New car news

14 September 2009 - 15:00

Endurance Evora

When the blokes at Lotus have a few schooners, this is what happens. They stick wings on things, and make them more powerful. Generally these things are cars, and in this case it’s the Evora.
 
Based on the excellent standard car, the Type 124 has the same engine and chassis but with dollops of racing hardcore.
 
So how has it been turned into a track monster? Firstly, the standard Toyota V6 now churns out a massive 298kW and the overall weight of the thing has dropped 200kg, down to 1200kgs.

The mid-mounted motor is then paired with a straight-cut (isn’t that some kind of oven chip?) racing gearbox operated via wheel-mounted paddles. It also gets 6-piston AP racing callipers, adjustable dampers and 18-inch alloys with slick tyres. So it sticks and stops like a racing car should.
 
Outside, the car gains a suitably massive carbon fibre rear wing, deep side skirts and a tarmac-troubling front splitter.
 
It will make its debut at the ADAC (which we believe its a bad rip-off of a legendary rock band) 24-hour race at the Nurburgring next May.
 
And with a meaner, quicker Evora due sometime soon, the Type 124 gives us a cheeky glimpse at what a hotter road model could look like. Stig will be pleased.