Lotus Evora S Sports Racer: an English-speaking alternative to the new Porsche Cayman S – Sports Cars

THE FUTURE OF LOTUS may be uncertain and unsettling, but the incredible difference is that one or two hands Vernice glossy black may be dispensed with.

Once upon a Time Evora he looked very uninteresting. This was partly due to its inconsistent form (but it is necessary to accommodate the +2 configuration and with some notable details), and partly due to the many examples (even if the term "many" is incorrect, there are people who still never saw one around) had a soft pastel color.

Obviously, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Even an Evora with a V6 3.5 engine Toyota 280 HP - it's a small rocket, so its discreet appearance can be a useful ally if you're in a hurry and don't want to be disturbed, or if you just want to enjoy great dynamics frame who helped Evora win Ecoty 2006. But to be one sports coupe high-performance and not exactly cheap, that flashy and glamorous street lamp-like aesthetic is a bit underwhelming.

Given these premises, I was shocked by the experience behind the wheel of one Evora S sports racer down the main street of Whitstable on a Saturday morning. Maybe just naked Justin Bieber in the middle of the street would get more attention or take more photos on mobile phones. It's true, we at EVO are used to the usual supercarbut for the Evora, once too low-key, being able to grab that kind of attention was a real turning point.

This is probably due to its striking red and black livery and its camouflage ability to resemble a supercar. Based on the specs, the Evora S with 350 hp. and 400 Nm is no more sporty or racing than the standard version, which already reaches 277 km / h and accelerates from 0-100 in less than 5 seconds. But from the looks of it, that would be wrong. Apart from the livery, in fact, the only difference from the standard Evora is this: almost all the options of the standard version are included in the price. The result is a sharper, sexier Evora that can be absorbed through the eyes, and with good added value in terms of options. But I don't know if that's enough to match the shiny new Porsche Cayman S, which is cheaper, by the way.

For the base color of the livery, you can choose from four options: red, white, blue and dark gray. Glossy black is reserved for the roof, front splitter, side sills (which wrap around on the sides and were needed), rear diffuser и alloy wheels (from 19 in the front and from 20 in the back, wrapped Pirelli PZero Corsa).

inside i Recaro in skin with visible red stitching are impressive, as are the two rear seats (although they may not deserve a name due to their size), while dashboard it is covered with a suede-effect fabric, somewhat reminiscent of a Ferrari F40. This is a surefire attempt to improve on what has always been Evora's Achilles heel: interior poorly looked after. There quality it has certainly grown over the years, but there is still a long way to go. There key for example, the starter still looks like the old Ford Transit and measuring instruments it's not the best. Infotainment system and navigator not very intuitive (which are part of the so-called Update technology) and a terrible lever Speed chrome plated plastic doesn't help. They are out of place in comparison to the sleek aluminum buttons, the gear knob also made of aluminum, and the vibration-free feel of the new interior.

I said earlier that Sports racer not sports: Well, on closer inspection, not quite so. IN Sports package, usually as an option, here is the standard one and includes sports exhaustthen perforated discs и Sports Button which sharpens the throttle response and keeps the exhaust valve open, making the sound deeper and harsher, with rumblings and crackles. Finally, there is the Tech Pack, which, in addition to the navigator, includes an improved audio system, Rear View Camera and a dial for monitoring tire pressure.

Getting inside isn't easy: if the seat isn't fully retracted, you need to aim well to get your feet into the narrow gap between the door and the driver's seat. Once in the arms of the Recaro, everything becomes very intimate and comfortable, with good. visibility front and rear visibility is sufficient to see if it is trying to overtake you. Even if it is unlikely ...

Photographer Dean Smith and I met at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne. To be precise, we will meet at the Birling Gap Hotel, which marks the end of one of the best streets in the area. It is a narrow and magical belt of asphalt, full of bumps and bumps in places, which curves on its own to form a green plain, and then turns into an almost two kilometer straight strip that ends in front of the hotel. Even if this is a small segment, it is very demanding on suspensions and requires extreme control on such volatile surfaces, on oncoming slopes and on small craters with the potential to bend rims.

But for Lotus certainly not a problem. IN steering it is quite light and sharp and makes corner entry not very sharp, but on the other hand, it is very accurate and its reviews are so calm and decisive that they always give you time and confidence to work even harder, at the same time avoiding numerous holes. I cannot imagine another car capable of maintaining such a high pace on any type of road, with a magical combination of control and stable grip on all types of surfaces and with the same neutral demeanor.

The Toyota V6 gains well even at mid-range: it is really easy to drive fast with, an impression underscored by the Evora's excellent handling and refinement. The sound of the V6 in the rear is pleasant too, but not harsh, and the strength and responsiveness of the brakes comes first. Way Evora he manages to look compact in management, he stubbornly clings to the asphalt and lets himself go with grace and progressiveness, this is a miracle. On a straight line, it goes very quickly, and on the most winding and difficult roads it seems unbeatable.

And all this, despite 1.436 kg, the weight which Colin Chapman would have found rather uncomfortable. They probably wouldn't like to switch too slowly when you are trying to rush, even if they are more accurate than before. Aside from these minor flaws, the Evora looks like the product of a genius mind. The new Porsche Cayman S will be just as fast and certainly more complete and practical. And it's also cheaper. But for those looking to get noticed behind the wheel of a high-performance English car with unrivaled handling and handling, Evora SR unique and unrepeatable.