2018 Lotus Evora

Apr 18, 2024, 9:43am ET

The Evora combines the ultra-sharp handling that Lotus is known for with a degree of comfort and practicality that has historically been missing from the automaker's lineup. Buyers who find the regular Evora too tame can opt for a supercharged variant aptly named Evora S.

The Lotus Evora is the only mid-engined 2+2 supercar available new in the United States. It eschews the brand's typically Spartan cockpits and boasts what Lotus calls the most comfortable cabin it has produced to date thanks to a long list of creature comforts including leather-upholstered Recaro bucket seats, cup holders and several storage bins scattered.

The steering is commanded through a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel crafted out of magnesium, and the Evora's instrument cluster consists of two analog gauges flanked by two digital gauges. An available touch screen mounted on the center stack groups the car's entertainment, connectivity and navigation functions into a single unit.

The Evora's engine is mounted transversally in order to leave space for a small but deep cargo compartment that is capable of holding smaller items like a pair of carry-on suitcases.

Specifications sheet

The base Evora is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine borrowed from the Toyota parts bin. Lotus engineers have tuned the mill to produce 276 horsepower and 250 lb-ft. of torque, enough to send the 3,047-pound Evora from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 163 mph.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic unit dubbed Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS) that can be controlled via shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

Fuel economy is surprising considering the Evora's performance credentials. The coupe returns 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway when equipped with a manual transmission, and cars equipped with the IPS gearbox return 19 mpg in the city.

The Evora S' output is bumped to 346 ponies and 295 lb-ft. of twist thanks to the addition of a supercharger. The result of the power boost is a zero-to-60 time that drops to 4.4 seconds with a manual transmission and a top speed that increases to 178 mph.

The supercharged Evora returns 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

In addition to boosting horsepower, Lotus has made several other performance-focused upgrades to the Evora S including the addition of a stiffer race-oriented suspension setup and cross-drilled brake rotors.

Standard and optional equipment

Both Evoras come standard with bi-xenon headlights, LED tail lamps, electric door mirrors, alloy wheels mounted on Pirelli P-Zero tires, A/C, a remote-activated alarm, an Alpine stereo with iPod connectivity.

The list of options includes the aforementioned 2+2 seating configuration, metallic paint, a reverse camera and heated front seats.

Additionally, Lotus offers several option packages including a Sport Pack that is centered around a 'sport' button which allows the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve. The sport button also raises the rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control settings.

Occupant safety

All Evoras come standard with airbags for the front passengers, electronic traction control and child seat anchors.

Key competitors

An eclectic selection of sports cars fall into the Evora's price bracket including the Porsche 718 Cayman, the Audi RS 5, and the Chevrolet Corvette.