With its new Evora 400, Lotus appears to have come up smelling of roses after a rather difficult period. Indeed, the new model is the fastest in the British sports car firm's 63 year history.
The preview images will no doubt have die-hard Lotus fans salivating, ahead of the new car's official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show.
Rather than a being a re-hashing of the previous Evora, two-thirds of the new 400 model is entirely new. Among the car's new features are a rigid new aluminium chassis and body panels made of composite materials, which have resulted in a 50lb curb weight reduction.
400bhp is produced by the supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine. The 400 delivers 55bhp more than the supercharged Evora S – already very fast – and out-powers the standard Evora by an impressive 124bhp.
The 400 can reach 60mph from standstill in just 4.1 seconds and hit a top speed of 186mph – that's 8mph quicker than the S model. As a result, the Malaysian-owned car firm says the new model will complete a lap on its 2.2m Hethel test track six seconds faster than the regular Evora.
While older Lotuses have been derided for reliability issues, newer models are unlikely to see owners reaching for their annual or short term cover details.
Lotus should be ready to do battle with Europe's finest with the 400 – among which the primary rival is the Porsche Cayman. Its GT4 model offers a comparable 385bhp and can hit 60mph in 4.2 seconds. The top speed, too, will be just 3mph slower than the 400.
European Lotus showrooms will take receipt of the first 400s by late summer, while US customers can expect the first deliveries in the autumn. Pricing is yet to be announced.
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