21 April 2011

New Era Takes on New York Featuring.....

.....the US debut for the Evora S and IPS
and
.....IndyCar Driver EJ Viso and Team Principal Jimmy Vasser

Lotus Advisory Council Member and automotive legend Bob Lutz opened the press conference for Group Lotus today (April 21st) at the New York Auto Show. Whilst Bob spoke about the future for Lotus, the focus remained firmly on the here and now and this was perfectly demonstrated by the American debut of the stunning new Evora S and the Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) – both models showcase the versatility of the multi-award winning Evora.

Bob Lutz was joined by Lotus’ Director of Sales, Guillaume Chabin who gave an overview on the current Lotus line-up followed by Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro and Lotus KVRT Team Principal Jimmy Vasser and IndyCar driver EJ Viso.

But for Lotus it’s the cars that are always the stars and alongside the famous faces on the stand sat the limited edition RGB Exige and a member of the future Lotus family, the iconic Esprit, arguably the most eagerly anticipated of the new Lotus range.

Lotus will be at the New York Auto Show until May 1st so fans of the unique British automotive manufacturer have a few days to get up close to a selection of some of the most enjoyable, high-performance, lightweight sportscars on the market.

And now some more details about those all important stars of the show……

About the Evora S: Like the standard Evora, the Evora S has a 3.5 litre V6 engine and produces seamless performance. The supercharged Evora S has 350 PS (345 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lbft) of torque, courtesy of a supercharger which gives acceleration of 4.8 seconds to 100 km/h (4.6 seconds to 60 mph) and a maximum speed of 277 km/h (172 mph).

The Evora S comes with a sport pack as standard featuring a ‘sport’ button which allows the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve*. The sport button also raises the instantaneous rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control settings resulting in a total experience change. The external emotion of the Evora S has been improved with a completely new active exhaust which means that at the push of a button the car sounds just as dramatic as it feels.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “It’s the next level of Evora experience. The Evora S communicates even more with you, with extra power and control the car responds even more to your direction. It’s an instinctual car, the experience is pure.”

About the Evora IPS: The IPS version of the Evora allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. The driver also has the option of selecting ‘sport’ mode which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience allowing the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We expect it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. It’s been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and we’ve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience.”

About the RGB Exige: The limited edition RGB Exige also featured on the stand, named in honour of one of Lotus’ most prominent old boys, former Director of Vehicle Engineering Roger George Becker. In celebration of his 44 years of service, which included doubling for Roger Moore’s James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, Lotus created a special edition of the Exige and Elise which both benefit from some Becker-inspired modifications. For the technically minded out there, the RGB Exige uses the range topping 260 PS (257 hp) supercharged and an intercooled 1.8l engine which allows this lightweight sportscar a 0-60 mp/h in around four seconds and an impressive aerodynamic downforce figure of 92.5 lbs (42 kg) at 100 mph (160 km/h).

The Exige RGB is available in four colours, Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey and each one is identified by a numbered interior plaque, Roger Becker’s signature on the side of the bodywork and special monochrome Lotus nose badge.

About the Esprit: The new Esprit will be powered by a 5.0 litre V8 pressure charged engine delivering up to 620 PS. The Esprit retains exceptional performance through it’s unique lightweight design making it the ultimate expression of Lotus supercar ownership. It is the supercar that will redefine ride and handling, performance, comfort and exclusivity.

The styling of the Esprit echos the performance with strong lines throughout the sleek low body. The symmetry through the mass and proportion of the Esprit give it an intense look, it’s the perfect example of the new Lotus DNA in action.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “Not only does the Esprit look incredible but it will have the performance to match. We’ve stuck to the Lotus core values of performance through lightweight and teamed them with future technology and exceptional engineering to ensure that the Esprit will be the leader of the pack. The design is aggressive, you have to see it to appreciate how low and wide the proportions are but it still retains a level of dignity, of class and most of all exclusivity. I’m very proud of this car.”