2015 Lotus Evora 400 3.5L V6 6MT RWD (406 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After seven years on the market, the Evora evolved into a better version, gained more muscles, and got a fresh design that didn’t make it look like an Elise with a fixed roof.

When Sir Colin Chapman founded Lotus in 1948, his idea was to create lightweight sportscars, and that was transformed into a legacy for all the cars the automaker built afterward. Even though the brand traded hands several times, that foundation remained and could be seen on the 2015 Evora 400.

At the front, it had shown a completely redesigned look. The automaker added LED daytime running lights in the side scoops that flanked the broad and angular-looking center grille. Its headlights sported a less-organic and more angular styling, while on the sides, the British sports car showed an unusually long cabin for a two-seat coupe, with a sloped-down tailgate at the back. In addition, the rear quarter panels featured redesigned air intakes on their top and a more muscular design. Finally, at the back, it sported a wing, required for aerodynamic reasons.

The long cabin was actually necessary since Lotus wanted to create a 2+2 cabin, and thus the Evora was one of the few vehicles on the market with a mid-engine that could provide something like that, and the 2015 model continued the solution. Even though those seats were suitable only for a child seat or a purse, they were there for tax reasons in several European countries. Up front, the sports seats confirmed the car’s character and the instrument cluster was neatly organized with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer flanked by liquid-crystal, monochrome displays. In addition, the automaker placed a sat-nav infotainment unit on the center stack. Lotus made the Evora 400 its flagship, being designed and engineered for comfort and daily use.

Its mid-mounted engine was a supercharged 3.5-liter unit carried over from Toyota and improved by Lotus to develop 400 PS (396 hp) sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual with an option for a six-speed automatic with manual override via two paddle-shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.