Relentless in its development of world-class sports cars, Lotus has unveiled the new Evora GT410 Sport to complete the revised line-up of Hethel’s fastest model.

Launched in Lotus’ 70th year and ahead of its anniversary celebrations, the new Evora GT410 Sport takes one of Lotus’ success stories, and refines it through the application of enlightened design. Available in both 2 seat and 2+2 configurations, and in manual and automatic transmissions, the Evora GT410 Sport draws from the phenomenal Evora GT430 to provide advanced aerodynamics to an already celebrated sports car.

Combining the latest design philosophy with a car acclaimed by both critics and customers, it packs raw performance with Lotus’ latest aerodynamic developments, to provide a first-class replacement for the Evora Sport 410 model.

Employing key elements of the GT430’s sculptured body style, including specifically designed new composite front and rear body panels, but without some of the high downforce elements, the new Evora GT410 Sport enjoys a far subtler and sleeker silhouette. However, as with all Lotus sports cars, aerodynamic downforce is a requirement and this new GT-class coupe generates up to 96kg of downforce (50% more than the Evora Sport 410) making it the new benchmark when compared to similarly priced rivals.

The Evora GT410 Sport is powered by a specially calibrated and tuned higher-output version of Lotus’ supercharged, 3.5-litre 6-cylinder engine with integrated water-to-air charge cooler, producing 410 hp at 7000 rpm and 420 Nm of torque from 3500 rpm. It powers the GT410 Sport from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds (automatic) and the manual version in 4.0 seconds.

The development of the new Evora GT410 Sport afforded Lotus the opportunity to optimise mass, resulting in an unladen weight of 1,297 kg and a lightest possible dry weight of 1,256 kg (including all the optional titanium exhaust, saving 10 kg, and the Lotus-tuned Öhlins TTX aluminium two-way adjustable dampers, saving 13 kg) – a total saving of 98 kg when compared to the Evora 400 benchmark, and up to 28 kg less than the already featherweight Evora Sport 410.

Launching the new Evora GT410 Sport, Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “We are continually exploring new ideas, innovating and evolving our cars in pursuit of perfection. The new Evora GT410 Sport takes the lessons learnt from the development of the GT430 to deliver something outstanding and highly capable.”

Lotus Evora GT410 Sport in more detail

Lotus’ newly defined GT-class sports car captures the essence of the company’s headline model. The application of top-down evolution introduces the new front and rear aesthetic, first seen on the GT430. As a result, the car’s design combines considerable physical presence with natural aerodynamic ability.

The revised front panel features two enlarged carbon fibre ducts, with integrated air blades, to efficiently move air around the front wheels reducing turbulence and decreasing drag. Additional downforce is created by the combination of the deep front splitter and new motorsport-derived rear diffuser, mounted beneath the new style metal mesh grille which gives a cleaner finish. Sculptured carbon fibre ducts behind each rear wheel vent high pressure air as quickly as possible from the rear wheel arches, balancing downforce.

Cumulatively this all works to boost downforce to 96 kg at 190 mph, a sizable jump of 50% over the outgoing Evora Sport 410, and a massive three-times that of the Evora 400 with an improved drag coefficient. This elevates the Evora GT410 Sport to the top ranks of Lotus’ most aerodynamically efficient road cars.

As with all high-performance Evoras, carbon fibre plays a considerable role in the car’s construction. Standard carbon composite components include the front access panel, roof panel and a one-piece louvered tailgate with integrated spoiler, as well as the elements within the front air blade system and rear wheel exit ports.

This focus on the car’s critical mass delivers its headline power-to-weight ratio of 326 hp / tonne and the top speed to 190 mph (305 km/h).

Despite the car’s low mass, a range of lightweight options can be specified for the Evora GT410 Sport. This includes a titanium exhaust, cutting 10 kg from beyond the car’s rear axle.

Making the most of the traction on tap, the Evora GT410 Sport uses Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (235/35 R19 at the front and 285/30 R20 at the rear) with a sports suspension package of Eibach ultra-light, low-sideload springs and Bilstein sports dampers – all fitted as standard. A touring suspension package is available as a no cost option, featuring Bilstein® non-adjustable dampers, with touring specification, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

For full damper adjustability, a race suspension package using Lotus-tuned lightweight Öhlins TTX aluminium two-way adjustable dampers (twenty click adjustment compression and rebound) which save 13 kg, can be specified to tune the Evora GT410 Sport to precisely suit particular road or track conditions.

Reducing un-sprung mass, ultra-lightweight, fully machined, forged aluminium wheels (19" 8J front and 20" 9.5J rear 10 spoke alloy wheels) are available in either silver or matt black. The option of upgrading to one inch wider (10.5J) rear wheels as used on the Evora GT430, is available and stopping power comes courtesy of AP Racing four-piston calipers front and rear with lightweight 2- piece cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs (front 370mm x 32mm, rear 350mm x 32mm).

In addition to Lotus’ slick, six-speed manual gearbox with a Torsen type limited slip differential (LSD), the Evora GT410 Sport is also available with an automatic transmission option. Slightly quicker through the gears, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds, the six-speed automatic transmission utilises an optimised gearbox ECU for ultra-fast changes. Gear selection is made via lightweight aluminium paddles mounted to the steering wheel.

The new Evora GT410 Sport features four driver selectable ESP modes – selected via a dashboard switch. ‘Drive’, ‘Sport’, ‘Race’ and ‘Off’. Sport and Race settings increase throttle response, respectively increasing traction slip - allowing the driver a finer degree of control before intervention.

As with its Evora stablemates the Evora GT410 Sport cabin includes Lotus’ beautifully detailed carbon race seats (2+0 configuration only) and carbon door sill inserts. The steering wheel, dashboard, door panels, transmission tunnel, centre console and instrument binnacle are all trimmed in black Alcantara®, complemented by contrast twin colour stitching. Optional Sparco race seats are available in both 2+0 and 2+2 configurations with the latter requiring either the optional wider 10.5J rear wheel option, as featured on the Evora GT430, or the lightweight forged wheel option from the Evora 400, which benefits from a 9.5J rear wheel size. An integrated 7” touchscreen infotainment system with AppleCarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth® functionality, satellite navigation and reversing camera can also be specified.

Jean-Marc Gales concluded, “Starting 2018 in style, the Evora GT410 Sport is just the beginning of an incredibly strong year for Lotus. The core principles of Lotus and our founder Colin Chapman remain paramount as we work on the next generation of vehicles whilst building our best sports cars yet.”

Every new Lotus Evora GT410 Sport can be personalised through the increasingly popular Lotus Exclusive programme. Developed by the Lotus Design team to inspire customers, it combines traditional British craftsmanship with the best of modern design, and allows owners to tailor vehicles to their personal taste. Since its introduction last year, roughly a third of all new Lotus cars now undergo some form of customisation.

The new, fully homologated Lotus Evora GT410 Sport range can be ordered now in European and Asia Pacific markets, following in summer 2018 for the USA and China.

Crude is too negative. Raw, although more accurate, sells the 2020 Lotus Evora GT short. Intense is a fair descriptor for this mid-engine sports car but doesn't tell the whole story. Let's go with analog. Don't wince. We know that brings up images of vinyl records. But, forget the hipster. We mean it in the best possible sense.

Far larger and more refined than its Elise and Exige models, Lotus has been selling the Evora since 2010, and it has been the brand's only model in the United States since 2011. This year the updated Evora GT replaces the Evora 400, and it faces some serious competition. Its power, weight, size, and price make it a direct competitor to Porsche's new 718 Cayman GT4.

Lightweight is to Lotus as four-wheel drive is to Jeep, and the Evora GT drops a claimed 71 pounds if you equip it with the carbon-fiber roof, rear deck, and diffuser as part of the optional $8000 Carbon Pack. At 3112 pounds, it's a featherweight of a modern machine, but a 718 Cayman only weighs about 30 pounds more. The last Evora 400 we tested weighed exactly 100 pounds more than this GT.

Every Evora has been powered by a transversely mounted Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V-6. To make sure it's packing more oomph than the engine in a Sienna minivan, Lotus tops the V-6 with an Edelbrock supercharger that churns out 8.7 psi of boost. The result is smooth enough, torquey, and it gives a characteristic supercharger howl above 4500 rpm. This year the power climbs to 416 horses at 7000 rpm and 317 lb-ft of torque at 3000 revs. That's a gain of 16 ponies and 10 lb-ft over the 400, and it makes the rear-drive Evora GT the most powerful Lotus ever sold in the U.S. Unfortunately, an aggressive fuel cutoff spoils the fun as early as 6600 rpm in the default driving mode. Switch to the Sport and Race settings and the rev ceiling climbs to 7000 rpm—but only for two seconds and only in the first two gears. Toyota also supplies the standard six-speed manual transmission, and a six-speed automatic is offered if you want to lose the plot entirely. The shifter's mechanical feedback is exceptional, but its single-plate clutch is heavier than it should be. Its 4.0-second zero-to-60-mph time is sabotaged by a chunky shift into second gear

Few cars are as easy to place in a corner as this Lotus. Ohlins dampers offer excellent body control and a livable ride, while the hydraulically assisted steering delivers telepathic feel and response. On a fresh set of tacky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (a Porsche spec tire, at that), the Evora understeered mildly and generated 1.04 g on the skidpad. It also stopped from 70 mph in 148 feet. Impressive numbers, but a standard 718 Cayman is even more comfortable and matches that performance on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, which aren't as aggressive as the Evora's Cup 2 tires.Inside, the Evora's lack of refinement and rudimentary finish are a large part of its charm but also hold it back. You can drive a Cayman all day, every day, but after a couple of hours in the Lotus you're looking for reprieve from the Evora's cramped confines, buzzy aluminum pedals, and hard carbon-fiber seats. With creaky trim, hollow-sounding doors, and an Alpine infotainment unit that looks like something Best Buy would sell, it also continues the brand's tradition of kit-car build quality. Not exactly what you expect for an as-tested price of $131,795.

Would we rather have the 718 Cayman GT4? Absolutely. Heck, 132 large will buy a lot of 911. But even those machines don't deliver the pure exhilaration and visceral detail and feedback you get from the Evora. It's a special machine for the hard core. Alive in your hands. Analog in a digital world. And we mean that in the best possible sense.