Lotus Evora has room for supercharger, 400 hp "S" variant coming
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lotus Evora, with six new images.
After the Evora was officially revealed in London, Lotus CEO Michael Kimberley has made it clear that more variants of the 2+2 were on the way. Six different versions are planned, including a convertible – originally confirmed the day the Evora debuted – that will keep the coupe fresh over its eight-year lifespan.
While a drop-top is nice, power is what the people crave. So within two years expect another naturally aspirated variant that boosts the 3.5-liter V6's engine from 280 to 320 hp. After that, it's all about forced induction. The mid-mounted V6 has been positioned in the engine bay to accept a supercharger, which will bring output up and over 400 hp, dropping the 0-60 time to under four seconds and making the Evora "S" a serious contender to the Porsche 911 Turbo.
Gallery: Lotus Evora
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Js 8:07PM (8/05/2008)
Hmm...this would be my chance to say : "Told you so.." to all those who felt the Evora was drastically underpowered.
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Yar 8:47PM (8/05/2008)
If you aren't the most powerful, then you're still underpowered.
(begin Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor grunt)
tankd0g 9:53PM (8/05/2008)
Yes, this car seems slightly less pointless and over weight now.
Bungle 12:02AM (8/06/2008)
The Evora IS still underpowered, as is the base Lotus Elise. The Evora S, or whatever they're going to call the supercharged version, will not be. It will also not be "underpriced."
I don't get your logic; it's like saying that a Miata is not underpowered because they just announced the Mazdaspeed version.
Matty 12:25AM (8/06/2008)
No Bungle, you aren't following correctly. The "base" Evora is going to be lightweight, exotic, and carry a high price tag. However, the power offered for what this car will likely cost (260 HP for something bigger and more expensive than the Elise or the Exige) is underwhelming. Thus, the car is indeed "underpowered" given its size and price point. The Evora is meant to have an exotic character, yet it uses a virtually untouched Camry engine.
This is the version of the car that should have been released outright. A car with exotic looks and an exotic pricetag should come with the requisite horsepower.
The Mazda MX-5 (there hasn't been a Miata for some years now" is not an underpowered car. Its styling, weight, and horsepower all sort of fit together nicely, and correspond to a seemingly fair price point. The Mazdaspeed MX-5 will up the power and pricetag accordingly.
This move is tantamount to Nissan giving us a GT-R with the unchanged 3.7L engine out of the G37, only to release it some years later with the twin-turbo setup with which we are familiar. Lotus missed the mark here. They should have at least sold a few Evoras before letting everyone know that a proper version of the car was on the way.
tankd0g 10:48AM (8/06/2008)
Well Bungle. my logic goes like this: No one is going to buy the base model, so it will fade away rather quickly. That much money for roughly the same power to weight of an Accord. I don't think so.
Michael 8:09PM (8/05/2008)
This is my chance to say I want one but I can't afford one.
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Js 8:16PM (8/05/2008)
Has she been priced already ?
HotRodzNKustoms 9:41PM (8/05/2008)
yeah MSRP: Too Much
DS 8:11PM (8/05/2008)
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Torrent 9:08PM (8/05/2008)
IT'S ABOUT FRICKIN TIME!
Choppyferrari 8:25PM (8/05/2008)
Screw the $150k Honda GT, I'd rather have this Toyota NSX.
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Josh 9:06PM (8/05/2008)
I was just thinking that that means that toyota will be releasing a more powerful 3.5 or lotus will be improving it on their own. Still - at least they are reliably fun cars to drive, and look at!
hans 9:27PM (8/05/2008)
well the toyota engine in there right now is the non direct injected 3.5 L v6 from the camry, i think.
toyota makes direct injected 3.5 L v6s that get over 300hp (such as in the IS350/GS350) so they probably could get some technology from that engine.. though i think since its mid engine its easier to use the fwd engines.
not to mention , the camry engine runs on unleaded and you'd think they could change the engine timings and compression with premium etc.
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Hike15 9:35PM (8/05/2008)
now how about a camry with a supercharger?
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Mitchttj 9:58PM (8/05/2008)
We need the supercharger now.
TRD Australia has already developed a 360hp varient of the 3.5 in a supercharged variety.
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black 10:06PM (8/05/2008)
I believe that it runs a supercharger setup similar to the ZR1, but the 3.5 in the TRD Aurion has a conventional intercooler setup, and not one mounted on top of the engine like the ZR1 does. And its limited to 320HP since its in a FWD format.
I think the bigger question is how much weight will the supercharger (and relevant equipment) add?
Quan 10:00PM (8/05/2008)
Hmm... this car suddenly looks much more attractive, a couple years down the line anyway.
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sfast 10:27PM (8/05/2008)
I just don't see why they didn't use the 3.8 from the Avalon. It seems to me they could work that for some more power.
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Quan 10:34PM (8/05/2008)
The Avalon doesn't have a 3.8. Its biggest engine is a 3.5 V6.