Lotus Evora called UK's best drivers car by Autocar
2010 Lotus Evora - Click above for a high-res image gallery
The gang at Autocar have singled out the new Lotus Evora as the best drivers car in the U.K. for 2009. The award came following an evaluation that included the 2010 Nissan GT-R and nine other new models launched in the past year. The defending champ GT-R dropped all the way to fourth in this year's roundup following the new Lotus, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and the Porsche 911 GT3. The key to the Evora's victory appears to have been its impressive handling capabilities and in particular its forgiving nature.
Apparently, potential buyers agree with the assessment from Autocar as demand for the Evora has been so great that Lotus has had to to increase its manufacturing staff by 30 percent. The Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 also allows Lotus to get some pretty decent fuel economy of the Evora – a combined 27 mpg (US) on the EU test cycle.
Gallery: LA 2008: Lotus Evora
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lucas 9:33AM (8/14/2009)
I have trouble not thinking there's some UK bias. I hope it's great.
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Bloke 10:06AM (8/14/2009)
Lotus cars have phenomenal handling generally. As far as "bias" is concerned, there isn't a country that's free from it - especially America.
sparrk 10:14AM (8/14/2009)
the car is new , it needs a few awards to get some attention . but the Vantage V12 being better than a GT3, they went too far with that.
HotRodzNKustoms 10:22AM (8/14/2009)
@ Bloke You mean our bias for Japanese cars?
Lucas 10:26AM (8/14/2009)
@ bloke, the only American car that Americans think is great and don't shut up about is the Vette, and maybe theCTS-V. Name another?
Bloke 10:49AM (8/14/2009)
Lucas - spend enough time in America and you'll soon see how Americans think they're better than anyone else! Always amusing!
Bloke 10:50AM (8/14/2009)
"@ Bloke You mean our bias for Japanese cars?"
Are Americans aware of British bias towards German cars? Of course not, that would make them worldly!!
Lucas 11:02AM (8/14/2009)
@ Bloke Hey now, someone is charged up this morning!
I've spent time in America. In fact, nearly all of my 33 years have been here. :-)
I can tell you for certain that 99% of Americans think 99% of American cars are crap. Read the news lately?
Bloke 11:31AM (8/14/2009)
Lucas - we're talking about one sports car in this article, so where do you get the "UK bias" from? If you are at all familiar with British motoring reportage, you'd know the heavy bias towards German cars here particularly. If you're familiar with Lotus, it's their expertise in tuning cars for optimum roadholding which has given the marque its prestige.
Is the Corvette (for example) a fine sports car? Yes. Is it suited to British roads? No. Why? Too wide (especially the former C5) and it's LHD only. So what happens? People go for a Porsche for similar money instead.
Lucas 11:42AM (8/14/2009)
I own a freekin' Lotus! (www.retrophit.com) ...and I think the company gets its d1ck sucked too hard by the motor journalists. Just my opinion.
There's no reason that you can't have a light weight car, with some amenities, and have it perform just as well.
Take the Exige. It costs about the same here as the Cayman, yet in every OBJECTIVE way the Exige loses to it.
I think the press likes to pretend that no cup holders and no sound deadening are super hip, when in fact they're just really annoying in the end.
Automotive snobbery, if you ask me.
RX-8 11:42AM (8/14/2009)
Did you read the second sentence. It said that the GTR won last year. Which means that it beat the Aston Martin DBS, DB9 and Vantage, Lotus Elise/Exige, Jaguar XK etc. So if they are bias it must only be in odd number years.
Lucas 11:50AM (8/14/2009)
@RX-8: Does that mean the Evora is better than the GT-R?
They're both DRIVERS cars -- according to Autocar, so don't bring that up -- and they're both on sale in Britain.
Hummm... I don't think so. ...which is why I claim bias.
Bloke 11:55AM (8/14/2009)
Lucas:
Are you aware that the UK press often criticse Lotus for merely concentrating on the handling of the car as opposed to the amenities and ride comfort? Probably not.
Are you aware that the UK press often consider the Boxster to be the best sports car in its class? probably not.
Are you aware that the Evora was actually developed to be the successor to the Esprit, a more luxuriously appointed sports car? Judging from your past post, probably not either.
Have you answered by question about we're talking about one car being hailed as the "best drivers car" by a British magazine which hardly constitutes bias when the pres generally praise most German products? No. Why? Because you have no "freakin" idea about life here.
Lucas 11:59AM (8/14/2009)
@ Whatever, you're an angry dude... my origional comment does not warrant your venom. Go back to bed.
Bloke 12:20PM (8/14/2009)
Lucas, here's your original comment in case you've forgotten: "I have trouble not thinking there's some UK bias"
All this based on one car - which yourself haven't driven - from one British motoring publication. If you're going to delve in sensationalist, unwarranted, and controversial comments, expect a backlash - especially when there is international access to those comments. Don't act like some victim with the "venom" comments - grow some bollocks and act like a man.
Valentino Amoro 12:51PM (8/14/2009)
A few notes (from a British American)...
The Evora is overpriced, built with tinny materials that inside look like they wont last, underpowered for the price (again, power isnt everything but the NSX was so early 1990's, this is a late competitor, dont give me the back seat spiel, its not really usable) and subjectively looks like a Kit car from the back.
Here's my thing, the British press really tries to resurrect any pride it can with whatever remains of the cottage Brit car industry. I dont see how this car can beat the GTR (which in EVERY single way is better), the Corvette LS3 (same thing, if you want back to basics the Z06 is light, powerful and much much faster, more reliable probably too, I have a friend with over 100K miles on the odo) etc. I agree, the 911GT3 is great.
Right now it's competing against the hideous and over priced Cayman S, and it does offer folks at that price range choice, I dont like the Cayman S but its hard to not notice that the fit, finish, quality and reliability of the Cayman S will be top notch, and its not built on cobbled together parts (Camry V6, parts raided from different cars bins)
This review is not different that one of Clarkson's pro Jag, pro Aston, pro Lotus stance. Heck, he even is pro Mitsu Evo FQ, calling those tuner cars British!
Furthermore, living in both countries, I can say the American press tend to generally rip apart American cars. C&D sucks BMW's you know what, and for the most part American firmss get tough love. In many cases, deservedly, although some serious good cars get criticized for no real reason.
IMHO, this is a nice car if it wa priced at 55K dollars max. When they introduce a supercharged version thats competitive with the base Vette, 911-S, BMW M3, Ferrari California we'll talk.
Bloke 1:20PM (8/14/2009)
"This review is not different that one of Clarkson's pro Jag, pro Aston, pro Lotus stance. Heck, he even is pro Mitsu Evo FQ, calling those tuner cars British!"
Do you remember his notorious anti-BL stance? Do you recall how he referred to the S-Class as the best product money could buy? Do you remember how he referred to the old XJ and Rover 75 as duds? I too spent many years in America, and my opinion is essentially the same as Europeans I've met face-to-face in the States, rather than people hiding behind computers purporting themselves to be whatever.
Anybody with knowledge of modern Britain knows one fundamental aspect of most modern Brits when it comes to cars - their love of all things German. It's why the Volkswagen Group these days has the largest market share by a fairly significant margin, and why cars such as BMW's 3-series now sell in greater quantities than a common-or-garden Ford Mondeo.
d4rez 2:25PM (8/14/2009)
@Valentino Amoro
I think you've fundamentally misunderstood what it means for a car to be driver oriented. You seem to be focussing on the numbers too much, that's definitely a mistake, numbers don't necessarily equate to fun on the road or track.
I may be relatively young, but I have had the good fortune of driving or owning a fair number of desirable cars. Unfortunately the latest Corvette is not one of those cars, the Nissan GTR and 911's however, are. I also had the good fortune of attending one of the customer launch events at my local dealer (former Elise owner), there I was able to test drive the new Evora around some of the Surrey backroads I know well. What struck me on the drive was how much feedback was on offer from the steering, how nicely balanced the chassis was and how throttle adjustable the car was. The best part about it was that I didn't need to push the car beyond seven or eight tenths for a thrill and I didn't once break the 60 mph speed limit. The Nissan for contrast, had fantastic grip and incredible acceleration but I never felt connected to the road or satisfied with the drive. There was just no skill or sensitivity required, for me, that makes it a poor drivers car.
I could comfortably say, without hyperbole, that it was the most fun I have had in a car on the road. My point is it's not really about acceleration figures, lap times and how many g's a car can pull, it's about method and polish and feeling.
the4thheat 8:35PM (8/14/2009)
I just think it's funny that the best drivers car has a Camry V6 under the hood.
PeterO#227 9:38AM (8/14/2009)
I"ll take one, thank you.
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