The Evora 400 was Lotus’ way of refreshing a model that was first launched in 2009. It is a 2+2 mid-engined sports car that was refined and came with more HP and torque, and it also became lighter than its predecessors.
At the time of debut, it was the most powerful product in Lotus’ offer, and its level of performance is high enough to make some Porsche owners feel unhappy on a track day. While the styling has not been modified dramatically, it came with a few changes to the cockpit.
Even if the Evora 400 has not brought a dramatic modification to the lineup, it is still a Lotus, and the car delivers performance in the form of purity that is not matched by many modern counterparts.
The Evora 400 looks like a regular model from the line that has received a mild tuning kit. It may be Lotus’ way of making an understatement. We appreciate the subtle design of this model, even though it has not brought dramatic modifications over the rest of the range.
As the Brits would describe this, the Evora 400 has a look that is “fitting.” It shows those that look at it that the model is a sports car, and that it has sufficient performance to keep up with the exterior design.
In typical Lotus fashion, every bit of the surface is functional, and we are sure that every line has been refined after many hours in the wind tunnel.
Evidently, some design features are there for purely aesthetic reasons, like the blacked-out A-pillars and roof, but this model is all business when it comes to driving fast.
It can handle an amateur track day, it can cope with day-to-day use, and it sure can deal with a trip that goes through B-roads. You might refer to the latter term as “twisties,” or just roads where you can drive in an enthusiastic manner as long as you remain cautious and keep things in your lane.
A cockpit is a term that gets used too often in the case of some cars, but for the Evora 400, it surely fits the bill.
Everything inside is functional, and this means that no intricate lines have been used to inspire a dynamic character without reason. While the air vents look cheap and inappropriate, and the multimedia unit’s screen is the kind of assembly that you might find in the range labeled “aftermarket,” these elements are functional and integrated into the passenger compartment.
We still do not approve of those air vents, but it is the kind of detail that an owner will eventually get accustomed to, and the driving experience should outweigh it by a considerable margin.
We admit that they might drive us crazy if we were to sit in traffic in an Evora 400 and look at them, but let’s move on.
The dash is as slim as possible, and so are the door cards. Other manufacturers should take note of this, because this car focuses you on driving and that is enough to keep you busy. The passengers can just sit and enjoy the ride.
Concerning passengers, the rear seats exist merely because this car is a 2+2 coupe. If you are tall, or just overweight, you will not have a lovely time in the back. Children that will not need special seats might find space suitable.
We must note that the backseat is not a complete unit, and that a part of it is without support just to make more room for those occupants. That does not change the fact that four humans can sit inside, so keep that in mind during your mid-life crisis when justifying this vehicle if you have a family. It only works with a small family that enjoys being cramped in a small car.
The front seats are adequate for adults that are not way above the average concerning height or weight. This should not scare you too much, but be sure to sit in one before ordering a new Evora 400.
It is always fun to write about the tech features inside exotic sportscars. You cling to anything that even remotely resembles a tech feature, regardless how insignificant it would feel on a regular car.
For example, the Evora 400 comes standard with sat nav and a 4-speaker audio system! Try to contain your excitement, because we have more: Lotus also offers cruise control on the Evora 400! As an option. You can even add a subwoofer and amplifier to the already impressive sound system.
We are just mean. The Evora 400 is about the driving experience, not about being able to post on social media from the car’s infotainment system. Which you cannot, obviously. Moreover, that is a good thing these days. Lotus, keep it up!
The short story about the Evora 400’s performance is that this is the fastest and most powerful production Lotus ever. The longer story is that it has a supercharged mid-mounted 3.5-liter V6, which provides 400 horsepower – hence the model name – at 7,000 rpm, and 410 Nm (302 lb-ft) of torque at 3,500 to 6,500 rpm.
That is an increase of 55 horsepower, and seven lb-ft of torque over the Evora S. Top speed is 186 mph (300 km/h) and acceleration to 60 mph takes 4.1 seconds. For 0-100 km/h, you need to add 0.1 seconds.
Two gearbox options are offered. There’s a six-speed manual with a limited slip differential fitted to the rear axle, and a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
Drivers can choose between three traction slip thresholds: Drive, Sport, and Race. The driver can also use a switch to change the exhaust mode, allowing it to flow more unobstructedly, reducing back pressure under greater engine loads and changing the way it sounds.
The Evora 400 utilizes two-piece, cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs, which are larger than on the outgoing model. They measure 14.5 inches front and 13.7 inches rear.
As a side note, the new Evora was able to lap the Lotus test track six seconds faster than the Evora S. That being said, we remind you that the Lotus test track is not the Nurburgring, so the improvement is significant.
The safety features of exotic sports cars are always entertaining to review. You cling to anything that even remotely resembles a driver assist feature. For example, the Evora 400 comes standard with a rearview camera and rear parking sensors. Also, it has a tire pressure monitor.
Naturally, there are also some airbags, and ABS, and ESP. What more could you ask? There are not EuroNCAP awards, no safety tests by the IIHS or NHTSA, and no autonomous braking systems.
You have to be wide-awake in this car, but it should be safe in the unfortunate event of an accident. Mind you – the driver should always be alert in any car, so the Evora 400 is no crazy contraption that requires race car driver levels of attention. Lotus cares about safety, but it sells far too few cars to matter in the eyes of crash testing organizations.
Lotus makes cars for purists. We are referring to driving enthusiasts that care more about how a car feels than its price tag or the features of the multimedia unit.
The Evora 400 is not a car to use for your trip to the mall, but it will handle it if you must. Instead, it is a car that brings Lotus excitement to four people. It is not an Elise, and it was never intended to replace it.
It provides raw performance in a form that is only appreciated by some, and it will not go with the global trend that makes all cars bigger and heavier.
The Evora 400 is part of a dying breed, a species of cars that want to maintain purity as far as possible in the modern world, but had to adapt to suit legal requirements and current customers.
Let’s face it, die-hard enthusiasts are hard to come by these days, and this statement applies in particular when considering the sum of money that one has to pay to a Lotus dealer for an Evora 400. It is not cheap, and it will not impress most people if you sit in a cafe with the key on the table.
However, it will impress those that drive it, and even those that ride in it, if they understand the concept behind this brand. Unfortunately, not many people do this, especially when looking at sales figures for the British brand. So go and order one if you can afford it, and enjoy it like riding a unicorn through Neverland and Narnia.
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