2012 Lotus Evora S 2+2 GP Edition
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When the Lotus Evora came on sale in Europe in 2009, it marked the first fully new car from the manufacturer since the debut of the Elise almost 15 years earlier in 1995. Intended to rival the Porsche 911, the Evora was designed to accommodate a 2+2 seating arrangement and fit more luggage than the smaller Elise and Exige. Constructed largely out of aluminum, Lotus advertised a curb weight of just over 3,000 lbs which, when combined with the 3.5-liter Toyota-derived V6, made for a 0-60 time of just 4.8 seconds. In 2010, the Evora went on sale in the United States and within one year, the significantly improved Evora S came on the market. The “S” denoted that the mid-mounted V6 now had a supercharger perched on top which made for a 70 horsepower increase over the naturally aspirated car.
This Evora S is unique as it is one of just 14 GP Edition cars brought to the United States. Finished in a stunning black and gold livery, it is designed to look like the paint scheme on Kimi Raikonen’s 2012 Lotus F1 car and is also a tribute to Lotus’ iconic John Player Special Formula 1 cars of the 1970s and 1980s. Starting with a black car, the gold-painted stripes swoop around the car on both sides as well as along the top and give the car the appearance of moving, even when standing still. This is complemented by a set of gold wheels and red accents on the mirror caps, front and rear splitters, and brake calipers. The combination is stunning in person and does an impressive job showing off the shape of the car- even when it’s clothed in black paint.
On the inside, the Evora features black leather on the seats, steering wheel, door sills, and upper dash, while the seat centers, part of the door cards, and dash are covered in Alcantara. As part of the GP Edition package, this car received copious amounts of red stitching throughout the interior including a beautifully embroidered Lotus badge within an F1 laurel wreath on the headrests. All of the GP Edition cars come fully loaded from the factory, meaning that the head unit has been updated with a 7-inch Pioneer LCD touch screen that has both navigation and backup camera capabilities, making this a truly usable sports car.
Powering the Evora is the aforementioned supercharged Toyota V6, producing 345 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Although most people don’t associate Toyota with making great sounding engines, through some creative intake and exhaust work from Lotus, this car sounds outstanding- especially with the supercharger at full chat just behind your head. The power is then sent through a smooth 6-speed manual gearbox and out to the rear wheels. One of the things that Lotus has always been renowned for was its suspension tuning prowess. Back when they were racing sports cars, they never had the most powerful car on the track but thanks to the combination of low weight and precise, predictable handling, Lotus cars were almost always on the podium- and the Evora follows that trend. Utilizing Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs, the Evora was lauded for finding a way to provide telepathic handling, while still offering a comfortable, smooth ride around town.
The Lotus Evora S is a great option for the enthusiast who loves to drive and wants a sports car that is not just another Porsche 911. With its sublime suspension balance, quick supercharged acceleration, and 2+2 practicality, the Evora represents great value and will be nothing short of a joy to drive. On top of that, given that this example is one of just 14 GP Editions sold in the United States, the chances of you ever seeing another example of this unique car are just about zero.
