2012 Lotus Evora 2+0 on 2040-cars

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Lotus Evora Sport 410 will come to North America this year

Just a year after debuting the 400-horsepower Evora 400, Lotus now reveals the Evora Sport 410, which sharpens the coupe even more. As the name suggests, power creeps up to 410 hp, but the more impressive change is the 154-pound drop in weight. Like the 400, the new model is even on the way to the US. "A specific North American version of the Evora Sport 410 will be announced later in 2016 along with the price," Alastair Florance, Lotus Group PR Manager, told Autoblog. We hope it's as light here as in the rest of the world. The Evora Sport 410's extra power and fewer pounds translate to improved performance. The run to 60 miles per hour now takes 3.9 seconds, versus 4.1 seconds for the Evora 400. The top speed remains the same at 186 mph. The latest model is also three seconds per lap faster around Lotus' Hethel test track compared to the 400. Lots of new carbon fiber parts are the key to the significant weight loss, which takes the coupe down to 2,921 pounds. The front splitter, roof, tailgate, rear diffuser, sport seats, and front access panel are now made from the lightweight material. Inside, there are single-piece door panels, which no longer have armrests or stowage pockets. Lotus plans to build 150 Evora Sport 410s a year, but it's not clear whether that figure includes the North American specific model. Prices in the UK start at the equivalent 79,900 pounds ($112,000 at current exchange rates). We don't yet know US numbers, but the Evora 400 sells for $89,900 here. You can assume a higher cost for this model's greater performance. Lightening strikes again: The Lotus Evora Sport 410 • 0-60 mph in 3.9 secs and a top speed of 186 mph • 70 kg slashed from the weight of the Evora 400 • Comprehensive carbon fibre package as standard • Increased power, reduced mass, sharper handling • Total production limited to one-hundred and fifty vehicles per year In a move that should surprise no one, Lotus has raised the bar once again by lightening the Evora in order to develop the sensational Evora Sport 410. Following on from the recently announced Elise Cup 250, and the Exige Sport 350, Lotus' famous Lightweight Laboratory has been hard at work cutting the weight of the Evora 400 by a massive 70kg. With a host of high-performance carbon fibre components as standard, and sharing the 410 hp supercharged engine with the track-bred 3-Eleven, the Lotus Evora Sport 410 clocks 0-60 in 3.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 186mph.

Aston Martin and Lotus each issue recalls

A pair of head-turning high performance cars are catching some attention off a different kind, in the form of safety recalls. Aston Martin and Lotus have issued recalls for the V12 Vantage Coupe and Evora, respectively.
Aston Martin's affects 169 examples of the 2009-2012 V12 Vantage Coupe. It concerns the tire-pressure monitoring system, and is less a malfunction than it is a compliance issue. The TPMS does not alert the driver until the front tire is more than 25 percent below the recommended cold tire pressure. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138 states that the alarm must sound when tire pressure is "equal to or less than either the pressure 25 percent below" the recommended cold inflation pressure. To address the issue, Aston Martin will notify owners and reprogram the software, free of charge.
As for Lotus, 80 supercharged Evoras have been recalled, all built between February and September, 2011. The problem involves an engine-mounted oil feed pipe, which could rupture, causing loss of engine oil or a possible fire if the oil sprays onto a hot engine.

Jay Leno checks out Ronin RS 211, a Lotus Elise transformed

You know a vehicle is going to be something special when you need a pair of goggles to drive it, and this highly customized Lotus lives up to that promise. The owner refers to his one-off as the Ronin RS 211, but underneath that barely there body are a few parts left from a 2005 Lotus Elise. Owner Frank Profera totaled his Elise when a Porsche rear-ended it, but he wasn't willing to give the sports car up. With a canvas to build from, Profera took inspiration from the Lotus 2-Eleven and Can-Am cars, and the Ronin resulted. Not content with just a svelte body, the powertrain received just as thorough an upgrade as the looks. The engine still displaces 1.8 liters but features improved internals. The piece de resistance, though, is the custom turbocharger setup that runs on a mix of pump gas and alcohol to put out a claimed 680 horsepower, which sounds great screaming through the California canyons. "Ronin" is a Japanese word for a master-less samurai, and with its featherlight weight, just a vestigial windshield and gobs of power, the RS 211 is a fantastic automotive symbol for the type of sword such a warrior might carry. Watch as Jay takes an extra long drive on the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage.