Lotus has launched a fresh local lineup with the 3.8sec 0-100km/h Exige Sport 350 now the company’s fastest offering, and joining a new hardcore flagship Evora Sport 410.

The British sports car brand is heading for a new distributorship in Australia – further details will be announced next week – but the new and more compelling Lotus line-up has already been established.

Replacing the previous $132,990 Exige S is the new $134,500 Exige Sport 350. The 258kW/400Nm 3.5-litre supercharged V6 is retained, but a 52kg weight loss diet enables the 1125kg coupe to shave a tenth from a claimed 0-100km/h, now either 3.9sec or 3.8sec for the $5K-optional six-speed auto.

Lotus Evora Sport 400 rear

Each get big power upgrades, from the previous 258kW/400Nm to 298kW in the Evora 400, 306kW in the Evora Sport 410 and 410Nm from both versions of the same 3.5-litre supercharged V6.

The 0-100km/h claim for the entry Evora tumbles by four-tenths to 4.2sec while the latest $200K range-topper reduces weight from 1395kg to 1325kg (yet curiously it delivers an identical acceleration time).

Choosing the $10K-optional six-speed automatic for each model reduces the time by a further tenth, however.

Lotus Evora Sport 400 side

This major facelift of the original 2009 Evora delivers a comprehensively revised chassis and new interior aimed at addressing entry and egress, seating position and footwell room issues cited by previous owners as issues.

At the other end of the Lotus range, the Elise range doesn’t change to the same degree as its Exige and Evora stablemates.

Lotus Evora Sport 400 interior

Meanwhile the old Elise Cup 220 now becomes the $104,990 Elise Cup 250 thanks to an upgrade from 162kW to 181kW (along with an unchanged 250Nm) and three-tenths-faster 4.3sec 0-100km/h.

MOTOR is at the local launch of the Lotus Evora 400 at Wakefield Park Raceway today, with a full review coming soon.