic Norfolk sports car maker revealed that the sleek, athletic new coupé is called Evora as it took the wraps off it at the British International Motor Show at London's ExCeL exhibition complex yesterday.

With the global launch being beamed live to Lotus staff at the Hethel factory, near Wymondham, chief executive Mike Kimberley paid tribute to the dedicated workforce who have been a key part in turning around Lotus over the last two years.

The Evora is launched as Lotus prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in September.

Joining a huge crowd of journalists eagerly awaiting their first glimpse of the Evora - until yesterday known only as Project Eagle - were three generations of Lotus founder Colin Chapman's family.

Speaking exclusively to the EDP, his widow, Hazel said he "would be very proud of it."

And as the silver car slowly revolved with a barrage of photographers' flashlights bouncing off it from every angle, she said: "I would like to hear it going. I am sure it will be a winner.

Hazel Chapman, widow of Lotus founder Colin Chapman, toasts the new Lotus Evora at the British International Motor Show. Photo: Peter Franzen.

"It would be nice one day to see my grandchildren driving round in one of these."

The Evora, the first all-new car from Lotus since the Elise in 1995, will go on sale next spring as the only mid-engined 2+2 in production.

Power comes from a 280PS Lotus-tuned 3.5-litre Toyota V6 engine but while Lotus is still being secretive about exact performance figures, early testing points to a 0-60mph sprint time of under five seconds, a top speed of 160mph, around 30mpg overall and class-leading carbon dioxide emissions of less than 225g/km.

Mr Kimberley said the base two-seater version would cost under £50,000 but the first two years' supplies would be fully-equipped four-seater models.

Lotus is confident of selling the 2,000 Evoras it will hand-build each year and its confidence was underlined by the wow factor it created among the motoring press yesterday with the show car, one of 19 prototypes, still the centre of attention three hours after being revealed.

Mr Kimberley, who said he was privileged to have worked closely with the inspirational Colin Chapman for 13 years, said: "We have managed to bring this fabulous new car from a clean sheet of paper to this unveiling today in just 21 months."

He called it the "cornerstone" of Lotus's five-year strategic business plan to produce three all-new cars led by the Evora. In total it would involve building 6,000 to 8,000 cars a year to ensure rarity, individuality and exclusivity.

Lotus chief executive Mike Kimberley introduces the Evora to the world’s press at the British International Motor Show. Photo: Peter Franzen.

The Evora represented the logical next step for owners of its current range - Elise, Exige and Europa . The new coupé embodied all the great Lotus DNA characteristics that owners know and love in a stunning new design that exuded individuality and driving dynamics and would also attract a new breed of customers.

Courtesy of EDP
He also spoke of the breadth of talent at Group Lotus and added: "The salt of the earth is our people and I would like to salute every one of you for playing your part over the last two years in turning the company around and getting us to where we are today."

Mr Kimberley added: "We have a very bright future and it is signalled by this fantastic car we have beside us and it shows that Lotus now after 13 years is really on a roll."

Revealing the car's name, Dato Azlan, chairman of parent company Proton and Group Lotus board, said Lotus was regarded by many as a centre of technological excellence for the motor industry.

The Evora would appeal to more mature sports car enthusiasts and purists alike and he went as far as saying it was "the best car to come from Lotus so far".

Lotus is also working on the replacement for the Lotus Esprit, now expected in 2011.

The British International Motor Show is at ExCeL in London until August 3. For more information go to www.EDP2.co.uk/dailylinks or to book, telephone the ticket hotline on 0871 230 5588.