After several years of only selling a single model in the United States, Lotus wowed the world with the reveal of the all-electric Evija hypercar. When it arrives, the Evija will be the most powerful production car of all-time with a mind-boggling 1,972 horsepower. But Lotus isn't just ready to sit back after revealing what could be one of the fastest cars in the world, and the UK automaker has just revealed another new model.
Replacing the Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410, the Evora GT arrives in the US for the 2020 model year. Lotus says the Evora GT is the fastest and most powerful road-going model it has ever built for the US and Canada with a top speed of 188 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds.
But the hallmark of a good Lotus isn't just speed and power, it is all about lightness. The Evora GT doesn't disappoint with a scant curb weight of 3,104 pounds (71 pounds lighter than the Evora 400 with all of the lightweight options fitted). Lotus says the GT will come in two-seat or 2+2 layouts with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Power still comes from a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6, which sheds its humble beginnings with the help of a supercharger. The output is rated at 416 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 317 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm (332 lb-ft with the automatic).
Lotus uses extensive amounts of carbon fiber on the car's sleek body, which produces 64 kg of downforce (double that of the Evora 400). Additional downforce is created using efficient airflow under and over the car with a front lip, front-wheel arch air louvers, and sculptured carbon fiber ducts behind each rear wheel.
Stopping power comes courtesy of AP Racing four-piston calipers up front and two-piece cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs in the rear. In the corners, the Evora GT should stick like glue using Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires kept on the ground by Bilstein sports dampers. Lotus says the Evora GT will cater itself to the driver's skill level with selectable drive modes. These include 'Drive', 'Sport', 'Race,' and 'Off' modes, which change the car's throttle response and traction control intervention.
The interior hasn't changed drastically for the 2020 model year but there are some notable improvements. Lotus has wrapped the dashboard, door panels, transmission tunnel, and center console in black Alcantara with contrast stitching and leather is also an available option for the Sparco racing seats. A seven-inch touchscreen with AppleCarPlay and Android Auto comes standard along with navigation and a backup camera.
Lotus says the Evora GT can now be ordered with a starting price of $96,950. Each Evora GT can be uniquely customized for individual owners via the Lotus Exclusive Program, which will likely add a significant bump to the price.