Lotus brings Evora under $150K
BY MARTON PETTENDY | 5th Jun 2009
The British sportscar-maker used this year’s Melbourne motor show to herald a $162,990 starting price ($169,990 for the 2+2-seater version) for its first all-new model since the 1995 Elise, but today announced a significantly sharper final price of less than $150,000.
LCA has now locked in a $149,990 recommended price before statutory and delivery charges for the Evora “2+0”, with the same $7000 premium bringing the four-seater variant to $156,990.
Sales and marketing manager Jonathan Stretton said LCA had always hoped to reduce, rather than increase, the Evora’s final price here from the indicative pricing it announced in February, and more favourable exchange rates have allowed it to do so.
“In terms of Lotus pricing for the Evora, we did communicate an indicative price of $162,990 for the 2+0 and $169,990 for the 2+2 at the Melbourne show,” he said. “They were indicative and took into account FX forecasts and other matters at the time.
“We decided it would be prudent to detail a conservative price at that time with a view to a reduction if possible. It was important to indicate a higher price from the outset with a view to bringing it back rather than the other way around.
“We have confirmed prices in the recent release with the Evora 2+0 coming in at $149,990 and the 2+2 at $156,990, and believe that these prices are extremely competitive in a challenging market,” said Mr Stretton.
However, along with releasing full Australian specifications for the Evora today, LCA has released an extensive list of options, including three pricey equipment packages and a range of expensive optional extras that will be fitted to all cars in the initial global production run.
LCA says it has secured enough examples of the Evora to satisfy local demand despite its “exceptional” international popularity, and that Australian Evora customers can order vehicles to their own specification “for later delivery”.
However, the first 2+2-only ‘Launch Edition’ Evoras, which will be painted either Ardent Red or British Racing Green as standard, will all be fitted with either the Sport Pack ($3095), Premium Pack ($7900) or Tech Pack ($8200).
Between them, they comprise a touch-screen display, iPod connection, cruise control, parking sensors, accent lighting, full leather trim, traction control, sports diffuser, tyre pressure monitoring and switchable sports mode.
All Launch Edition Evoras will also come with standard ‘Hi-power’ silver cast alloy wheels, as well as options like bi-Xenon headlights ($1950), an Alpine ‘Imprint’ audio system ($2350), reversing camera ($985) and power side mirrors ($850), bringing the price of the first Evoras back closer to the original $170,000 sticker price.
Apart from the standard red or green hues, all other exterior colours will be optional, whether it is one of seven metallic paints ($2400), 10 ‘Lifestyle’ paints ($3500) or two ‘Premium’ paints ($6400).
Other surprising Evora options include body-coloured door handles ($350), ‘Stealth Grey’ cast alloy wheels ($985), silver forged alloy wheels ($4800), ‘Gloss Anthracite’ forged alloy wheels ($5600) and “Sports ratio” six-speed manual transmission ($4800). An automatic option is also under development.
First deliveries of the world’s only mid-engined 2+2 in production are currently taking place in Europe, where the first press drives have also been held.
The Evora’s all-new Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine produces 206kW and 342Nm of torque, giving the “more holistic” new model a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of just over five seconds, and official combined average fuel consumption of just 8.7L/100km and CO2 emissions of 205g/km.
In Australia, the Evora will come with a three-year/100,000km complete vehicle warranty, and a standard equipment list that includes Yokohama Advan Sport LTS tyres (225/40 ZR18 front and 255/35 ZR19 rear), Bilstein mono-tube gas dampers, Eibach coaxial coil springs, hydraulically-assisted power steering and a Bosch electronic differential lock (EDL).
On the safety front there is switchable traction control, twin front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with hydraulic brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), four-piston aluminium AP Racing brake callipers and 350mm/332mm front/rear ventilated brake discs.
Rounding out the standard feature list are remote central locking, power windows and (heated) mirrors, air-conditioning, adjustable black leather front Recaro seats, a flat-bottomed leather/magnesium steering wheel with height/reach adjustment, leather interior highlights and an Alpine CD/MP3/WMA sound system with auxiliary connectivity.