Lotus Evora S announced

The Europa may have been quietly dropped from the range, and the Elise / Exige line-up is facing an uncertain future in Europe due to emissions legislation, but Lotus is promising some important unveilings at September’s Paris Motor Show.



However, perhaps feeling that the wait might be too much for some, the company has decided to reveal a couple of its new products ahead of the show.



The first is the Evora S, which takes the standard Evora’s 3.5 litre V6 and adds a supercharger. As a result, power output leaps from 276 bhp (206 kW / 280 PS) to 345 bhp (257 kW / 350 PS), a significant 25% increase.

With torque also rising from 350 Nm to 400 Nm, it’s no surprise that performance is improved: 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in the S takes 4.8 seconds, while its top speed is 172 mph (276 km/h). By comparison, the normally aspirated Evora manages 5.1 seconds and 162 mph (261 km/h).



But the extra power is just one element of what makes the Evora S different. The suspension settings have also been fine tuned, there are cross-drilled brakes and a ‘sport’ button comes fitted as standard. Pressing this raises the rev limit, changes the dynamic stability control settings, improves throttle response and activates an exhaust by-pass valve. Visually, the S is distinguished by a larger rear diffuser.



No word on prices for the Evora S yet but, with the standard 2+2 costing £49,995 in the UK, expect a premium for the quicker version of around £8,000 - £10,000?



The second announcement is the arrival of an automatic gearbox option for the 276 bhp Evora. Called Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS for short), the six-speed transmission has been introduced to ‘broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market’ according to Dany Bahar, Lotus Chief Executive Officer. That means Lotus is hunting sales in the Middle East, Asian and North American territories, where many drivers either struggle to change gears manually or simply can’t be bothered.

IPS allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes, although performance suffers thanks to the auto ’box and a slight weight increase from 1,382 kg to 1,436 kg. Acceleration to 62 mph will take 5.5 seconds, and top speed drops to 155 mph (250 km/h). Again, pricing for the IPS option is to be confirmed.