Currently reading: Lotus reveals 430bhp, 190mph Evora GT430 as its most powerful road car

250kg of downforce is produced at 190mph, and production is limited to 60. The model costs £112,500

Lotus has revealed the Lotus Evora GT430 as its most powerful road car yet, with 430bhp on tap and a top speed of 190mph. 

Only 60 examples will be built, and each carries a price tag of £112,500, making it one of the most expensive cars that Lotus has yet made. 

The GT430 is powered by an updated version of Lotus’s 3.5-litre supercharged V6, which produces 325b ft of torque from 4500rpm. Wider tyres help to put down all of its power, and Lotus claims that at full chat, 250kg of downforce is produced.

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The Evora GT430 benefits from stringent weight-saving of 26kg over the standard Evora in addition to the bolstered power, with extensive use of carbonfibre inside and out. This includes the additional performance parts adding 9kg to the weight of the car. As a result, it weighs 1258kg dry; 82kg less than the Porsche Cayman GT4. Some body panels have been specifically designed for the limited-run GT430. 

The GT430 can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.8sec, which is 0.6sec quicker than the Cayman GT4. Lotus claims that the GT430 is the quickest car around its Hethel test track since the 454bhp track version of the 3-Eleven, matching its lap time. 

Upgrades to the Evora's performance come from an air-to-liquid gearbox cooling system and a titanium exhaust, as well as other gearbox upgrades including a low-inertia single-mass flywheel, while elsewhere an upgraded limited slip differential aids traction. 

Inside, the seats are finished in leather and Alcantara, but can be specced fully in one or the other at no extra cost. Red highlights are the only colour about the carbonfibre-clad interior. 

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Drive modes are seemingly as numerous as the overall revisions; for the dynamic stability control there are four - Drive, Sport, Race and Off - while the traction control can be set to five different slip levels when in Race or Off mode. 

Despite the extreme focus of the car, Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales insists it’s suitable for road and track; a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and sat-nav, as well as a reversing camera, are among the options. 

“Yes, it is hugely powerful but, the GT430 is not about brutal performance. It’s an intricate balance of power, finesse and road holding, no matter the speed, and is a true track-and-back sports car, supremely focused and immensely fast,” Gales said. 

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manicm 21 July 2017

Will be fun for a few rounds

Will be fun for a few rounds at the track, but after that you'll have tears flooding in regret at not buying a well specced 911 GTS instead.

Lotus is becoming a self-parody at this price point.

Symanski 21 July 2017

Caymen GT4?

I had to look it up.   They're comparing a £ 113k car to one at £ 65k.   That's a huge jump!

 

Surely it would be better to compare with the 911 GT3 at £ 100k?

 

Although I'll admit I haven't checked to see if the 911 GT3 is still available or not.

Peter Cavellini 21 July 2017

Symanski wrote:

Symanski wrote:

I had to look it up.   They're comparing a £ 113k car to one at £ 65k.   That's a huge jump!

 

Surely it would be better to compare with the 911 GT3 at £ 100k?

 

Although I'll admit I haven't checked to see if the 911 GT3 is still available or not.

porsche fans buy Porsches, Ferrari fans...ditto, Lotus fans......yep, they will buy this too,if you can afford to pay £80,000 of your wealth the stretch to £112,000 won't be that much of an um or er moment,you'll buy it because it's got Lotus stamped on its backside!

si73 21 July 2017

Autocar, not lotus?

Symanski wrote:

I had to look it up.   They're comparing a £ 113k car to one at £ 65k.   That's a huge jump!

 

Surely it would be better to compare with the 911 GT3 at £ 100k?

 

Although I'll admit I haven't checked to see if the 911 GT3 is still available or not.

Unless I am reading it wrong, those comparisons are by autocar not lotus. But agree it is a daft comparison.

BertoniBertone 21 July 2017

Geely to get its finger out....

I assume this is an unintended exercise in making the Porsche 991.2 look superb value ?

Note to Lotus:

1. Stop frigging about with all the upgrades and 'specials'. It makes potential customers VERY nervous: ie. between order and car's arrival there's always another 'latest & greatest' addition which makes their 'new' car instantly outdated. Very, very silly marketing. Stop it.

2. Make the standard Evora look like the GT430.

3. Invest in underbody aero, so buyers can 'option delete' the 'Ring rear spoiler.

4. Lop off £ 20-30 K.

I know it's going to be a long wait before Geely's good work (see Volvo ) is going to take effect but the Evora is clearly a good enough platform to create a sensible range structure with well timed developments to keep the market interested.

The way Lotus (even with Jean-M Gales at the helm) is churning these 'new models' out just reeks of desperation...and that is not a good look.