Lotus Evora GT is not what I expected

Salut tout le monde !

Je suis allé chez le concessionnaire Lotus pour vérifier mon béguin automobile actuel – la nouvelle Emira – et j’ai fini par tester une Evora GT à la place. (Ils n’avaient pas de démonstrateur Emira sous la main.) L’Evora est une voiture que j’ai fortement envisagée d’acheter il y a 3 ans, donc c’était génial d’en conduire enfin un !

Lotus, pour moi, est une marque de halo pour le pilotage bavard. Pour cette raison, je m’attendais à ce que l’Evora GT ait la combinaison parfaite entre une sensation de direction extraordinaire, des mouvements de voiture de sport au milieu du moteur et un style évocateur. Deux sur trois, ce n’est pas mal... non ?

Le style était un knock-out (surtout en vert vif), les freins m'ont sauvé de l'arrière d'un conducteur de SUV bonehead, le châssis avait une adhérence pendant des jours et le moteur avait un rugissement fantastique. Mais la direction...

Honnêtement, j'ai été déçu par la direction. Oui, c'était rapide et communicatif, mais je voulais des niveaux de sensation et de feedback Lotus Elise ou 997 911 GT3, et l'Evora GT n'avait pas cela.

(Voici un Lien vers mon article complet sur la route.)

L’expérience me fait remettre en question mon béguin pour l’Emira, car j’ai entendu dire que sa direction est encore moins animée que celle de l’Evora. Une fois que le concessionnaire a un démonstrateur Emira, je vais l'essayer par moi-même et voir. Mais en attendant, je suis plein de sentiments mitigés sur l’Evora GT et Emira.

Best,
Mike

J'ai conduit l'Emira pendant la Monterey Car Week. Le V6 suralimenté a fait tous les bons bruits et beaucoup de puissance. J'ai adoré la direction et la transmission manuelle était comme une extension de mon corps. C’était comme une voiture que je pouvais conduire toute la journée sans être fatiguée. Certaines voitures de sport sont raides et impitoyables, pas l'Emira. Même avec la suspension sportive sur un trottoir cassé, ce n'était pas inconfortable.

Je n'ai pas conduit l'Evora mais d'après ce que les autres disent, l'Evora représente 90% de l'expérience.

I have a friend, he's an auto journo, who owns a 718 Spyder (drop top GT4). He loves his Spyder. When he drove the Emira V6 he was raving about it. He gave the Emira 10/10 and downgraded his Spyder to a 7/10, in terms of handling and driving experience. I was quite shocked at the comment.

I test drove the Emira as well and am seriously considering switching from my E92 to one. I’ve never driven an Exige or 997 GT3 but I felt the steering feel was as communicative (if not more) as the E9x platform, which, by modern standards is better than 99% of modern cars.

Redd wrote

I have a friend, he's an auto journo, who owns a 718 Spyder (drop top GT4). He loves his Spyder. When he drove the Emira V6 he was raving about it. He gave the Emira 10/10 and downgraded his Spyder to a 7/10, in terms of handling and driving experience. I was quite shocked at the comment.

Wow, that is quite a statement. Did this friend write an article you can share?

VR1 wrote

I test drove the Emira as well and am seriously considering switching from my E92 to one. I’ve never driven an Exige or 997 GT3 but I felt the steering feel was as communicative (if not more) as the E9x platform, which, by modern standards is better than 99% of modern cars.

When I got my E90 in 2013 or so, I remember being disappointed with the steering feel vs. my old Mitsu Evo IX. But as the rest of cars went to EPAS, the M3 got better and better!

It's been a while since I sold my M3, but I can see how it might compare similarly to the Evora GT for steering feel.

VR1 - you'd be willing to give up the M3's V8 for the Lotus V6?

Z K wrote

I drove the Emira during Monterey Car Week. The supercharged V6 made all the right noises and plenty of power. I loved the steering and the manual transmission felt like an extension of my body. It felt like a car I could drive all day and not be tired. Some sports cars are stiff and unforgiving, not the Emira. Even with the sports suspension on broken pavement, it was not uncomfortable.

I haven't driven the Evora but from what others say the Evora is 90% of the experience.

I saw all the Emiras at car week but didn't manage to drive them. The array of exterior colors on hand was pretty impressive. What was your favorite color? I liked the reds and the bronze-gray.

414bhp wrote

I saw all the Emiras at car week but didn't manage to drive them. The array of exterior colors on hand was pretty impressive. What was your favorite color? I liked the reds and the bronze-gray.

That is a hard one. For purchase, I like more muted classic colors so for me, a silver/grey one would be great. Perfect for me as they have 4 different silver/greys! I usually like white but the Emira doesn't have a bright white - they have a odd tan white.

For eye candy, I did like the reds and dark green because its that classic British racing color.

Surprised the steering was the let down. For me it's the red line and gearing; none of which are easily remedied. I have a love/hate relationship with the brand but I will admit you aren't finding anything made in the last 10+ years that has the same steering feel. Maybe a McLaren Mp4-12c

nycplumber wrote

Surprised the steering was the let down. For me it's the red line and gearing; none of which are easily remedied. I have a love/hate relationship with the brand but I will admit you aren't finding anything made in the last 10+ years that has the same steering feel. Maybe a McLaren Mp4-12c

Yeah, the McLarens come close. I really like the 570GT steering!