What's all this about?
Lotus has delivered a special new model of the Evora, called the GT410 Sport.
But I thought there was already a Lotus Evora Sport 410?
You'd be right - this is its replacement. And it's important to note the rearrangement of the '410' and 'Sport' bits in the model name, as well as the addition of the letters 'GT'. They are the key part of this newcomer.
How so?
It's based on the Evora GT430, which was a proper, track-orientated wild boy. The GT410 is a little more toned-down in terms of looks, but it's still a pretty intense car. While it can't generate the 250kg of downforce of the GT430 - it doesn't have the huge rear wing, for one - it still summons up 96kg of 'negative lift', which is 50 per cent more than the Evora Sport 410 and three times the amount of downforce of the Evora 400. It also has a better drag coefficient than either.
Enlarged carbon fibre air ducts with integrated air blades (to reduce turbulence and drag in the front wheel arch), a front splitter and motorsport-derived rear diffuser and more carbon fibre ducts to vent air from the rear wheelarches are the aero aids. There's also a new mesh metal grille at the back of the Evora GT410 and carbon fibre is used for the front access panel, roof panel and a one-piece louvered tailgate with integrated spoiler.
Does all this make the Evora GT410 light?
We'll say. It's 28kg lighter than the Evora Sport 410 and 98 kilos trimmer than the Evora 400. At its lightest kerbweight, it clocks in at 1,320kg - a phenomenal number for a car with a mid-mounted V6 engine and a 190mph top speed.
Wow, 190mph?!
Yes. The 3.5-litre supercharged V6 still delivers 416hp at 7,000rpm and 420Nm from 3,500rpm, which results in a power-to-weight ratio of 330hp/tonne. That means the six-speed manual GT410 can manage 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds, while the six-speed auto (£2,000 extra) is even quicker at 4.1 seconds. However, the auto doesn't have a Torsen limited-slip diff like the manual, it's 11kg heavier and a lot slower flat out - at 171mph versus 190mph for the clutch-equipped car.
What other technical details have we got?
Opt for a titanium exhaust (£5,500) and another 10kg is trimmed from aft of the car's rear axle, while Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres on ultra-lightweight, fully machined, forged aluminium wheels make the most of the Evora GT410 Sport's grip. Eibach springs and Bilstein sports dampers provide the suspension, the brakes are AP Racing four-piston calipers with two-piece, cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs (front 370mm x 32mm, rear 350mm x 32mm) and there's four-stage ESP (with Drive, Sport, Race and Off settings).
If you don't like the standard suspension set-up, then you can either go softer or harder. Softer is the no-cost touring specification, with Bilstein touring-spec non-adjustable dampers and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, while alternatively a race suspension package (£5,500) bolts on Lotus-tuned, lightweight Ohlins TTX aluminium two-way adjustable dampers (twenty click adjustment compression and rebound), which shaves another 13kg off the kerbweight and can be tuned to suit particular road or track conditions.
How about within?
Lots of Alcantara, finished in two-tone contrast stitching. It clothes the steering wheel, dashboard, door cards, transmission tunnel, centre console and the instrument binnacle. You can have the Evora GT410 Sport with either a two-seat or 2+2 configuration, with carbon race seats only available in the former. Optionally, Sparco race seats (£3,500) can be specified in either car, they're what you have to go for in the 2+2 and they require larger, 10.5-inch wide wheels at the rear (or lightweight forged wheels from the Evora 400, 9.5 inches wide) to accommodate them. Carbon fibre door sill inserts and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted, while Bluetooth, satnav and a reversing camera can all be specified.
How much is all of this?
The Lotus Evora GT410 Sport can be ordered now, with prices in the UK starting at £85,900.
Matt Robinson - 15 Jan 2018