Just got back from a trip to the Lotus factory in Hethel. It was part of a big weekend meet & factory tour day organized by the Esprit Forum and some other U.K. clubs. Fun times, pics to come later after I sort through all 400 of them.
Anyway, the important bit is this:
Yep, got to drive one. Unfortunately it was just a short 15-minute test drive, as they had about eight cars available for ~150 people, but it was on some nice twisty English B-roads.
What can I say, the Evora is awesome. I made the mistake of wearing my work boots, which are comfortable for standing around all day but too clunky for driving (although they work fine in the Elan since I'm more used to it), which made me look a bit foolish as I stalled the car off the line and couldn't do really smooth heel-and-toes. Aside from that I loved the car. My only real complaints are that the headliners are all "light and creamy" beige, even on a car with a "black" interior, and the NA V6 doesn't give you the kind of frantic surge that I get from my little 1.6 turbo even though it probably has more power and torque at any given RPM. Lotus do say they'll do custom interior colours if you order it though...
Heh, I don't have 44 grand to throw around but if I did I think I know which way I'd be throwing it. I'm kind of sold.
Oh yeah, pics or it didn't happen!
I'll sort through the rest and post 'em up in a couple days. The factory tour was really cool too, interesting to see quite a few Teslas coming off the Elise/Exige line. Ya, I had a fun weekend.
BTW the Elan made the entire 1300km, all-day trip there with no problems at all. Well, unless you count the window fogging up because the heater doesn't work.
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