Want to make a car faster? You can add horsepower, or you can “Add Lightness”. Colin Chapman founded Lotus on the notion that lighter cars are better performing and fun to drive. His engineering skills allowed Team Lotus to win 7 F1 Contsructor’s Championships, 6 Driver’s Championships, and the Indy 500. To see how their latest achievement performs, Jay Leno drove a used Lotus Evora.
Cars get heavier because people want more features. The Corvette has gained 800 lbs since 1997, and the new Ford Bronco will probably be a ton more than the 1966 model. Lotus has stayed true to their roots, and the latest Evora is just over 3,000 lbs. It uses a Toyota V6 and a close ratio six-speed manual to offer perfect weight distribution. In order to reach 400 horsepower, they needed help from a supercharger.
Nothing Compares
While there are many OEM suppliers in Europe, they chose Edelbrock. Using their latest water-cooled blower, the Evora 400 makes 400 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque. It launches to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and offers a top speed of 186 mph. The best part is that you won’t find the limits of grip on a public street. Speaking from experience, the steering wheel will break your wrists before the car spins out. You can exit the highway going 110, or carve your own line in any corner. Nothing grips like a Lotus, so click the link below to find one near you.
Related:
All-New Lotus Production Car Announced: It’s a Hypercar
Lotus Celebrates the Holidays with Epic “Driftmas” Video