New car news

16 August 2011 - 12:00

Lotus Evora GTE road car concept

This is it. The toughest roadgoing Evora EVER. And while enormous Lambo wings and anabolic wheelarches and shouty carbon gills are curiously absent, there's much power. But don't get too excited - it is, alas, a mere concept. But it looks reassuringly production-ready.

As the name suggests, the engine's been spirited away from the Evora GTE race program (which sends competition versions to GT2 and enduro events around the globe). The race-tinkered V6 - which is loosely based on the Toyota lump found in the normal road going versions - has 313kW running through a sequential gearbox.

Outside, there are also some additions, albeit relatively subdued ones. It's sprouted a beefier front splitter, arched rear spoiler and it there's a set of forged alloy rims with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres.

To drive the raceiness home there's loads of carbon fibre inside. There's also special Recaro composite seats, which whittle off a few more grams.

You'll have to wait for the official reveal at Pebble Beach tomorrow for more pics and info. In the meantime, tell us this, internet chums - should this reach production?

Now look at Jeremy Clarkson try and fit in another Lotus