Evora 400

Make
Lotus
Segment
Coupe

It's taken some time but the wait has been worth it. Presenting the new Lotus Evora 400, the fastest and most powerful production Lotus ever. Let's dig in: Lotus claims this reengineered and restyled Evora has a top speed of 186 mph and a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds thanks to its mid-mounted and charge-cooled 3.5-liter supercharged V6 that's paired to either an updated six-speed manual or a an optional six-speed automatic gearbox. Output is rated at 400 hp, obviously, and 302 lb-ft of torque. The outgoing Evora S, just to compare, had 345 hp.

Lotus also claims the Evora 400 is lighter and more efficient than before, partly thanks to a new aluminum chassis and a lightweight composite body. Compared to the old Evora, the Evora 400 is almost 49 pounds lighter. The supercharger fitment also ensures strong bottom-end torque. Performance has been improved thanks to a number of upgrades, specifically revised spring and damper settings, a limited slip differential, and a downforce figure of 70 pounds at 150 mph. The latter is achieved by the car's flat-floor, lightweight composite rear diffuser, three-element rear wing and airflow management strategy. Speaking of which, the revised exterior looks great.

Note the bolder front end with its larger cooling apertures and daytime running lamps. The rear also has a new bumper and there are two new wheel designs. The Evora 400 is wider and more planted on the road and overall length has been increased by 1.4 inches. The suspension has been retuned and the brakes are beefier. Lotus claims the car lapped its own test track a full six seconds faster than its predecessor. The interior has also been completely redone with a redesigned center console and a new forged magnesium steering wheel. The seats are also all-new. Lighter, more powerful, more refined and luxurious. That, in a nutshell, is the Lotus Evora 400. More details and photos to come from Geneva in a couple of weeks.