AUTO AUTO
tered from curious passersby was, “Is that a Ferrari?” It kind of goes without saying but this car is an attention getter. And with good reason as the Evora S seems to blend styling elements from a rally-car legend, the Lancia Stratos, with its clamshell roof design and upturned CPillar. Simply put, Evora S is likely one of the best-looking products on the road today. Set up as a mid-engine scream machine, the Evora S is the kind of vehicle that makes people turn their heads as though they’re experiencing an exorcism. It’s safe to say that this Lotus is a thing of beauty, no matter who is doing the looking. Slipping behind the steering wheel takes a little bit of talent, however. The Evora S’ seats are planted low in the cockpit and make you feel as though your backside is scraping the asphalt. Combine that with a door sill that is wide and tall, and you’ll soon find yourself playing Twister every time you have to get in. But the good news is that once you’re inside, it’s a pretty lovely place to be. The Recaro sport seats keep you in one place without making you feel as though you’re being squeezed to death and
the leather-adorned cabin reminds you it’s the real deal every time you receive a waft of hide. It’s not all sunshine and flowers, though. Disconcerting aspects included interior plastic trim bits that don’t mesh well with the largely leather space and its six-speed manual shifter, which sounded as though it was sourced from an economy car. But if you’re getting tied up with those worries, you’re likely missing the point of this exotic offering. When you have a proper sports car, you should care about the most important aspect—driving. That, of course, is what the Evora S does best. Equipped with a motor from a Toyota Camry, you wouldn’t expect the Evora to have much pep, but you’d be mistaken. The 3.5-liter V6 produces 345 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque with the aid of a supercharger. Factoring in Lotus’ low weight mantra—the Evora S weighs just under 3,170 pounds—the S sprints to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Mated with a six-speed manual transmission, this isn’t a vehicle for individuals who want the car to work for them. You have to put in some effort.
BC The Magazine // November/December 2011
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