Lotus Evora Sport 410, Exige Sport 350 debut locally

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.

Replacing the $180,600 Evora S are both the new $184,990 Evora 400 and stripped-out hardcore Cayman GT4-rivalling $199,990 Evora Sport 410.

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.

Both Evoras score 19-inch front/20-inch rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres and three-mode stability control (Drive, Sport, Race), but pick the 410 by its comprehensive exterior carbonfibre package, Alcantara-clad cabin and lightweight front buckets.

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.

The entry Elise becomes the $74,990 Elise Sport and the 866kg roadster continues with 100kW/160Nm and a 6.5sec 0-100km/h, while the former Elise S transitions into the $84,990 Elise Sport 220 with an identical 162kW/250Nm and 4.6sec 0-100km/h.

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.